The Delaware County Fair has announced that Cindi Johnson, the recently retired award winning outrider, will be honoured as the 2018 Lady Pace Honoree, and Gary King and William ‘Bill’ Cawley will be honoured as the Joseph Neville Memorial Award Recipients.
Johnson started as an outrider in 1997 at Florida’s Pompano Park. She moved to Ohio in 2003 and started working at Ohio tracks. She served as the Delaware outrider from 2007 through 2017.
Unnoticed by many until an accident occurs, an outrider assists the drivers and trainers on the track prior to and sometimes during the races. Johnson was considered by many to be the finest outrider.
In 2010, Johnson was honoured by the United States Harness Writers Association with its LeeAnne Pooler Unsung Hero Award. The Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association honoured Johnson with a special award in 2017.
Johnson retired in 2017 along with her horse and partner of 17 years, Beau.
Gary King was a longtime realtor and broker for his own company, King Realty, since 1971. He had a lifelong love of horses and for many years he was the ‘stallman’ during Little Brown Jug week. Gary and his wife also announced the All Horse Parade.
Bill Cawley was a life-long supporter of the Delaware County Fair and the Little Brown Jug and worked in the log cabin for 20 years. Professionally, he worked over 20 years as store manager for Woodhouse Lynch and went on to found his own business, Cawley Clothiers.
King passed away on March 28, 2018 at the age of 73 and Cawley passed away on January 3, 2018 at the age of 74.
Cindi Johnson and ‘Beau’ in action at the Delaware County Fair
(Little Brown Jug)