by Bill Peters

Hicksville, OH — The two-day harness racing meet at the Defiance County Fair at Hicksville, Ohio, opened Tuesday evening (August 23) with a new grandstand and a new atmosphere toward harness racing.

This is the first year that the program is under the supervision of the Defiance County Area Horsemen’s Association. A 17-race card featured a mixture of Ohio Fairs Fund, Signature Series, late closers, overnight and Trottingbred races.

Bouncy pony races and stick-horse races rounded out the evening’s festivities. The horsemen’s association also provided free food and drinks to the participating horsemen.

Justabout (Victory Sam-Over Proximity) won the 3-year-old filly trot in 2:06.3. Tom Moore, Jr. is the trainer-driver of Justabout with Tom Moore, Sr. paying the bills.

Ben Ott’s Friskie D (Feelin Friskie-Double E Hanover) found the winner’s circle in the 2-year-old filly pace after a mile in 2:07.2. Tom Marts, Jr. does the training and driving on Friskie D.

Nanner (Ilooklikemymom-Canaco Marlena) picked up his fifth consecutive victory in the 3-year-old colt trot. Emil Konesky picks up the expenses on the gelding with Mark Headworth providing the training and driving services. Nanner toured the Hicksville oval in 2:05.1.

Tatas Flash (Memphis Flash-Matata) remained undefeated in the 2-year-old colt pace with a mile in 2:06.2. Bob Figgins and Pam and Michelle Riedeman are the owners of Tatas Flash with Barbie Conner doing the training and Rodney Conner doing the driving.

The Chuck Peter Memorial 2-year-old Open Trot went to Mom’s Super Star (Saving Face-Ben-jo Player) in 2:11. Sam Hedington is the gelding’s owner-trainer-driver. The Chuck Peter Memorial was a late closing event and carried a purse of $2,800.

Lightening Watt captured the Gene L. Vance Memorial Pace in 1:59. Jason Elser is the owner-trainer-driver of Lightening Watt. The Gene L. Vance Memorial Pace is a part of the Signature Series.

Harness racing will conclude on Friday night (August 26) with a 13-race program. Post time for the first race will be 6:30 p.m.