by Bill Peters

Edgerton, OH — Nineteen-year-old Pierce Henry of Leipsic, OH had a stellar week at his home fair in Ottawa, which plays host to the Putnam County Fair. Henry drove a total of 12 horses during the two-day meet on Tuesday (June 21) and Wednesday (June 22). Of the 12 horses, six came home first with one second and one third.

Henry’s week got off to a good start with wins in his first two drives on Tuesday (June 21). He piloted John’s Jessi Bird (Big Bad John-Sam’s Clever
Babe) to a victory in Race 5, which was the second division of the 3-year-old filly pace. He came right back with another win in Race 6 behind Barleysbigstar (Charley Barley-Brokenstar) in the second split of the 2-year-old filly pace.

Henry also trains both of the fillies and co-owns John’s Jessi Bird with James Heiing. Heiing picks up all of the bills on Barleysbigstar.

Wednesday (June 22) proved to be an even bigger day for Henry. He started with a second-place finish with Renee Lu (Neely Dunn-Perceptive Caviar) in the first division of the 2-year-old filly trot in Race 1. Henry is the trainer of Renee Lu and also co-owns with Heiing. His first of four wins on the program came in Race 2 when he steered Dancin Fever (Indian Fever-First To Cruise) to victory in the first split of the 2-year-old colt pace. After a third-place finish in Race 4 with Gertie Jean (His Highness-See Her Majesty) in the second division of the 2-year-old filly trot, Henry found the winner’s circle again in Race 6 with Barley Up (Charley Barley-Leave It Upto Me) in the second split of the 2-year-old colt pace.

He capped off the evening with winning drives in the fair’s final two races. Slide Ruler (A Stud Named Sue-Baby Slide) was the winning mount in Race 13 in the third division of the 3-year-old colt pace while Harvard’s Z Tam (Electric Yankee-Slick Fit) paced to a new pacing track record of 1:57 in the Signature Series Pace in Race 14.

All of Henry’s drives on Wednesday (June 22) were catch-drives except for the one with Renee Lu.

Henry will probably spend the remainder of the summer plying his trade at fairs in northwestern Ohio in the Ohio Fair Racing Conference and the Western Ohio Colt Racing Association.

Occasional drives in sires stakes action at Scioto Downs and Northfield Park could also be on his schedule.