Ohio State Representative Jim Buchy, a former horse owner and a longtime friend of harness racing at the track and in state government, has been selected as the 31st Little Brown Jug Wall of Fame Honouree by the Delaware County Fair.
Buchy served in the Ohio House from 1983 until he was term-limited in 2000. He was re-appointed to the Ohio House in 2011 to represent the 84th District, which encompasses Mercer County, as well as portions of Auglaize, Darke and Shelby counties. Following his first stint in the House, Buchy served as Assistant Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture.
Buchy, a native of Greenville, Ohio, has supported the sport on several occasions including full-card simulcasting legislation in the 1980s and was a tireless supporter of the efforts to bring the Video Lottery Terminals (VTLs) to Ohio's racetracks. A portion of the VLT and casino proceeds are used to increase purses, improve facilities and promote racing at the Ohio county fairs and commercial tracks.
“Harness racing doesn’t have a better friend than Jim Buchy,” noted Robert Schmitz, chairman of the Ohio State Racing Commission. “He has helped establish the Gene Riegle Memorial Pace, rejuvenated the Parshall Futurity and continues to look for ways to get young Ohioans into the sport.”
Former general manager of the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association, Jerry Knappenberger, agreed. “There is no bigger supporter of harness racing and the Little Brown Jug. He understands the economic impact of harness racing and the importance of county fairs.”
Buchy will be presented the Wall of Fame jacket and wall plaque during the 2015 Little Brown Jug week (September 20 – 24).
(Little Brown Jug)