Mount Vernon News

MOUNT VERNON — Eighty-four degrees and sunny were the conditions for Sunday’s harness racing during the first day of the Knox County Fair. Little breeze and no rain led to fast times, tough competition and a nearly packed grandstand.

Twelve races were contested Sunday afternoon, but during one of them, the pari-mutuel wagering windows were closed. The much-anticipated celebrity race drew quite a crowd, as five local stars displayed their harness-racing abilities. Mount Vernon News Assistant Publisher Liz Lutwick, Knox County Sheriff David Barber, Mount Vernon Fire Chief Shawn Christy, Knox County Fair Board President Bruce Gregg and Knox County Commissioner Allen Stockberger all raced to raise money for their favorite charities.

After a quick warm-up lap, the celebrity drivers went to the gate. Stockberger took an early lead, while Lutwick relaxed in second place and Christy held close for third. The pace was slow at first, but after one lap the real race was just beginning. Stockberger and his horse, Politically Correct, held a strong lead on the back stretch. Lutwick, who drove Reporting Live, was down by two lengths at the one-mile mark, but she quickly caught Stockberger on the final turn.

“No one would know how fast those horses go until you are right behind one,” Lutwick later said. “Dirt starts flying, and there is a lot of strength.”

As Lutwick went wide to pass Stockberger on the home straightaway, Reporting Live went just a little too high on the track. Christy and his horse, False Alarm, saw an opening and went from third place to first as they split the other too drivers and charged toward the finish line. Lutwick and Stockberger weren’t ready to give in easily, giving the audience an exciting photo finish between the three drivers. After careful review, Lutwick was determined the winner, with Christy second and Stockberger third.

“You could tell the horse was having just as much fun as we were,” said Lutwick. “It was a wonderful race, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.”

Lutwick earned $750 from the race, which she donated to the Kno-Ho-Co Ashland Community Action Commission. Not only was Lutwick racing for charity, but also to support the sport of harness racing; a sport that has seen a decline in attendance and participation over the past few years.

“Not only did this help Kno-Ho-Co Ashland, but we also want to raise awareness for harness racing,” said Lutwick. “We want to encourage people to come out here and watch, because horse racing is an industry, not just a hobby.”

One track record fell on Sunday afternoon, which is of little surprise given the condition of the track at the fairgrounds. Shell I Attack went 1:58 2/5 on the half-mile oval to the new 3-year-old fillies pace track record. April Fool Days set the old mark of 1:59 3/5 back in 2006.

More records are expected to fall the rest of the week, as more racing will take place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The racing will start at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, and again at four o’clock Thursday evening.