by Thom Pye, for the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association

Oak Harbor, OH — The Tuesday (July 18) 11-race card at the Ottawa County Fair had to begin without a starting gate for the first two races but everyone took it in stride and fans were witnesses to “the old fashioned way” as the Judges in the booth lined up the horses and started them together.

“Keep them in line gentlemen,” cautioned announcer Bill Peters and they were off without a hitch.

The first race $3,510 OFRC stake for 2-year-old pacing colts showcased a promising star for owner/trainer/breeder Joe Paver when Pierce Henry guided Carmensdaleyapple (Mr Apples-Mydaleybread) to his fifth consecutive win with a mile in 2:00.3h, last quarter in :28.2, as the speedy gelding remained undefeated in his inaugural season.

Ted Boschma’s 2-year-old trotting colt Mason Man (Manofmanymissions) scored his first lifetime victory in his $5,287 Ohio Fair Racing Conference division from the eight hole. The Kent Hess-trained/David Lake-driven youngster won easily in 2:06.3h but “got no respect” as there wasn’t a win, place, or show dollar bet on him.

Trainer Joe Paver took the second $3,435 OFRC division with co-owners and breeders Pearl Warren and Dennis Paver’s I’m Gorgeous 2-year-old I’m George Special. The gelded pacer scored his fourth consecutive victory with a new lifetime mark of 1:59h with Jack Dailey in the bike.

Owner/trainer/breeder Steve Novak’s Freaky Feeling Guy, a Feelin Friskie 2-year-old colt teamed by Art McIlmurry, would win the third $3,435 OFRC division in 2:00h.

The $4,922 second division of the OFRC stake showed that Bill Webb and D&K Stable’s Dancin Fever (Indian Fever) was actually a dancin’ machine as he and driver Mark Headworth equaled the track record for 3-year-old colt pacers with a front end mile of 1:55.3h, just a fifth of a second off the all-age track record posted by Tattler’s Jet back in 2006.

Headworth would have a three bagger as he also steered Hootintootinhannah to a 2:00.4h tight-finish victory in the FFA trot held in honor of the Ottawa County Harness Horsemen’s Association. It was this group that put in the foundation more than 40 years ago for these quality times and miles.

It is a sense of community and pride that you get from the officials, track workers, and everyone connected to Ottawa’s County Fair when they host their racing program. You can tell it in their step and their smile as they work behind the scenes as they want to make sure their Fair goes smoothly. A tip of the helmet to Oak Harbor, Ohio, for a job well done.