BREED, BUY & OHHA RACE IN OHIO! OHIO IS FOR WINNERS! NEWS February 2019 Ohio Horsemen Approve Donation Ohio Ladies Pace Gets New Name to Standardbred Transition Alliance & Sponsorship By Ohio Standardbred Transition Alliance By Emily Hay The Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association has New for 2019, The Ohio Ladies Pace will now be named approved a donation of $150,000 to the newly formed Spring Haven Farm Lady Driving Series. HUGE Thanks to Standardbred Transition Alliance. Spring Haven Farm for sponsoring the event. The thought behind the rename will help with confusion at the Jug with The donation is the first by a horsemen’s association. the Ohio Lady Pace event, but the sponsorship is much more The STA, formed in 2018, will accredit and grant than a name change. supplemental operating funds to groups that provide transition services for Standardbreds who are retiring The first five ladies to enter races in the Spring Haven Farm from the sport and transitioning to a new role. The Ladies Driving Series at Ohio Fairs this year will have their group expects to accredit and grant to 501(c)(3) entry fees covered. By providing this incentive, we are hop- organizations serving Standardbreds by the end of this ing entires will be in sooner and more races will fill. In the year. past, there have been some races that we have a hard time filling and make several phone calls begging for horses. We “Ohio has become a national leader in breeding and hope this will eliminate some of that. racing Standardbreds,” said Kevin Greenfield, outgoing president of the OHHA and a founding board member There is also a new condition in place. The horse entered of the STA. “The OHHA board recognizes that, as could not have raced in a base claim of more than $6,000.00 an industry leader, it needs to be at the forefront in its last 6 starts or a with a purse higher than $5,000.00 in of spearheading support for a uniform effort with its last 6 starts AE 5 claimer. As always the hosting Fair has a respect to equine aftercare.” right to make the race condition what ever they would like. This suggestion was brought up following the final race at “The entire STA board extends our thanks and Delaware and what we are suggesting to fairs. appreciation to the OHHA for its financial commitment Fairs may also have a Trot, Pace or both events if they and confidence in our work,” said STA President choose. Ladies will only get points for highest scoring race if David Reid. “Ohio is an important part of our industry they race in 2 races at any Spring Haven Farm Ladies Driving and we are grateful they have taken this leadership Series at a single Fair. If a fair hosts both a Trot and Pace position. We are working to develop a broad-based race any lady driver that races in both will only get points for platform of support for STA. Our accreditation process whichever race they placed highest in. will ensure that groups exercise sound business practices and equine care to the benefit of our horses The new condition will make races a more even field and and horsemen.” hopefully make betting even better. Be sure to watch for more updates as we have more planned for the summer fair season. Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association 2237 Sonora Dr. | Grove City, OH 43123 | 614-221-3650 | www.ohha.com | Facebook: OhioHarnessHorsemensAssociation 2019 Racing Dates Northfield Park Sheila Napier Named Caretaker Of The Year Jan. 1 - Dec. 30 By Hard Rock Racino Northfield Park / USHWA Miami Valley Gaming Sheila Napier, who works in the Chris — all of whom were former caretakers Jan 4 - May 6 Beaver Stable, has been named the themselves — selected Napier as the Eldorado Scioto Downs recipient of the 2018 Caretaker of the winner. May 7 - Sept. 7 Year Award sponsored by Hard Rock Beaver nominated Napier, and in his Hollywood at Dayton Rocksino Northfield Park (HRRNP) in Raceway letter he noted, “Sheila takes unrivaled conjunction with the U.S. Harness Sept. 10 - Dec. 28 pride in the condition of her horses. I Writers Association (USHWA). Upcoming OHHA can rest at ease when she has a horse Board Meetings Napier, 37, has worked for Beaver for racing. I know it will get on the road th April 25 three years, and in 2018 her horses on time and will be wearing all the 2nd Quarter OHHA Board Mtg at OHHA Office. included the $500,000-winning 3-year- right equipment, even if I can’t make old filly trotter Custom Cantab. She it. July 11th rd also had four horses that made the 3 Quarter OHHA Board Mtg “Her horses are never shorted on the Ohio Sires Stakes championship card at OHHA Office. care that I expect for them and that is at Scioto Downs, including three in the Members are always wel- required,” added the Ohio-based Bea- 2-Year-Old Filly Trot. Prior to working come for lunch and to attend ver, who also winter trains at Spring of those special little fillies that wants board meeting general for Beaver, Napier’s 10-year stint with Garden Ranch in Florida. “She can’t to finish in the top three her whole session at noon. Please RSVP Ron Potter included being the caretak- stay away from her horses. She truly life. She’s quite sassy, amazing and full by calling the OHHA office at er of the 2011 Little Brown Jug winner 614-221-3650 loves them and takes incredible pride of heart. I absolutely love that filly; she Big Bad John. in their accomplishments. My life Dates to Remember is very special.” “I’ve always read about this award would be a lot easier if more grooms February 12-13 As winner of the HRRNP Caretaker of Blooded Horse Sale and this is really great,” said Napier, brought the passion into their work the Year Award, Napier will receive Champions Center a native of Cincinnati whose first job that Sheila has.” a cash prize of $500, transportation, Springfield, OH working with horses came while in Napier said she usually has at least hotel accommodations and two tickets February 27 high school in 1995 at the Delaware eight horses under her care in the Bea- to USHWA’s annual Dan Patch Awards Ohio Racing Commission (Ohio) Equine Lab. “I’ve been doing ver barn, and it was Custom Cantab banquet on Sunday, Feb. 24, at the Meeting this for a long time and something I Riffe Center who was the star in 2018. Included Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, looked forward to as far as possibly 77 S High St. among Custom Cantab’s 13 wins were where she will be presented a trophy. getting, but maybe in Ohio and not Columbus, OH 43215 the Indiana Sires Stakes Super Final at this big.” Napier, along with all the USHWA 2018 www.racingohio.net Hoosier Park and the season-ending award winners, will be recognized March 15 All caretakers in North America were Matron at Dover Downs. during the Dan Patch Awards banquet. Ohio Nominations are eligible for the award, with nomina- due. Staking Guide “Oh, that filly,” said Napier, whose Information on accommodations at tion letters submitted detailing the will be mailed to all travels always include her 11-year-old Rosen Shingle Creek and dinner tickets skills and special qualities of the nom- members & are on-line daughter Jess. “Custom Cantab is one can be found at www.ushwa.net. at ohha.com. inee. A seven-member USHWA panel OHHA Advertising Opportunities OHHA Sends our condolences to friends and Stallion ads available for both the 2019 Publication Schedule and Spring and Winter issues as well as Advertising Deadlines: families of Dean & Steven Beachy, Stallion Directory. Holiday ads will Summer- June: Ads due April 30th also be available in the Esther Mae Crownover, Brad Haynes, Fall- September: Ads due July 30th Winter issue. Reservation forms Nancy Ratliff, Michael Senter Winter- December: Ads due October 30th can be found on the OHHA wesbite Stallion Directory: Ads due November 15th & James Shipley. https://ohha.com under News & Publications. OHHA Office Staff OHHA Track Reps Renée Mancino Regina Mayhugh Amy Hollar Brett Merkle Executive Director Communications Director Northfield Park Scioto Downs, Miami Valley (614) 778-5905 Gaming & Racing, Hollywood at Cheri Johnson Linda Nance Benefits Administrator Dayton Raceway Office Administrator (614) 354-1601 Deborah Martinez-Morales Susan Schroeder Senior Accountant Project Coordinator 2 OHHA News | February 2019 Ohio Track News Congratulations! Miami Valley held its third annual $25,000 North America Drivers Championship at Miami Valley Sunday, January 6 through Tuesday, January 8. The top ten drivers were (Top photo on left L-R) Jeremy Smith, Dan Noble, Drew Monti, Anthony Napolitano, Joe Bongiorno, Dexter Dunn, Travis Henry, Randy Tharps, Aaron Merriman, Brett Miller. Dan Noble won the Championship (Bottom photo on left L-R Helen Carlo, Dan Noble, Christi Noble and Gregg Keidel). Both photos by Conrad Photo. Aaron Merriman drove Brooklynite to the winner's circle January 16th at Northfield Park, earning his 11,000th win putting his earnings at over $72,000,000! (Bottom) Photo by JJ Zamaiko Photography, Inc. Ohio Fair News Hagemeyer Inducted Into the Ohio Harness Racing superintendent for 12 years and Fair Managers Association (OFMA) owns several brood mares. Mel has also been the Open Class Superintendent of Antique Tractors, Hall Of Fame Competitive Arts, Baked Goods, and Horticulture. from OFMA Press Release For the last five years, Hagemeyer was one of the The Ohio Fair Mangers is proud to announce the driving forces behind getting video terminals legal- induction of Mel Hagemeyer on January 6th at the ized at Ohio’s horse tracks.