Dust and humidity are part of the Ohio harness racing scene at local county fairs in the late Summer and Fall months. That shows in the image below taken at the Henry County Fairgrounds in Napoleon, Ohio:
In 2003, no dust, or humidity, stopped the gallant efforts of No Pan Intended, reared at Winbak Farm and owned by Bob Glazer of Peter Pan Stables, Inc. in Pepper Pike, Ohio. That year, No Pan Intended won the Triple Crown of Pacing.
No Pan Intended was trained by Deshler, Ohio’s Ivan Sugg, a member of Ohio’s Standardbred racing hall of fame, and driven by David Miller, also from Ohio and an Ohio hall of famer.
This racer of questionable antics — according to Sugg — nevertheless gave his best when it counted the most, in the three Crown races. He triumphed by a head over Tidal Search in the Cane Pace, by a head over Armbro Animate in the Little Brown Jug, and then finished his crowning by winning the Messenger Stakes in 1:52.4.
No Pan Intended left no doubt of his ability in the Triple Crown championship, winning all six heats that he was required to run. In the final race, he had been supplemented — $35,000 to enter — by his owner, who had chosen not to keep him eligible to enter the Crown’s last mile race. That mindset was changed when No Pan Intended beat all comers in the first two Crown contests!
In total, No Pan Intended started 34 times, won 18 races, placed five times, and recorded two third place runs. He went into the Triple Crown of Pacing record books having bankrolled $1,581,735 in track earnings.
In 2009, I attended the Little Brown Jug, held annually at the county fairgrounds in Delaware, Ohio. A rainy day ensued, but the favorite, Well Said, prevailed to win the Jug. Well Said is pictured below:
warming up in the drizzle for the final heat of the Jug;
and having his gear completely checked (horse on the left) before the final heat of his Jug championship.
+++++Credit:
All Photos from the personal and copyrighted collection of Barbara Anne Helberg
My County Fair Exhibit 