by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — County fair racing has always been an integral part of harness racing and although not as prominent as it was prior to pari-mutuel betting, the county fairs continue to be the backbone of the industry.

In recent years the sire stakes programs in various states have been a boon to county fair racing. Purses are in the thousands now as compared to the hundreds prior to the sire stakes programs.

On Thursday (August 30) the finals in the New York County Fair Sire Stakes program will be presented at Monticello Raceway. Four $10,000 purses are in the offing, one each for 2-year-old pacers and trotters and one each for 3-year-olds on both gaits. Only the leading point earners in each division are eligible to compete.

They’ll go as races five, six, eight and nine on the 14-race card that afternoon.

Darron Hall, with a seasonal record of 2:00.3 at Tioga Downs, will get good backing in the 3-year-old trot final. Owned, trained and driven by Harold Smith, the Cash Hall-Highwaytoheaven gelding will start from post three in race five.

River Rising, a 1:55.3 qualifying race winner at Vernon Downs on August 24, will lead the parade in the 2-year-old pace final. Owned by Andy Gardner, the Riverboat King-Ashlee Lyn filly will leave from post six in race six with Chris Lems aboard.

In the sophomore pace, Ocean Mist, a 1:53.1 winner at Tioga Downs on July 10, will carry the favorite’s roll into that contest, race eight on the card. The Artiscape-Spring Mist gelding is owned, trained and will be driven by Truman Gale when he starts from post three.

A final NYCFSS will feature freshman trotters. Ashes Cash, a Cash Hall-Ashameg colt with eight wins in nine starts, will be the one to beat. He sports a record of 2:02.1 taken at Vernon Downs and will start from post position four in race nine with Harold Smith at the controls.

First race post time will be at 12:50 p.m.