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It was a big night Thursday for the Darke County Fair. Long time
harness announcer, Doug Ballenger, presented
the Blue Ribbon Award as
the most outstanding county fair in the country. CNO photo by George
Starks
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Blue ribbon
night at the fair
By George Starks
GREENVILLE - it was a night that fair board members had been waiting on
for close to a year.
Thursday night before the Gene Reigle Memorial was to be contested,
Darke County fair board members were presented the blue ribbon for most
outstanding fair in the country.
Fittingly, it was long time track announcer, (43 years), Doug
Ballinger, that made the presentation to members Richard Delk, Dean
Neff, Tom Shaw and others.
"It meant a lot to me to be able to make the award presentation on
behalf of the United States Trotting Association," said Ballinger.
"Darke County is one of the best fairs there is for harness racing. You
can see the crowd and you know, this is horse country here."
In the end, it all boiled down to three fairs and it was Darke County
that was determined to be the best in the land.
"This has always been one of my favorite fairs and this award speaks
volumes for the fair and the board members that work to get it ready
every year," Ballinger stated. "Richard Dell, Tim Harless and Jim Buchy
are big behind the scenes of the racing program here. Jim has done a
lot for the horse racing industry. So without him, we probably wouldn't
be here tonight for races of the magnitude of the Reigle and the
Almahurst."
Race director, Richard Delk has been the head of the racing program for
many years at the fair.
It was a big night for him and Tim Harless as well and Delk sang the
praises of Harless.
"Make no mistake about it, Tim Harless makes me look good " said
Delk. "He does more than people know and this wouldn't be
happening if it weren't for him."
When it came to winning the blue ribbon, Delk made one thing very clear.
"This award is great and I'm happy it was Darke County that was
selected," said Delk. "It's not just about the harness racing but the
whole fair. From the amusements and the food to the 4-H animals, it’s
about the whole fair, not just one thing. These people that made the
decision, looked at the whole fair and not just the racing. We're very
proud of this award. It took a lot of work and as a fair, we achieved
it."
In addition of the blue ribbon award, the richest standard bred in
harness racing, Foiled Again, was in the middle of making his farewell
tour as the 14 year old gelding will be put out to pasture at the end
of the year.
With winnings in excess of seven million dollars, Foiled Again won the
tenth race of the night, coming from behind in the final eighth of a
mile to gain yet another victory.
"We have the richest horse in standard bred racing here making his
farewell tour and he was just a big part of the night," said
Ballinger. "They're taking him out slow and I think it's great
they are taking him around the way they are. It allows all of us to
watch the best of the best in action."
Ballinger summed it all up by saying, "it's a blue ribbon night for a
blue ribbon fair."
Also on hand for the festivities was Hall of Fame race announcer, Roger
Houston, the man that got it all started for Ballinger.
Houston called several races Thursday night, including the Reigle
Memorial.
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On
the blue ribbon night, Foiled Again, a 14 year old gelding, won the
tenth race of the night. Foiled Again is the
richest Standard Bred of
all time with winnings in excess of seven million dollars. The gelding
is on his farewell tour of America
and will officially be retired on
New Years Eve at the Medowlands in Pennsylvania. CNO photo by George
Starks
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