by Tami Hartman, for the Pickaway County Fair

Circleville, OH — The Pickaway County Fair opens this weekend with two days of harness racing action. As part of Sunday’s (June 17) program, a memorial will be held to honor two horsemen with strong ties to the Pickaway County Fair who passed away in the last year.

Jim Arledge, Sr., was born in Circleville in 1934 and was always around horses. His father, Bill Arledge, had worked horses and got into harness racing when his son, Harlow, gave him a pacer named Hideaway Pat who raced from 1961 to 1972 and earned over $100,000.

Mr. Arledge began his 50-year-long horse training career by helping his dad train horses at the Pickaway County Fairgrounds. Arledge trained many sires stakes winners over the years including Schimmi Hill, English Rose, Tutu Twain, Tweedle D and Up Front Cruiser. One of his best was the 1984 3-year-old trotting filly Sires Stakes champion, Toots Chip. He was also a familiar sight at county fairs around the state.

Mr. Arledge had suffered ill health for several months and passed away on May 19 of this year. The Arledge family racing legacy continues with son Jim Arledge Jr., who operates a large stable racing throughout the U.S. and Canada, and grandsons Dustin Arledge and Jeff and Matt Amann all working in the industry.

The other honoree, Craig Parker, was born in 1962 and raised on the east side of Columbus. Mr. Parker’s involvement in harness racing started at a very young age when he tagged along with older brothers Doug and Denny to Scioto Downs to clean their horses’ stalls. Over the years he continued to learn the horse business until he was old enough to start training and buying his own horses.

Mr. Parker was involved in every aspect of the sport, and for the past 30 years his wife and children accompanied him to various racetracks and fairs to cheer on all of the horses they’ve owned.

For the past two years, Mr. Parker volunteered his time at the Pickaway County Fair as an official timer of the races.

Mr. Parker passed away April 9, 2012, after a 3-1/2 month battle fighting colon, liver and stomach cancer.

A short presentation honoring Arledge and Parker will be held between races on Sunday. Harness races will also be held on Saturday (June 16).

Prize drawings, including Cincinnati Reds tickets and Phoenix Golf Links gift certificates, will be held between races. Pari-mutuel wagering will be available. Post time for the races will be at 1 p.m. Admission is free.