by Regina Mayhugh, Communications Director, Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association

Columbus, OH — Eldorado Scioto Downs Racino was filled with excitement Wednesday (Aug. 17) 20 charities joined the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association at their fourth annual Charity Night at the Races event as horses raced to make a difference. This year’s event was expanded into two races with a total of $31,500 being donated to various charities throughout Ohio.

Conrad photo

Representatives from the 20 charities gathered trackside.

Representatives from 20 charities enjoyed a dinner out near the track for an up-close and personal night of harness racing experience. The charities were joined by OHHA representatives who hosted each group as they spent the evening watching and learning about harness racing while they anticipated the big money that they could take home to their charity later in the evening.

The charities each described their organizations to fans as Clark Donley of Sunny 95 interviewed them and many of them had table displays set up. The Racing with the Stars tent was a fun place to be as charities won t-shirts and rides in the starting gate with starter Bob Mount.

The designated charity races were races six and eight. Prior to each race, a representative from each group went to the winner’s circle where they were coupled with a horse and driver via a random draw.

The following lists were the combinations drawn:

Race 6
1 Rocknrollroyalty — ALS Association- Central & Southern Ohio Chapters
2 Ollie Pop — American Cancer Society
3 Rocky Express — Canine Companions for Independence
4 Smuggler’s Hold — National Parkinson Foundation-Ohio
5 Big Glory — Alzheimer’s Association-Central Ohio Chapter
6 American Paradise — Mid-Ohio Foodbank
7 Chattanooga Jim — Make a Wish- Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana
8 Western Redhot — Ohio FFA Foundation
9 Prince Giovanni — Ronald McDonald House of Central Ohio
10 Bad Boy Boomer — Shriner’s Hospital for Children-Cincinnati

Race 8
1 Grams Legacy — Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of Central Ohio
2 Port Side — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Ohio
3 Screen the Call — Hope Center
4 Come And Get’Em — New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program
5 Ya Gotta Go — CA Group
6 Justin’s Money — JDRF Diabetes Foundation of Central Ohio
7 Yes Your Mattjesty — Children’s Hunger Alliance
8 The Ladies Man — The Ohio 4-H Youth Development
9 Cladslastmpression — American Red Cross
10 Real Future — Arthritis Foundation- Central Ohio

Based on where the horses finished, the charities received a donation of $5,000 to the charity with the winning horse; $2,500 for second place; $1,250 for third place; and $1,000 each for those horses finishing fourth through tenth. Each representative lined up in the winner’s circle and the group was cheering as the starting gate roared past the start to send off the field of pacers. The charities were all jumping up and down cheering loudly with anticipation rising to see how their horse would finish and who would bring home the big prize money. Following the race, the charities joined in for the winner’s photo.

Chattanooga Jim took home the first big win for Make a Wish, crossing the wire in 1:53 with Josh Sutton in the sulky in the sixth race. Smuggler’s Hold and Jeremy Smith were hot on the trail bringing the $2,500 win to the National Parkinson Foundation as they came home in second. Third place in the sixth went to Mid-Ohio Foodbank with American Paradise.

Race eight, the second charity race of the night, was just as exciting when Ya Gotta Go with Randy Tharps in the sulky won the $5,000 donation for the CA Group, from Celina, Ohio. This group could have won on excitement alone as they cheered on horse No. 5.

Janet Raspberry, manager at CA Group Inc. summarizes their experience, “We brought two of the people that we serve with us last night and they had a great time. One of them was able take a starting gate ride, which he was very excited about. The other went up to get our horse number and was so excited yelling for our horse to win. None of us had ever been to a horse race so it was a great experience for all of us. We want to thank you again for letting us be a part of your charity night.”

Come And Get’em finished second, driven by Chris Page and brought the $2,500 win to New Vocations Racehorse Adoption program, followed by Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s third with Grams Legacy and Greg Grismore.

The OHHA would like to thank the charities for participating, OHHA representatives who hosted the groups, Bob Mount for the starting gate rides and Eldorado Scioto Downs Racino staff and management team for hosting the event and everything they did to host such a great evening at the races.