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Ohio
State Representative, Jim Buchy delivered the keynote speech at the
Annual Darke County Harness Horsemen's Association awards banquet
Saturday at the Elks Lodge. CNO Photos By George Starks
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DCCHA holds annual awards banquet
Buchy keynote speaker
By George Starks
GREENVILLE- The 2013 edition of Darke County harness racing was officially closed outSaturday night at the Greenville Elks.
Local drivers and horses were recognized with 12 classes of
Standardbreds filling the bill, with all driver and horses are listed
at the bottom.
Also, the election of officers were held as Kerby Wilcox was re-elected
as the DCHHA president while his long running vice president, Ronnie
Richards, stepped down with Gavin Bixler receiving the votes as the new
vice to Wilcox.
Debbie Nisonger was re-elected as the association secretary with Cassie Bixler being elected as the treasurer.
Richards, along with Dave Brumbaugh were elected as the new three year trustees.
Ohio State Representative Jim Buchy and longtime member of the
Horseman’s Association, Judy Fourman was awarded Honorary Achievement
awards while Dick Holsapple and Carl Wade were given Lifetime
Achievement Awards.
Buchy served as the keynote speaker for the evening.
“There is no county fair in Ohio that is better for racing than
Darke County,” said Buchy. “We are the MECCA of harness horse racing in
the state and it’s only going to get better.”
As with any sport, there are highs and lows and Buchy touched on the passing of longtime driver, Chip Noble.
“Chip, like most of us in this room, grew up working in horse stalls,”
Buchy pointed out. “He, like our own Gene Riegle, was the epitome of
what it means to be ‘gentlemen’ in this sport. What they did by
example, if we all emulate that, we will all have very successful
careers. Chip gave tremendously to the sport and he raced practically
every year in Darke County.”
After touching on Noble, Buchy went to the excitement of what’s happening in the sport, starting with the Sire Stakes.
“In 2011, the Sire Stakes finals in Ohio was $75,000,” Buchy stated.
“In 2012 it was 100,000 and in 2013, it was $150,000. This year, it
will be $200,000 so it’s just unbelievable right now with how fast
we’re coming and that’s with Scioto Downs being the only track open.
When the other three get to running, lookout! It’s only going to get
better. We had a big influx of cash last year and we got another
infusion this year. Our goal for The Little Brown Jug is to get to a
million or a million and a half dollars as fast as possible. If we can
get there, the best horses won’t skip it. I don’t care what”
It was just over a week ago when the Ohio Harness Racing Association had its annual Banquet.
At that banquet, Hall of Fame driver, John Campbell was one of the guest speakers.
Buchy quoted Campbell saying, “As horsemen, we can’t take this phase,
the new influx of money, without promoting the product. The gaming
companies aren’t going to promote horseracing,” said Buchy. “They have
their hands full promoting their own product so we have to do that. Our
number one priority should be to promote a product that is competitive,
exciting and one that offers multiple betting opportunities. Let’s face
it, the more money that’s spent, the more money that comes back to the
horsemen.”
Buchy also spoke about rules that have been on the books for quite some time that the commission has started to force.
“Kicking horses, leaning back and other things need to stop and the
commission in Columbus is enforcing these rules,” Buchy pointed out.
“We have to keep the illegal drugs out of the barns. We have to put the
finest product on the track and when we do, we will grow. The betting
handle was up at Scioto and we have obtained new fans to the sport.
They were coming over from the racino to the track by the droves. When
Monroe, Dayton and Northfield are running, the people are going to
come. We got competitive races and bigger purses. We are going to get
better. If we don’t have an honest product on the track, we’re going to
lose the fans as fast as we got them. It’s that simple. If we do our
jobs in the barns and on the track, we’ll be the powerhouse we once
were. Not only in Ohio but right here in Darke County, just like we’ve
always been.”
The 2014 Spring Matinee will be held on May 18, starting at noon.
According to Wilcox, the 2013 Matinee featured 120 horses with 22 heats being contested.
Again in 2014, the Horsemen will be selling chicken dinners. Wilcox said in 2013, there were 280 dinners sold.
Watch CNO for future updates.
Top horses in 2013:
2 year old Colt pace; Cherokeewowowillie
Owned by Indian Creek Farms and trained by Kent Wilcox
2 year old Filly Pace; Miss Metro Fitz
Owned by Kirby and Lori Sutton and Shayla Urlage. The
horse is trained by Steve Weimer
2 year old Colt Trot; Hoosier Rascal
Owned and trained by Bill Clark
2 year old Filly Trot; Baby Steps
Owned by Michael Bardo and trained by Dan Purdue
3 year old Colt Trot; Truly My Way
Owned by Mandy Jones and trained by Brian Jones
3 year old Filly Pace; Virgin Girl
Owned by Scott & Kim Rudnick. Trained by Katie Dirckesn
3 year old Colt Trot; Futuristic Bride
Owned and trained by Jeff Boylard
Aged Horse Pace; Charley’s Fastcat
Owned by Indian Creek Farms and trained by Kent Wilcox
Aged Mare Pace; Sugar Foot
Owned by Gavin and Brad Bixler and trained by Gavin Bixler
Aged Horse Trot; Online Auction
Owned by Jeff Bolyard and trained by Jeff Bolyard
Aged Mare Trot; Telsa
Owned by Gene Brown and Jeff Simmons. Trainer is David
Brumbaugh
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The
14 owners of the top horses in the county for 2013 are from left to
right; Front Row- Beth Wilcox, Shayla Urlage, Kirby Sutton, Bill Clark,
Michael Bardo, Mandy Jones and Kim Rudnick. Back Row- Beth Simmons, Don
& Jeff Bolyard, Kerby Wilcox and Brad Bixler.
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Honorary
Achievement Award winners were Judy Fourman and Jim Buchy. Pictured
with them
are Deb Nisonger (far left) Kerby Wilcox (back) and Ronnie Richards
(right).
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Lifetime
Achievement Winners were Dick Holsapple and Carl Wade.
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Officers
elected were Cassie Bixler (Treasurer), Gavin Bixler (V.P.), Kerby
Wilcox (President), Ronnie Richards (New Trustee), Deb Nisonger
(Secretary), Richard Delk (Trustee) and Brian Jones (Back), Trustee.
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