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Since its inception
in 2012, the Gene Riegle Memorial has gotten bigger
every year. Riegle was a pioneer in the Harness Horse Racing
profession. With horses like Western Hanover, Three Diamonds and Leah
Almahurst (L to R) Riegle is and always will be a household name in the
profession. Only the eight best horses in the world will be allowed to
run for the record, $30,000 dollar purse. CNO Photos submitted by Cindy
Austin and Tim Harless. Take It Back Terry driven by Dave Palone stands
in the winners circle after winning the Riegle Memorial in 2014.
Annual Riegle
Memorial hits $30,000 purse
New race added for Fillies and Mares
By George Starks
GREENVILLE- When the inaugural Gene Riegle Memorial was announced in
2012, there were only five horses on the track running for the $10,000
purse.
Emotions ran high that night as the family of the late Gene Riegle was
on hand to witness the event.
It was obvious. The people of the Great Darke County Fair had raised
the bar and was setting a new standard in harness horse racing.
It was a night that many thought would never be topped.
In 2013, the stakes were raised another $10,000 and the now unheard
purse of 20,000 dollars was on the table.
Eight horses took to the half mile track with big stakes on the line.
The 2014 edition of the Riegle Memorial will see the eight best
Standard Breds take to the track with a purse of $30,000 on the line
with $200 to start.
“We have a lot of sponsors for this race,” said Tim Harless in a phone
interview. “Last year, we had the all-time winningest driver and
leading trainer in North America here. The interest is there. When you
have that kind of money available, they want to race for it.”
While the Riegle Memorial speaks for itself, now there’s been a
new race thrown into the mix.
Riegle, known for producing the best of the best, had a gem in a horse
called Three Diamonds.
In 2014 a race will be contested for Mares and Fillies only and it will
be called The Three Diamonds.
“This was a horse that Gene trained,” said Harless. “As of right now,
I’ve got $4,000 and I’m hoping to get that higher before the fair
begins. It’s just another great tribute to Gene.”
With the $4,000 purse, the race will pay $50 to start.
A year ago, Harless said there were 13 or 14 horses entered and the
conditions allow for only the eight best.
This year, those conditions remain the same.
“Having that many horses entered is a nice problem to have,” Harless
admitted. “Last year we had seven horses that didn’t make it”
Opening night for harness racing will be Friday night August 15 with
two sessions on Saturday sessions the following Thursday and Friday.
On opening weekend, Friday and Saturday nights will feature the Ohio
Colt Racing Association events. Friday night also will feature The
Terry Thomas Memorial Signature Series Trot. Saturday night will
feature the Rhys Bowman Memorial Signature Series Pace.
The following Thursday and Friday night sessions will feature the Dr.
HM Parshall Memorial Futurity. All the sessions will host several
overnight events for both trotters and pacers.
The following Thursday and Friday night sessions will feature the Dr.
HM Parshall Memorial Futurity. All the sessions will host several
overnight events for both trotters and pacers.
Closing night will feature a giveaway of a collectable mug to the first
1,000 fans buying a racing program.
Nightly there will be t-shirt giveaways to the fans in the stands as
well as the fans that line the track by the Darke County Harness
Horsemen’s Association.
The Great Darke County Fair wishes to thank all of the sponsors and the
warm outpouring of contributions to make this year’s events possible.
Please check out all the sponsors, activities, & the condition
sheets at www.generieglememorial.com along with lots of photos and
information on Hall of Famer Gene Riegle.
All racing times can be found at darkecountyfair.com
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