by Bill Peters, Race Secretary at Mercer County Fair

Edgerton, OH — The Mercer County Fair at Celina, Ohio, hosted Western Ohio Colt Racing Association action on Sunday (Aug. 13) and Monday (Aug. 14) with record-tying and record-breaking being the name of the game. The overall pacing mark of 1:56.3 set by Look Yankee in 2012 was equaled on Sunday and then broken on Monday while the overall trotting record of 1:59.4 established by Tesla in 2014 was tied on Sunday’s card.

Hunchie (No Pan Intended-Famous Hunch) got the action started by pacing in 1:56.3 to capture the Trent Bates Memorial Pace. The 7-year-old gelding is owned by Robert Rodrigues and Chad Howell with Kent Wilcox doing the training and Cameron McCown handling the lines.

Two races later Paul Hershberger’s Secret Universe (Keep It A Secret-Up Front Donerail) took the Grand Lake Trot, a part of the Signature Series, in 1:59.4. Jim Roach trains the 5-year-old gelding with Jack Dailey performing the driving duties.

The overall pacing record fell in the Grand Lake Pace, also a part of the Signature Series, when the 4-year-old gelding Twinspeak (Well Said-Twin B Tiara) toured the Celina oval in 1:56.2.

Jack Dailey trains and drives Twinspeak with Randy Bond paying the bills.

Jack Dailey was the leading driver of the meet with six wins. Herb LeVan led all trainers by seeing three from his stable find the winner’s circle.

Congratulations to Bob Geist and Derek Menchhofer for putting on a great show and a big thanks to the track crew for having the track in great shape both sessions.

Racing will resume in the Western Ohio Colt Racing Association on Tuesday (Aug. 22) and Wednesday (Aug. 23) at the Allen County Fair at Lima. Post time each evening will be 6:30 p.m.