HONESDALE PA – The rains that have been plaguing harness racing all over in the last couple of weeks finally made their way to the Greene County Fair in this northeastern Pennsylvania city on Thursday, forcing cancellation of the three-year-old Pennsylvania Fair Sire Stakes action and also a free-for-all trot. But Wednesday produced plenty of quality action from the two-year-olds, and in the free-for-all pace a track record was equaled.
There were two $1100 divisions of the FFA pace, and both went in 1:58.4, but it was the mare Diamond Head, a daughter of Somebeachsomewhere, who equaled the Honesdale record for older pacing mares first set in 2018 by Bring Me Diamonds (no relation). Justin Huckabone trains and drives for owner Matthew Dugan. The other FFA split went to the Stay Hungry gelding Annapolis Hanover for driver Eric Neal and trainer/owner Mitchell York.
Two horses reached five fair “A” victories in the freshman Fair Sire Stakes (no sophomore had more than four entering the meet, and then they lost their chances to get to five). First up was the Cantab Hall – Cocktail Attire trotting miss Classy Cocktail, fair season’s divisional recordholder, who won in 2:05.1 for trainer/driver Tony Schadel, co-owner with wife Linda, with that duo coming right back to sweep the class with the Southwind Frank – Phanny’s Photo distaff Just A Sheila.
The other five-time “A” win is unbeaten at the fairs – the Papi Rob Hanover – Well What’s New gelding Wheelhouse Hanover, home in 2:03.3 for trainer/driver Todd Schadel, co-owner with son Cody. Todd came right back to take the other “A” race in this group with the Captain Crunch – Bettorhaveanother colt Bettor Not, who became the fastest two-year-old in a “B” section, and here stepped up to “A” and won for trainer/driver Schadel and co-owner wife Christine.
Sam Beegle is already on his way towards 1,500 driving wins by winning both divisions of the “A” filly pace for the same connections: himself as trainer/driver and co-owner with Ginger Tree Ventures LLC, Knollview Stable, and Bob Reber Jr. First up was the Papi Rob Hanover – Latte Lady miss Ginger Tree Millie, who got Beegle his 1000th driving win “Home” at Bedford, and then came Ginger Tree Jean, a Stay Hungry – Allamerican filly. Beegle almost had a big sweep but finished second in the “B” division to Tina’s Wish, who went faster than either of the “A” winners, 2:04.4.
The busiest week of the Pennsylvania Fairs racing season starts on Sunday, with the Washington County Fair, racing at the facility formerly known as Arden Downs when it was part of the Grand Circuit, in action at 10 a.m., with another card at 11 a.m. on Monday. Then comes racing at Dayton Fair (August 14 & 15), Somerset County Fair (August 15 and 16), and Crawford County Fair (August 17 & 18). More information about Pennsylvania fair racing can be found at www.pafairsracing.org.
