by Tami Hartman

Circleville, OH — This year’s Pickaway County Fair harness racing meet will see large increases in both horses entered and purse monies offered as a result of the revitalization of the sport fueled by the racinos now operating throughout the state of Ohio.

Like virtually all industries, harness racing was struck hard by the recession of 2008. The situation was made even more difficult by the fact that neighboring states Indiana and Pennsylvania were offering slots-enhanced purses and stakes programs which lured horses and owners away from the Buckeye State while here in Ohio, purses dwindled and the numbers of Standardbred horses bred and trained diminished accordingly.

Throughout this time period, the Pickaway County Fair managed to maintain a successful two-day race program, despite the challenges of limited fields and poor purses, but there were genuine worries for the future of racing at the fair. The influx of monies generated from VLT facilities and racinos such as nearby Scioto Downs is causing all of this to change. Owners and horses are returning to the state, and the breeding and stakes program is rebounding.

In 2014, a total of 205 horses were nominated to stakes races at the Pickaway County Fair. In the two-day race card, 151 horses raced for a total of $53,000 in purses. This year, more than 300 horses nominated to the fair, 185 will be racing, and total purses will be $81,247. For the horsemen, of course, this is a tangible sign that the industry is regaining its feet here in the state. For the spectators, it means larger fields, more competitive horses, more exciting races, and better betting options and payoffs.

The fair as a whole benefits from this industry revitalization as well. Always a popular training center in the wintertime, the fairgrounds is now full of horses year-round, generating steady revenue. Additionally, the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association has awarded $10,000 to the fair, $2,000 of which is designated for the general fund.

This year’s Pickaway County Fair race meet will be held Saturday (June 20) and Sunday (June 21). Post time is 1 p.m.