by Tom White, publicity director, the Little Brown Jug

Delaware, OH — Tammy Hoovler, a harness horse breeder and owner since 1968, is the 2012 Lady Pace honoree. The Pataskala, Ohio, native will be honored in winner’s circle ceremonies on Jug Day afternoon at the Delaware, Ohio County Fair.

Tammy Hoovler

“I grew up on a dairy farm with my mother Helen and my father Kenneth (Ted) Foor. My Dad’s father, Elmer Foor, also raced horses as early as 1918. Our dairy farm is now Medoland Farms and we only have horses.

“My father instilled the love of horses in me. He was a dairy farmer and did not have the time to train his horses. He would milk the cows in the morning and then take his and many other farmers’ milk to Columbus each afternoon. But, he always loved having horses between our house and the barn because he said it reminded him that, as hard as dairy farming was, it was worth doing because it allowed him to race horses.

“I was my dad’s sidekick and I loved to work with him after our horses raced. They were so much calmer and nicer to be around. I even got to skip school once, which was all Mom would allow, to watch a horse race.

“One of my father’s best horses was Herkimer, who won the 1949 Governor’s Cup 3-year-old filly trot at the Ohio State Fair. Scotty Welch was his trainer.”

Tammy graduated from The Ohio State University in 1965 with a degree in music education. She taught school for a couple of years and then became director of music and choir director for the Pataskala United Methodist Church for 33 years. She now sings in the choir under the direction of her daughter, Amy.

Tammy married Skip Hoovler in 1965 and they have three children: Jennifer, Amy and Bret, who was named for world champion pacer and Little Brown Jug winner Bret Hanover.

Skip graduated from Ohio University and was an All-American football player and later played in the NFL. Skip, who is also a native of Pataskala, is past president and current director of the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association and a current District 1 Director of the U.S. Trotting Association.

In 1968, Tammy’s father gave Tammy and Skip their first horse. His name was Moon Eagle and Tammy described him as a hump back, beer drinking horse who went on to become the mascot of “Losers Week” at Los Alamitos Racetrack in California.

The Hoovlers have owned some major Ohio stakes winners like Medoland Sam, Medoland Partner, Medoland Don, Medoland Miracle and Northmedo Tam. The Hoovlers were partners in these horses with Bob and Polly Sidley and Pat and Mike Medors. Mike Medors trains the horses owned by Tammy and Skip.

“My name is on the program as the owner of these horses, but it is my husband who makes all of the decisions. However, Skip and Mike did listen to me when I wanted to breed one of our mares to Falcon Almahurst. As a result, we got Medoland Partner, who was a terrific 2-year-old stakes winner.”

One of Tammy’s responsibilities is to name the foals.

“We have eight grandchildren and each one has a horse named after them. The Ohio 2002 2-year-old filly Trotter of the Year, Medoland Miracle, was named for our grandson who had a major children’s illness and it was a wonderful miracle that he survived. Our eight grandchildren are Kelsey, Carter, Dolen, Bryce, Lindey, Kendall, Jate and Campbell.”

The Hoovlers attend the Delaware Grand Circuit each year.

“I have missed very few Jugs. Skip and I rent a camper and we stay at the fairgrounds all week. It is sort of a meeting place for all of our friends. One of the best things about harness racing is the friends you make. We get to see them each year at Delaware and again at Lexington during the Red Mile Grand Circuit.”

The Hoovlers have raced many horses during the Delaware Grand Circuit.

“When Medoland Tam lost by a head I was crushed. I was sitting in the top row of the grandstand and yelling like crazy. I was even more crushed when I saw this lady walk away from the winner’s circle with her flowers and the trophy.”

When Tammy learned from Fair Manager Phil Terry that she was to be the Lady Pace honoree, she “thought this honor should go to my father or my husband….but then I realized that they are not ladies.”