by Bill Peters

Edgerton, OH — While the Allied forces were continuing their invasion of the Italian island of Sardinia on Sept. 18, 1943, a 9-year-old roan gelding named Coney Azoff was establishing a new world’s record for trotters at the Williams County Fair at Montpelier, Ohio.

Coney Azoff captured the first heat in 2:04-1/2, took the second heat in 2:03-3/4, and finished off his day’s work by winning the third heat in 2:06. The combined time for the three heats of 6:14-1/4 was a new world’s record for three heats for a trotting gelding on a half-mile track. That record has never been broken. Coney Azoff was owned by John Abshire of Goshen, Ind. and was driven by Walt Dispannett of Muncie, Ind.

On Tuesday (Sept. 11), the Williams County Fair is honoring that world’s record on its 75th anniversary by hosting the Coney Azoff Free For All Trot during their harness racing program. The race will carry a purse of $2,500, plus the $50 entry fees of the competing horses. The race is limited to eight entries with no trainer having more than one entry. If more than eight horses are entered, Ohio sired or Ohio owned will have first preference with the top money winners in 2018 having second preference.

The evening’s program, which gets underway at 5 p.m., will also include all eight Ohio Fair Racing Conference colt and filly stakes, a trot for non-winners of $5,000 in 2018 with also eligible of non-winners of $1,000 since Aug. 1, 2018, $4,000 claimers, and 3-year-olds, and a pace for non-winners of $5,000 in 2018 with also eligible of non-winners of $1,000 since Aug. 1, 2018, $4,000 claimers, and 3-year-olds.

Entries for all races will close at 10 a.m. on Saturday (Sept. 8).

Entries may be made online through the United States Trotting Association or phoned to Bill Peters at 614.984.9515.