The Pickaway County Fair kicked off the 2016 Ohio Colt Racing Association stakes races with two beautiful days of harness racing this past weekend.
Saturday's (June 18) card of 17 races and Sunday's (June 19) card of 16 races featured 28 stakes races and five overnights, including the Steamin Demon Pace, a local history lesson and feature race.
With more than $90,000 in purse money available, the horsepeople turned out with more than 200 colts and fillies and the fans lined the backstretch fences and enjoyed the view from the stands with the Adelphi Community Band on Saturday and the Pumpkin Show Band on Sunday.
The speed committee at Circleville deserve kudos as they had great publicity, advertisements, giveaways and plenty of food vendors. They also promoted several races with honourariums to horsepeople through the ages in Pickaway County.
John Fissell and Tish Arledge memorial races were held on Saturday and Forrest Short, Bill Mayhugh and Edward ‘Yock’ Strawser memorials were raced on Sunday. Two Pickaway County campaigners were also honoured in the Macs Classic trot and the Steamin Demon pace. Sixty-plus years after Stemin Demon won the hearts of round town fans, the Van Camp family was on hand to present trophies in the feature race and the George W. Van Camp trot.
With two-sub 2:00 races and several others right at the mark, the track was fast and well maintained by the crew. Steve Carter led all trainers with four wins, while Jim Arledge Jr. and Bret Schwartz posted doubles on Saturday's card. The ladies were not to be outdone, with several driving, and Sherri Holliday and Devan Miller sending winners to the post.
(Pickaway County Fair)