by Bill Peters

Edgerton, OH — The Paulding County Fair at Paulding, Ohio opened up the 2017 Ohio Fair Racing Conference season with a successful three-day meet on Wednesday (June 14) with their second straight 11-race card.

The first session on Monday (June 12) consisted of 13 races. Good weather and a good track prevailed on Monday and Wednesday, but Tuesday’s program was contested on a sloppy track after a late-afternoon thunderstorm hit the Paulding County Fairgrounds.

The fastest pacing time of the week was shared by Dancin Fever (Indian Fever-First To Cruise) and Senator Charlie (Well Said-Ciela Hanover) as both stopped the timer at 1:57.

Dancin Fever’s win came in the fourth division of the 3-year-old male pace. The gelding is co-owned by Bill Webb and the D and K Stables, LLC. Webb also does the training with Jason Brewer picking up the winning catch-drive.

Senator Charlie picked up his victory in capturing the inaugural Paulding County Pace for free-for-all pacers. The 4-year-old gelding is owned by Hayter Stables LLC with Greg Bateson doing both the training and driving.

Tori’s Chip (Deep Chip-I’m A Ridge Girl) toured the Paulding twice-around in 2:03.4 for the fastest trotting mile of the meet. Her win came in the third division of the 3-year-old filly trot. Tori’s Chip is owned by Phil Groves with his father Harry providing the training services and Pierce Henry doing the driving.

Greg Bateson was the leading driver for the week with six trips to the winner’s circle. Herb LeVan had the most training wins with four.

The Ohio Ladies Pace Series opened up its third season with five ladies competing in race nine on Wednesday. Trainer-driver Jamie Coffy steered John Geaghan Jr.’s Pow Chicka Pow Pow (Real Desire) to a winning mile in 1:59.4 to gain the early lead in points for the Ohio Ladies Pace Series which culminates with a final at the Delaware County Fair during Grand Circuit week in September.

Congratulations to Speed Superintendent Gus Davis on doing a great job in his first year in that role. Also, a big thanks to many other Paulding County Fair Board members who pitched in to help out in many different capacities. It was definitely a team effort by the Fair Board to put on the successful meet.

Susan Schroeder, the Project Coordinator for the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association, was on hand during Tuesday’s races with the OHHA’s “Racing with the Stars” exhibit. The exhibit provides information and entertainment for racing fans, both young and old. The Bouncy Pony races that were planned for that evening had to be canceled due to the sloppy track.

Trot and Pace Marketing videotaped the races all three evenings. Replays of the races should soon be available to be viewed at www.trotandpacemarketing.com.

Harness racing will resume in the Ohio Fair Racing Conference when the Marion County Fair at Marion brings back racing in 2017 after dropping it from their fair’s program several years ago. Racing at Marion will take place on Monday (July 3) and Tuesday (July 4) with an 11 a.m. post time each day.