by Judy Roland

What Cheer, IA — Sunday (Sept. 7) saw the concluding race program for 2014 at the Keokuk County Fairgrounds in What Cheer, Iowa.

Several 2-year-olds set new lifetime records on the track that the Iowa Harness Horsemen’s Association rebuilt in 2012 with the assistance of Dan Coon.

The track record for the pace was lowered to 1:57 by Tebow Time and driver Brandon Jenson.

Judy Roland photo

Congratulations to these gentlemen, John Dochterman, David Bunker and Jerry Hamilton for winning the Keokuk County Fair contest for choosing the greatest number of winning horses in the combined Pick-10. Out of the 10 days of racing this summer at What Cheer and 100 races in the progressive contest, each picked 56 winners.

Roland N Rock, a 2-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding, owned by Connie and Duane Roland, trained and driven by Duane Roland, thrilled the audience with a 1:58 mile over the half-mile track. In his 11 starts and 11 career wins, Roland N Rock has completed six sub-2:00 miles.

Sunday also saw the culmination of a Progressive Pick-10 that has had the fans at the What Cheer races competing for a $1,000 advertised prize.

Using the cards for the regular Pick-Ten, where a participant endeavored to pick the winners of races one through ten, a running total of wins picked by each participant was compiled through the 10 days of racing. Following the tenth race, three fans tied in picking 56 winners from 96 races.

Roger Roland, who conceived the game, presented each winner with $350 in cash in the winner’s circle.