It was a rare afternoon for Crist Hershberger at the Ashtabula County Fairgrounds in Jefferson, Ohio, on Thursday (Aug. 13), as he trained both horses involved in a dead heat.

Hershberger had the reins for Sheza Witch while Kurt Sugg drove Rose Run Wassup in the race for two-year-old fillies.

Hershberger took Sheza Witch to the lead and held the lead wire-to-wire. Sugg and Rose Run Wassup stalked her stablemate the entire race, getting up at the finish for the dead heat in 2:08.

“I’ve never had a dead heat for a win,” said Hershberger, who has been involved in dead heats for place and show.

Hershberger was disappointed he didn’t win the race outright.

“I should have gotten a little more out of the one I was driving, and it wouldn’t have been a dead heat.”

Unfortunately for Hershberger, he doesn’t have a winner’s circle picture to remember the race.

“I thought Kurt got me at the wire and I had to head back to the barn to get ready for the next race, so I didn’t go to the winner’s circle.”

(Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association)