Honesdale, PA — The rains that have plagued harness racing everywhere in recent weeks reached the Wayne County Fair in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, on Thursday (August 8), leading to the cancellation of the Pennsylvania Fair Sire Stakes race for three-year-olds and a free-for-all trot. But Wednesday (August 7) saw plenty of top-notch action from two-year-olds and a free-for-all mile that equaled a track record.
There were two $1,100 divisions of the every-for-every pace, and both lasted 1:58.4, but it was the mare Diamond Head, a daughter of Somebeachsomewhere, who tied the Honesdale record for older pace mares set by Bring Me Diamonds in 2018. Justin Huckabone trains and rides for owner Matthew Dugan.
The other split went to the Stay Hungry gelding Annapolis Hanover for rider Eric Neal and owner and trainer Mitchell York.
Two horses achieved five Fair “A” wins in the inaugural Fair Sire Stakes. First up was Classy Cocktail, the division record holder for the current Fair season, who won in 2:05.1. Trainer and driver Tony Schadel owns the trotter Cantab Hall-Cocktail Attire with his wife Linda, and the duo came right back to win the class with the Southwind Frank-Phanny’s Photo mare Just A Sheila.
The other five-time “A” winner is unbeaten at the fairs: the Papi Rob Hanover-Well What’s New gelding Wheelhouse Hanover, who finished in 2:03.3 for trainer-driver Todd Schadel, who shares ownership with his son Cody. Todd came right back to win 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 moved up to “A” here to win for trainer-driver Schadel and co-owner Christine Schadel.
Sam Beegle won both divisions of the “A” filly race 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 Papi Rob Hanover-Latte Lady Miss Ginger Tree Millie, who gave Beegle his 1,000th driving victory in Bedford, Pennsylvania; and then came Ginger Tree Jean, a Stay Hungry All-American filly. Beegle nearly took a big win, but finished second in the “B” division behind Tina’s Wish, who won in 2:04.4, faster than the two “A” winners.
The busiest week of the Pennsylvania Fairs racing season begins Sunday (August 11) with the Washington County Fair, a race at the facility formerly known as Arden Downs when it was part of the Grand Circuit. It begins at 10 a.m., with another race at 11 a.m. Monday (August 12). That will be followed by racing at the Dayton Fair (August 14-15), the Somerset County Fair (August 15-16) and the Crawford County Fair (August 17-18). For more information on Pennsylvania Fair racing, visit www.pafairsracing.org.
