Welcome to Ohio Fair Season. OHHA is pleased to continue to broadcast live fair races. You can catch those races on our YouTube Channel or on HarnessRacingOhio.com, where you can also grab a copy of the program an hour before post time!
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Due to the smoke from the Canadian wildfires, air quality in the Central Ohio area is at unsafe levels. Therefore, racing at Eldorado Scioto Downs on Friday (July 17) has been cancelled.
The directive from the Ohio State Racing Commission states that all racetracks are to use www.airnow.gov as the official site to use for air quality reading. If the reading is 175 or higher, all racing is to be cancelled.
The Buckeye Stallion Series races for 2-year-old filly pacers scheduled for Friday will be moved to Sept. 3 at Scioto Downs. The first leg will now be contested Thursday, July 23. The updated schedule for the five legs of the BSS is below.
Racing is scheduled to resume at Scioto Downs on Saturday (July 18).
Jackson County Fair Postponses Friday Races
Racing at the Jackson County Fair in Wellston, Ohio, on Friday (July 17) has been cancelled. Friday’s 10-race card has been postponed to Saturday (July 18) beginning at 12 p.m. as the first half of a doubleheader. Saturday’s 11-race card will begin at its originally scheduled time of 6 p.m.
Grand Circuit and Graded Stakes action come to Eldorado Scioto Downs on Saturday (July 18) with four $100,000 Grade 3 events – the Nadia Lobell and Moni Maker for 3-year-old fillies and the #SendItIn and Cleopatra invitational paces for older horses.
Monte Be Good recorded the fastest mile of the four $20,000 divisions of the first leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series for freshman colt pacers on Wednesday (July 15) at Northfield Park Racino.
Buckeye Stallion Series action for freshmen trotters dominated the Tuesday (July 14) card at Eldorado Scioto Downs. Driver Anthony MacDonald and trainer Jason McGinnis teamed up to win three of the 12 divisions (seven for fillies and five for colts), each going for $20,000.
Party Up recorded the fastest mile of three $50,000 divisions of the first leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes for freshman filly pacers on Monday (July 13) at Northfield Park Racino.
Tom Largo scored another Ohio Sires Stakes victory on Sunday (July 12) as Northfield Park Racino hosted two $75,000 divisions of the fourth leg for sophomore colt trotters. Meanwhile, Don'ttruckwithme headlined the winners in the first leg for freshman colt pacers.
It was a night of firsts, with seven $50,000 divisions of 2-year-old trotters going to post in the first leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes at Eldorado Scioto Downs on Saturday (July 11). Five of the winners won their first lifetime start, with Chris Page piloting the fastest winners for each gender – the filly, Envious Queen, who stopped the timer in 1:55.4 and Iluvmymoni, the fastest colt, who won in 1:56.3.
After finishing third in each of the first three legs of the Ohio Sires Stakes, Rose Run Boom may have an opportunity to shine on Sunday (July 12), as he drew the rail and opened as the 9-5 favorite in the second of two $75,000 divisions of the fourth leg for sophomore colt trotters at Northfield Park Racino. The 16-race card, which also includes two $75,000 divisions of the first leg of the OSS for freshman colt pacers, begins at 6 p.m.
One week after winning their respective $150,000 Next Generation races, freshmen Made For More and Commanders Moni return to Eldorado Scioto Downs on Saturday (July 11) to kick off what their connections hope is a successful 2026 Ohio Sires Stakes campaign. Scioto Downs is hosting seven $50,000 divisions of the first leg of the OSS for freshman trotters — three for fillies and four for colts — on Saturday as part of a 16-race card starting at 5:25 p.m.
Driver Marvin Luna and trainer Tony Alagna teamed to win both $75,000 divisions of the fourth leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes for sophomore colt pacers at Northfield Park Racino on Monday (July 6).
All four divisions of the Next Generation for freshmen Ohio sired horses on Saturday (July 4) at Eldorado Scioto Downs were tightly contested, creating exciting races for those trackside and who joined to watch via the simulcast show or on Fox Sports. Trainers Daren Harvey and Vernon Beachy scored their first career wins in the series with Don'ttruckwithme and Made For More, respectively.
In the equine industry, it may be hard to find someone as multifaceted as Christina “Chrissy” Johnson. Though her initial dream was to be a Thoroughbred jockey, she fell in love with harness racing once she was introduced to it and has been everything from a driver, trainer, and outrider to a blacksmith, transporter, and equine dentist and dental educator. This year, she’ll add one more role to that list — international competitor.
This year marks the golden anniversary of the Ohio Sires Stakes. For some, it’s a time to celebrate the memories and glory from the past 50 years. For others, the focus is on what lies ahead. That’s the case for the field of 2026 OSS competitors as they began their quest toward a championship on May 2 at Miami Valley Raceway. Pet Project and Tom Largo were among the victors that day, and their connections hoped that was the start of more success to come in this milestone season of the OSS.
Wyatt Farmer, a 21-year-old harness racing driver, is a rising star in the sport. Having already suprassed $1 million in career earnings, he is hopeful for not only more success in his future but also for other young people to follow in his footsteps.
Big Ranger was named Ohio's 2025 Horse of the Year after a remarkable undefeated season that included winning the Ohio Triple Crown. Facing unimaginable tragedies, driver and trainer Ronnie Gillespie persevered with Big Ranger, showcasing both his and the horse’s resilience.
Dana Parham has made a name for himself in harness racing with his Odds On Racing stable. His journey began in his youth, and he has since transitioned from a successful betting background to a significant presence in horse breeding and ownership.