Edgerton, OH — For the past four years female drivers participated in the Ohio Ladies Pace Series at fairs in the Buckeye State. This year the ladies have picked up a major sponsor with the gracious support of Spring Haven Farm. Therefore, the series will now be known as the Spring Haven Farm Ladies Driving Series.

The term “pace” has also been dropped since three fairs will also offer races for the ladies driving trotters. As a part of Spring Haven Farm’s sponsorship, they will pick up the entry fee for the first five horses entered at each fair.

The following rules have also been adopted for the 2019 Spring Haven Farm Driving Series:

1. Any lady who commits to drive (not just programmed) must find a replacement if she does not drive, or pay the entry fee and lasix fee if the horse has to be scratched for having no driver.

2. Points will be earned for the final race at the Delaware County Fair in Delaware. The point system will be as follows: 1st – 50, 2nd – 25, 3rd – 12, 4th – 8, and 5th – 5. 10 points will also be awarded to each driver in each race for her participation. If a fair hosts a pacing race and a trotting race on the same day, the driver will only receive points for her better finish. If a fair hosts a pacing race and a trotting race on different days, the driver will receive points for both races.

3. The top eight point-winners will participate in the final at Delaware, which will be a pacing race. The top eight point-winners at the time of the Darke County Fair in Greenville will be invited to participate in the Annie Oakley Shoot Out race.

4. Ladies must have driven in at least six legs in the series to be eligible to drive in the final at Delaware.

5. Any horse entered in the final at Delaware must have raced in at least three legs in the series.

6. Any lady driving in the final at Delaware who is not driving a horse which she personally owns or trains may be subject to participate in an “open draw” for horses which are entered in the final.

7. Any horse racing in the final at Delaware could not have raced in a race with a base claiming price of more than $6,000 in its last six starts or a race with a purse higher than $5,000 in its last six starts. There will also be an also eligible of $5,000 claimers for the final.

8. Any driver currently under investigation or who has a pending positive test by the United States Trotting Association or any state racing commission is asked not to enter any races in the series until her case is cleared.

The Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association will be conducting a Food Bank giveaway in the winner’s circle after most of the Spring Haven Farm Ladies Driving Series races. The participating fairs will collect food items (the lady drivers are encouraged to contribute), and the OHHA will present a $100 check to a charity designated by the fair.

The Spring Haven Farm Ladies Driving Series will make its debut on Wednesday (June 12) at the Paulding County Fair in Paulding. The conditions at Paulding are “For horses that have not raced in a claiming race with more than a $6,000 claiming base in the last six starts or have not raced in a race with a purse higher than $5,000 in the last six starts
(AE: $5,000 claimers).” That means that a horse only needs to meet one of the three possible conditions to race at Paulding. It should be noted that this is worded slightly different than the conditions for the final at Delaware, and therefore has a different interpretation.

Anyone having any questions pertaining to the Spring Haven Farm Ladies Driving Series should phone Bill Peters at 419.298.7408 or Emily Hay at 419.733.5402.