by Bill Peters

Hicksville, OH — The Defiance County Fair at Hicksville, Ohio concluded its two-day meet on Friday night with a thirteen-race program. Bouncy pony and stick-horse races along with tee-shirt tosses also highlighted the evening’s festivities.

Tom Moore, Jr. piloted the Park Stable’s Jesse’s Touch (Jailhouse Jesse-Touching Heaven) to his first lifetime win in the 2-year-old colt trot. Moore also trains the gelding, which circled the Hicksville oval in 2:06.4.

Eckley Lane Emily (Scallion Hanover-Our Lady Countess) took the 3-year-old filly pace in 2:02. Kennard Grieser is the filly’s owner-trainer with Jerry Lighthill doing the driving.

Matt Rheinheimer steered Lil Train (Trainforthefuture-Incredible Macho) to victory in the 2-year-old filly trot. Larry Rheinheimer trains Lil Train with Mike Collins picking up the expenses. The filly picked up her first lifetime win in 2:10.2.

John Schuberg’s Cruznwithdabigdog (Yankee Cruiser-Senorita) captured the 3-year-old colt pace in 2:02.2. Schuberg also trains the gelding with Greg Bateson providing the driving services.

Livin Big (Art’s Chip-Tomboy Hall) won the Jay and Helen Volkert Memorial 2-year-old pace in 2:05.2. Chad Peter trains and drives the colt with Lee and Michele Peter being the owners. The Jay and Helen Volkert Memorial was a late closer sponsored by the Defiance County Area Horsemen Association and carried a purse of $2,750.

This Sands Hot trotted a 2:04 mile in capturing the Kermit Peter Trot, which is a part of the Signature Series. John Konesky III is the owner-trainer-driver of This Sands Hot. The 2:04 mile matched the winning time for Baked Azalea on Tuesday night for the fastest trot of the week. Baked Azalea is owned by Orrin Turner and was driven by his daughter Olivia.

The final race of the fair provided the week’s fastest mile when Cole Fitzwater guided Ralph Roughton’s Indian’s Rocket to a 1:58.1 mile. The connections for This Sands Hot, Baked Azalea, and Indian’s Rocket all received special awards for their fast miles. The final special award went to Scott Christner as the fair’s leading driver.