New faces at Scioto’s summer meet

by Dean A. Hoffman, for Scioto Downs

Columbus, OH — Veteran Ohio horseman and official Mike Woebkenberg will be the man who says “Go” when Scioto Downs starts its 50th anniversary celebration on Friday, May 9.

Scioto Downs photo

Mike Woebkenberg will be the starter at Scioto in 2008.

Woebkenberg started the races at Lebanon Raceway this past winter and will move into the same role at Scioto for its 68-program summer meet.

Woebkenberg knows what it’s like to have a horse behind the gate as he’s driven the winners of 120 races in his career, starting back when he was a teenager in the 1960s.

Barry Vicroy becomes the voice of Scioto Downs when he takes over at the microphone on opening night. He’s been involved in harness racing for decades, doing some training and driving while admiring the announcing styles of Sam McKee, Ken Warkentin, Steve Cross, and Roger Huston.

Vicroy has long been a regular at Ohio tracks and county fairs and he’ll sharpen his announcing skills at a matinee at Xenia on May 4.

After working at Scioto Downs for two seasons, Kathy Ferrell has been named Hospitality Manager and will be greeting patrons in the track’s clubhouse. A Circleville resident, Ferrell was educated as a massage therapist and plays the guitar and sings with a group that entertains in nursing homes.

Veteran Ohio horseman Perry E. Lambert of Lebanon will serve as identifier at the upcoming meet. The Dayton native began driving horses in the 1970s and has maintained a training stable in recent years.

Publicity and advertising will be handled by Hoffman Communications of Columbus, which is operated by Dean A. Hoffman.

The appointments were announced by Stacy Cahill, general manager for racing operations at Scioto Downs.

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