For nearly 100 years, horse racing was one of the most exciting attractions at the State Fair of West Virginia.
Some may remember going to the harness races with their family in the old wooden grandstand, where the judge’s booth was under a big umbrella across the track and beside the old wooden stage. On the old wooden stage was the classical York Spring Garden Band from York, Pennsylvania, performing tunes like Cabaret, Mack the Knife, Hello Dolly, and other jazzy tunes before and between each race. Acrobats on stage and high-wire acts also dazzled the harness racing crowds.
Many may remember when all the race sulkies had spoke wheels, and each race had an outrider to parade the horses for the introduction. I can remember when there were always two heats of racing, and races ran all day long, Monday through Saturday.
Many people have sponsored races for this great event year after year. Some that come to mind of late were the Joe Black Hayes Family, the George Aide family, the Carl Smith family, the Frank McClung family, the Jack Arbuckle family, Simms Exxon, the Col. N.S. Arbuckle family, the David E. Tuckwiller family, the Frank Wilson family and the Clemons family.
I have kept race programs for the past forty years, and here are some results from decades ago.
Forty years ago, in 1983, Convertible, Flying Admiral and Blythe Warrior won the most races with three.
Thirty years ago, in 1993, Bernie’s Catch and Wolf Creek Levi won the most races with three, and the fastest pace was Thrifty Rose N from Lebanon, Virginia, who ran the mile in 159 flat and broke the 1990 track record.
Twenty years ago, in 2003, Blue Rocks Bash and I Am Sexy won the most races with two, and the fastest pace of the week was Blue Rocks Bash from Hudson, Ohio, running the mile in 159.3.
And ten years ago, in 2013, Vertigo Hanover won the most races with three. The fastest pace of the week was Bourbon Street Hanover from New Philadelphia, Ohio, at 159.2, and the fastest trot of the week was Final Scorpion from New Philadelphia, Ohio, at 205.2.
And on a final note, the final horse to win a race at the State Fair of West Virginia was Percy Z Tam, a 5-year-old from Lancaster, Texas, who paced the mile in 200.1 on August 15, 2019, to end a great time for family and friends to enjoy this great sport, and also a sad end to a wonderful era.
