On the first day of the annual four-day harness racing meet at the State Fair of West Virginia in this city in the southeastern part of the state, War Chief won the featured $2,000 Open Trot, which honoured the late George Aide, well-known throughout the middle Atlantic states for his top-notch racing stable (emphasizing trotters and “Red Oak’s” horses) and a very good friend of a healthy racing program at his native state fair.

The Royal Palm gelding War Chief raced in the pocket behind a very measured pace set by Net Revenue, then was moved to the outside off the third turn of the half-mile track by owner/trainer/driver Ammon Hershberger and challenged the leader, going by at the three-quarter pole and then coming home in :29.2 to dash any hopes of a comeback from Net Revenue in the 2:05.4 mile.

Driver Jeff Lieberman joined with trainer Jimmy Viars and owner Susan Viars for two victories on the card, with the fastest mile of the day coming from one of their horses, who at age 13 has more years on him than the three other winners on the card combined (they were six, three, and three). B Blissful proved the best in a $1,500 pace in a snappy 2:00.2 over the fairgrounds oval, with the greybeard now sporting a bankroll of $303,585.

Team Lieberman/Viars/Viars’ other winner was Royal Red, a Dream Away sophomore gelding making his first start since winning his divisional Virginia-bred championship last September. Royal Red came home in 1:00.1 – :29.2 in showing no rust during his 2:05 mile.

The second division of Royal Red’s classification went to the Big Bad John filly Amazon Girl, breaking her maiden in her 14th start while showing good speed in a 2:02.2 win for driver Jamaal Denson, trainer Rico Johnson, and owner Mioshae Hughes.

Racing will continue at the SFOWV with twilight cards on both Tuesday and Wednesday, and then a Thursday getaway card featuring free-for-all events on both gaits beginning at 1 p.m.