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Moveman
(above) and Take It Back Terry (pictured below) did what many
thought over 10 years ago would never be
done. Both horses set new
marks for the trot and pace at the 2013 Darke County Fair. CNO Photos
by Brad Conrad
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Fairboard
confirms records broken in 2013
A day to remember
By George Starks
DARKE COUNTY — I remember it all well.
It was the 2002 Great Darke County Fair and it was all happening in
front of the grandstands.
Harness horse racing and it was a day that records would fall.
On that day, a trotter named Primetime Ranger (trained and driven by
Jerry Landess and owned by Jon Tanner of Winchester, Ind.), would trot
the mile in a blistering time of 2:00 flat.
Quite fast for a trotter.
Also on that same day in a mile pace, Prince Sheldon N (driven by Jimmy
Whisman, owned by Greg Luther of Tampa, Fla., trained by John Robinson
who was the caretaker at that time of the Darke County Fairgrounds) in
the time of 1:54.4.
Needless to say, all that witnessed these records falling believed no
horse could ever touch those times.
In 2013, we were all proven wrong.
On the final day of racing, the horse named Moveman established the
Darke County Fair trotting track record, trotting the mile in 1:59
flat. Moveman was driven by Brandon Bates and owned and trained by
Marie Howard of Monroe, Ind.
The harness racing pacing record also last set in 2002 by for the mile
was broken the evening of Aug. 23.
Take It Back Terry established the Darke County Fair pace track record,
pacing the mile in 1:53.3. Take It Back Terry is trained by Ron Burke,
currently the leading trainer in North America, and was driven by North
America’s all time winningest driver, Dave Palone. Take It Back Terry
is owned by the Ron Burke Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, LLC., Lawrence Karr,
and Phillip Collura.
Even though I did not see Moveman break the record for the trot, I was
there to witness Take It Back Terry break the old record in the pace.
Like many, I was amazed at the way this horse got around the half mile
track.
It didn't take long for all to realize the history was going to be made
on this night.
What made it even better was the fact that it was the Gene Riegle
Memorial and the driver, Palone, had once driven one of Riegle's old
horses, Arts Place, to the winners circle years ago.
The way I see it, these two records may stand for years to come.
Then again, with the way the Riegle Memorial is growing, the pace might
just fall again next year.
Who knows.
If two race records weren't enough, Jack Daily lead the week of racing
with 17 wins as a driver, another Darke County Fair record.
Ok, let's make a fourth record out of this as well.
The purse for the Riegle was a record also at 20,000 dollars.
That may be larger next year....
Another Record for our great fair.
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