The Ohio State Racing Commission has announced the appointment of Kimberly A. Rinker as administrator of the Ohio Standardbred Development Fund, effective immediately.

Rinker, who is a Springfield, Ohio native, an Ohio State University graduate (B.A. Journalism), a racing journalist and a Standardbred trainer, will develop and implement policies and procedures for the Ohio Standardbred Development Fund and the Ohio Sire Stakes programs.

Rinker will also serve as a liaison between the media and the OSRC, and work to promote the agency and the state's racing programs in a positive and innovative fashion via an updated website and through social media platforms. She will assist in the licensing of participants at the Ohio County Fairs, and will be visiting and inspecting the state's Thoroughbred and Standardbred breeding farms.

In addition, Rinker will assist the Thoroughbred Race Fund with marketing and promotion of the fund and its races.

Rinker has a 35-year involvement in the sport of harness racing as a writer, publicist and author. She served on the publicity staffs of Sportsman's Park, Scioto Downs, Maywood Park, Balmoral Park, and The Meadowlands, and has written for some of racing's top periodicals including Hoof Beats, Sports Eye, The Daily Racing Form, Harness Edge, Illinois Racing News, Midwest Thoroughbred and The Horseman & Fair World. She is the author of eight books, including Chicago's Horse Racing Venues and An Adventure Guide to Switzerland.

Rinker has also been involved as a trainer-driver, competing mostly on the Chicago circuit, and in 1995 represented the United States in the International Drivers Championship in Moscow, Russia as the lone female vying against 15 male rivals from various countries.

She has covered the sport in Australia, New Zealand, France, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany and Italy.

(OSRC)