County Fairs Promote Harness Racing and Children's Clubs

Posted by BarbaraAnne Helberg Aug 17, 2009

The brilliant Standardbred pacer Dan Patch performed and/or exhibited his considerable skills at county fairs. His presence was paramount to growing the pasttime of horse racing, which before and in his decades of stardom was the most popular sport in America. Then, it was harness racing, with trotters being the favored class, to which horse racing fans flocked. Thoroughbred racing began to take the leading reins of the equine industry after 1915, when the filly Regret won and drew growth potential to the Kentucky Derby.

Although rain sometimes washes out the races at the local county fair, the rest of the show goes on in a tradition old as the Pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock. The Pilgrims created the first stock exchange and showmanship fair, so to speak, when they displayed and traded their bounty with the Native American Indians.

The Henry County Fair in Napoleon, Ohio celebrated its 156th edition this year (August 14-20), with full junior fair exhibition programs every day, as well as a treasure trove of displays and entertainment for adults who didn't have performing artists at the junior contests. The Henry County Fair has always been first about area youth and their many clubs and 4-H groups. The kids work hard to raise show market, or show judged animals -- dogs, sheep, rabbits, horses, goats, swine, and more. They produce needlework, grow flowers and veggies, paint, and photograph. In all contests, they learn the valuable life lessons inherent in competing against their peers and contemporaries.

And, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the opportunity for sheer forget-my-diet-for-a-day enjoyment of fair food! Elephant ears! Italian sausage sandwiches! Real French fries! Ice cones! Yummy!

Don't forget to partronize and thoroughly enjoy your county fair this year!