Mark Headworth Dominated Harness Racing at the 2011 Henry County Fair in Napoleon Ohio

Harness racing driver, owner, and trainer Mark Headworth of Oregon, Ohio, won Race 6 on Tuesday, August 16, 2011 at the Henry County Fair in Napoleon, Ohio, in a two-year-old open pace with his own Standardbred colt, Connor’s Dream, who won going away by three lengths, finishing the mile in 2:09-1/5.

Connor’s Dream defeated four opponents. That Darn Rose, of Hudson, Michigan, finished second.

That was just the start of a remarkable meet for Headworth, who began the evening’s card in Race 1, a three-year-old filly trot, as a fill-in driver behind Sweet Annie for owner Merle L. Haar of Elmore, Ohio. Sweet Annie jumped to the lead from Gate Four after Headworth placed her nose right at the wire, a strategy he used throughout the fair’s two day’s of racing.

Lima Silk, driven by Ryan Stahl, challenged Sweet Annie in deep stretch and the Conway Hall grandson forced a photo finish with Sweet Annie, using his nose in the field of five to come away the winner in 2:07 and change for owner Joe S. Ewald of Tiffin, Ohio.

In the Meantime…

Before Headworth and the county fair’s harness racing divisions got off to a flying start, Chris Junge of rural Henry County put his Black Percherons team, Roxie and Belle, through their steps in several competitions and won all around honors.

Junge said his giant draft horses were entered at the Henry County Fair for just their second year of competition. They pulled Junge through the two-hitch figure eight drills on Monday (August 15) with precision and poise.

In the end, Roxie and Belle earned Best In Show in the draft horse division.

Junge and Roxie and Belle entertained the harness racing crowd on Wednesday evening (August 17) by stepping ’round the track between races.

Headworth Won Races 3 and 5

In Tuesday’s Race 3, a three-year-old filly trot, Headworth drove Trottin Brooke for owner Charles W. Miller of Wauseon, Ohio, and wired the field in a no contest, multiple length victory in 2:09-4/5. My Cup Of Tea, from South Lyon, Michigan, finished second in the field of five.

Headworth took gelding Nanner to a first over two-length lead in Race 5, a three-year-old colt trot, giving owner Emil J. Konesky of Woodville, Ohio, a win. It was Nanner’s fifth victory from his fifteen start of the year. He traveled the mile in 2:06. Score Card, in from Quincy, Michigan, went second among the four starters.

Headworth’s impressive string of wins and places ran out in Race 7 when the pre-race lathered Katkin, a 56-race starter, broke stride early after gaining the first eighth lead and finished third in the field of four. Katkin, a five-year-old mare, came to the fair from Jonesville, Michigan.

Bristol, driven, owned, and trained by Skip (Jay) De Mull of South Lyon, Michigan, won Race 7 in 2:04-4/5, boosting his lifetime mark to 11 wins from 64 starts, with five seconds and five thirds.

Winners in Races 2, 4 and 8

Frisky’s Melody, owned in partnership by Ryan R. Stahl of Republic, Ohio, and Jerry T. Metter of Fremont, Ohio, won Race 2 handily in 2:07-2/5 against five opponents. Ryan Stahl drove the brown filly to victory in the two-year-old filly pace. The Western Hanover granddaughter won her fourth race from seven career starts.

In a field of five, Tatas Flash opened a six-length lead from Gate Three in Race 4, a two-year-old colt pace, and triumphed in 2:09, holding off mild challenges to the wire for owners Pamela J & Michelle R Riedeman of Napoleon, Ohio, and Bob D Figgins of Archbold, Ohio.

Four starters in the day’s finale, Race 8, a two-year-old open pace, produced a thrilling performance eventually won by Elgin Express against three others. Centerfold Art jumped the gate early, but Elgin Express gained a 1-1/2 length lead, and the two battled at the half mile marker.

Elgin Express blew a four-length lead at the three-quarter pole by drifting out, giving Revelyn the advantage. Regaining his poise, Elgin Express fought off the last menace from Pleasure Drink, sending owners Marilyn S. Shrider, Mendon, Ohio, and Dudley B. Shrider of Napoleon, Ohio, to the winner’s circle.

Trotting Breds Featured

Four Trotting Breds races were also held on Tuesday, featuring competitors from surrounding states.


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