Harness race finale brings excitement by George Starks Great Darke County Fair

Harness race finale brings excitement

By George Starks

GREENVILLE- Twenty races headlined the final day of harness racing at the Darke County Fair Thursday, nine in the afternoon and 11 in the evening session.

It was an emotional race for Pitsburg native Kayne Kauffman in the ninth race of the night when he drove Spartan Pride to the winners circle in the first Marvin Godown Memorial.

Godown, a long time supporter, friend of Darke County racing and horse owner, recently passed away, leaving everything to his wife, Mary Alice.

Kauffman, the grandson of Godown, took the pacer to victory in 1:58, in a Free For All race, with a 900 dollar purse attached to it.

Five horses contested the race, all with Darke County ties in one form or another.

Four of the horses are owned locally with local trainers while the fifth standard bred, Dakotas Bridgeman, is out of Losantville, Indiana but is trained by Kent Wilcox of Hollansburg.

“My grandfather loved this sport and this fair,” said Kauffman. “It was a honor for me to drive his horse and come out a winner. We all miss him.”

Second in the memorial was Thee Town Little Guy, owned and trained by Craig Bowman of Greenville, while Sandbar Slugger, owned by J. Fiely, Bob Walls (trainer), and Jodi Flommersfeld of Greenville, came in third.

The Darke County Invitational was contested in the third race of the night and for Greenville’s Cindy Austen, it couldn’t have been any better.

JJ’s Rosie made in three straight, two at the fair, with Devon Miller driving, running the mile pace in just a fraction over two minutes, beating out Ronny Richards and Velvet Girl by a wide margin with Quick Pulse, owned by Myron Brown of Arcanum, coming in third.

Five horses were in the event, with all being owned by Darke County people.

The two year old Partial Futurity saw Jeff Nisonger (Greenville) get the win behind Lacys Friskie Gal in the fourth while the three year old Partial saw Mischievous Jessie taking top honors in the fifth.

The second two year old Partial happen in the seventh as the Wilcox trained Charley’s Fast Cat got to the winners circle in 2:05.4 with the final Partial coming in the tenth for the three year olds. Photo Memory got the blanket in that one, with Jim Daily doing the driving.

Thursday Race Results:

Afternoon Session

Race 1
1. Skyway Shady (Wilson) 2:00.2, 2. Salty Hanover, 3. Little Cam Can.
Race 2
1. Little River Dance (Stholer) 2:06, 2. No Work, 3. CL Done Victory.
Race 3
1. Sweet Billy Bob (Bates) 2:03.4, 2. Sleepy Time Three, 3. Taylor’s Rock Star.
Race 4
1. My Life’s Desire (Miller) 2:01, 2. I Need A Drink, 3. Cam De Man.
Race 5
1. Done Dreamen (Hatfield) 2:04.2, 2. Hay Look Out, 3. Mr Potato Spud.
Race 6
1. Notable Karen, (Anderson) 2:02.4, 2. Forever Incredible, 3. Uncle Billy
Race 7
1. Vitamin A (Wilson) 2:05, 2. Dummy Jones, 3. Lima Explosive
Race 8
1. All Mark’s Go (Hope) 2:08, 2. Shelly’s Boy, 3. Dales Third Dream
Race 9
1. Better Than The Rest (Noble) 1:57.3, 2. Chocolate Shake, 3. Unending Love

Evening session

Race 1
1. Dugan Run Dream (Sturgeon) 1:59, 2. Bigboppr Bluegrass, 3. All American Union.
Race 2
1. Pacify Sam (Noble) 2:02, 2. Carolina Cruiser, 3. Mirror Mirror
Race 3
1. JJ’s Rosie (Miller) 2:00.2, 2. Velvet Girl, 3. Quick Pulse.
Race 4
1. Lacys Friskie Gal (Nisonger) 2:02.1, 2. Angels N Demons, 3. Indian Creek Kate
Race 5
1. Mischievous Jessie ( Bateson) 2:03.1, 2. Rosebud Cadillac, 3. Jesses Smirk.
Race 6
1. Frani L (LeVan) 2:11.1, 2. Yankees Victory, 3. Hurricane Terri.
Race 7
1. Charley’s Fast Cat (Rideout) 2:05.4, 2. SemaJ Sam, 3. Suncapade.
Race 8
1. Four Card Monte (Daily) 2:02.2, 2. Look Annie Hall, 3. Katy Cruise.
Race 9
1. Spartan Pride (Kauffman) 1:58, 2. Thee Town Little Guy, 3. Sandbar Slugger.
Race 10
1. Photo Memory (Dailey) 2:02.4, 2. Ray Jean Victory, 3. Stormy New York.
Race 11
1 Son of Ben (Nisonger) 1.58.4, 2. Bubba Gunner, 3. Jet Liner.