by Bill Peters

Goshen, IN — The 2011 Indiana fair racing season came to a close on Saturday with the Elkhart County 4-H Fair at Goshen hosting the Championship and Consolation races for the fall fair series. Eight $20,000 Championship races and eight $8,000 Consolation races were contested under sunny skies and unusually warm October weather.

Trainer-driver Don Eash started the day off by steering Charity Kid (Cincinnati Kid-Bewitching Karen) to victory in the Championship 2-year-old filly trot. Eash Racing Stable Inc. is the owner of the filly, which trotted her mile in 2:07.4. Cincinnati Kaye (Cincinnati Kid-Kaye Hanover) took the Consolation in 2:12.3. Cincinnati Kaye is owned by the John Ames Adkins Estate with Rocky Loney doing the training and Brandon Bates picking up the winning catch-drive.

Mr O (Southwind Elian-Redmont Worthy) captured the Championship in the 2-year-old colt trot in 2:08.4. Marlin Fry is the gelding’s owner-trainer-driver. The Consolation went to Martz Time (Primetime Ranger-Beccas Best) in 2:07.4. Lester Raber is the owner-trainer-driver of Martz Time.

Molly Brown (Panspacificflight-Iva Miracle) won the Championship in the 2-year-old filly pace in 2:03.1. Jay Cross is the trainer-driver of Molly Brown with Bill Huggins paying the bills. Trainer-driver Rocky Loney guided Lively Lady Lisa (Pro Bono Best-Petty Jealousy) to the winner’s circle in the Consolation after a mile in 2:02. Dbb’s Tomahawk Stables pick up the expenses on Lively Lady Lisa.

Bernard Brown’s Don’t Kid Me (Dontgetinmyway-Sweet Potato Chips) eked out a photo-finish victory in the Championship of the 2-year-old colt pace. Tim Roach is the trainer-driver of the colt, which toured the Goshen oval in 2:02. Mike Peterson piloted Cam’s Flight (Panspacificflight-Cam Cam Best) to victory in the Consolation with a 2:03 mile. Anthony Gray owns the gelding with Steve Gray doing the conditioning.

Skyway Priss (Cincinnati Kid-Priscilla’s Jewel) provided the Eash Racing Stable Inc. with their second Championship victory of the day by taking the 3-year-old filly trot. Trainer-driver Don Eash brought Skyway Priss home in 2:03.3. The Consolation went to Marcia Flewelling’s Leanto Scarlet (Abc Garland-Range Scarlet) in 2:05.4. John Taylor provides the training and driving services for Leanto Scarlet.

Trainer-driver Walter Haynes, Jr. found the winner’s circle in the Championship of the 3-year-old colt trot with Johnny Tucker (Super Ben Joe-Lady Impatient) after a mile in 2:03.4. Northern Lane Farm is the gelding’s owner. Hoosier Concept (Ripken’s Victory-Nila Domarr) won the Consolation in 2:05.4. Harley Yoder is the owner-trainer of Hoosier Concept with Brandon Bates handling the driving duties.

Brandon Bates was back in the winner’s circle with Citori (Kilowatt-Stutzie), which took the Championship in the 3-year-old filly pace with a 2:01 mile. Bob Shinn is Citori’s owner with Trent Bates doing the training. The Consolation went to Pawlone Cap (Allamerican Captor-Pawlonia Hanover) in 2:05. Eash Racing Stable Inc. owns the filly with Don Eash being the trainer. Jay Cross picked up the winning catch-drive on Pawlone Cap on Saturday.

Straight Dancer (Third Straight-Armbro Astair) won the Championship in the 3-year-old colt pace for owners Steve and Tammy Carter. Steve also trains the gelding with Charlie Conrad doing the driving. Straight Dancer circled the Goshen twice-around in 2:00.1. Getontheway (Dontgetinmyway-Lady Moira) closed out the afternoon’s program by taking the Consolation in 2:03. Trent Stohler is the owner-trainer-driver of Getontheway.