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In
her debut race Friday, Stacey Nisonger crossed the line
with JJ's Rosie for her first ever racing
victory. Just as it was
Nisonger's first race and win, it may have been Rosie's last career
start as the horse
will soon become a mommy. CNO Photo by George Starks
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There’s
a new Nisonger in town
By George Starks
GREENVILLE- If it wasn’t enough that harness horse drivers had to
contend with Darke County native, Jeff Nisonger, now there’s a new
Nisonger in town.
Stacey!
Friday, the bride of Jeff Nisonger took to the track at the Darke
County Fair. In the third race of the day, the lady climbed into the
sulky behind JJ’s Rosie.
In that race, her husband was driving Lil Miss Alibi, a horse owned by
Cindy Austin who once was the owner of JJ’s Rosie.
No one expected Rosie to pull off a win knowing the mare is about four
months pregnant and possibly starting her last career race.
“When Rosie went to the gate, her ears perked up and I knew she was
ready to race,” said Stacey. “She was smooth out there and she was easy
to handle.”
With it being her first race and possibly the last for Rosie, Nisonger
was nervous but ready.
“I was told not to miss the gate and Rosie and I were the first ones
there,” Nisonger said.
With her husband on the track, Stacey had two things on her mind,
winning and beating Jeff.
“I was all smiles when I hit the finish line,” Stacey admitted. “It was
a thrill. I never really knew how close the rest of the field was. When
we hit the 3/4 point, I was concentrating on my horse and never felt
the others. Knowing this could have been her last race, it was very
special for me.”
When Jeff first took a horse out, his mother Debbie was a bundle of
nerves. When her daughter-in-law went to the gate Friday, the nerves
returned.
“I’m immune to Jeff now,” said Debbie. “With Stacey out there for the
first time, it felt like it did when Jeff was out there for the first
time. It was very nerve-racking. I was worried about Stacey because I
didn’t know how close the guys were going to get to her. I was very
nervous.”
When the field hit the pole at the half, Stacey was leading the field
in a blazing time of 59.3.
“At that point, I really didn’t think Stacie was going to have any
horse left,” said Debbie. “The guys just never caught up with her so it
was a great feeling.”
With winning her debut race that afternoon, Stacey hit the track that
evening in the eighth race of the night in the ladies only race.
In that race, Nisonger took Cherokee Ryder to the winners circle in a
time of 2:01.
To date, Stacey Nisonger is two-for-two when it comes to winning.
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