by Regina Mayhugh, communications director, Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association

Columbus, OH — A total of 657 Standardbreds have been nominated to the Ohio Fair Racing Conference, with 598 nominated for all 20 fairs that have joined the OFRC in 2015.

The 657 nominated racehorses represent nearly 50 percent of the 1,324 eligible Ohio-sired 2- and 3-year-old trotters and pacers.

The OFRC is represented by 20 fairs in 18 counties throughout the state of Ohio and was established to simplify the staking process for horsemen, to reduce the complexity of administering the racing program by Fair Boards, and to increase harness racing participation at the fairs.

The OFRC has an eight-member board — four appointed by the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association — and has four nominated by the Ohio Fair Managers Association. Regional coordinators Bill Peters and Todd Brown will facilitate the harness racing program at these 20 fairs for 2015.

For more information about the conference, visit the web page here or on Facebook at this link.