By Jim Arbuckle
It has been seven years since fair goers last heard the sound of pounding hooves, the call of the race drivers, the roar of the grandstand crowd, and the beauty of the harness horse racing at the State Fair of West Virginia.
Some still remember going to an exciting afternoon of racing at the old wooden grandstand, prior to 1965. But many remember watching harness racing in the current grandstand, and even when the judge’s stand was under a big umbrella across the race track beside the old wooden stage. And in the old days, and between races, the large racing crowd was treated to a jazz band, along with acrobats on stage and high wire acts beside the stage.
George Aid, Joe Black Hayes and Dave Tuckwiller recall in a 1998 video about harness horse, Maplewood Chief. The horse was owned by Col. N.S. Arbuckle, but later sold to Dave Tuckwiller in 1953. The horse was 14-years-old at the time, but went on to race for a couple more years, and if I remember correctly, they said the horse was later sold in Canada.
Many great people and businesses sponsored harness racing over the years. Some of late were the George Aide family, the Jack Arbuckle family, the Col. N.S. Arbuckle family, the Clemons family, the Joe Black Hayes family, the Frank McClung family, Simms Exxon, the Carl Smith family, the David E. Tuckwiller family, and the Frank Wilson family.
I have kept racing programs for the past 40 years, and here are some results from past decades.
Forty years ago in 1986, Veto Goldie, from Vincent, Ohio won the most races with three. The fastest pacer was Sharp Karema, a 9-year-old from North Vernon, Indiana, who paced the mile in 202.1
Thirty years ago in 1996, Lumber Jackie, a 7-year-old from Marietta, Ohio, won the most races with four. The fastest pacer was Aber Nuke, a 3-year-old from Lewisburg, West Virginia, who paced the mile in 159.0.
Twenty years ago in 2006, Chill It, a 9-year-old from Chillicothe, Ohio won the most races with four. The fastest pace in 2006 was Ethical Hanover, a 5-year-old from Maurtown, Virginia, who paced the mile in 200.1.
Ten years ago in 2016, Party at Your Place, an 8-year-old from Millersburg, Kentucky, won the most races with, three. The fastest trotter that year was also Party at Your Place, who trotted the mile in 203.3, and the fastest pacer was Bourbon Street Hanover, an 8-year-old from New Philadelphia, Ohio. who paced the mile in 159.2
Harness racing at the State Fair of West Virginia was one of the most exciting attractions for nearly 100 years. There are currently over 100 harness racing tracks in the USA. MGM Northfield Park in Ohio races year around. The Meadows in Pennsylvania, the Meadowlands in New Jersey race spring, summer and fall. Shenandoah Downs in Woodstock, Virginia race April, May, September and October. As of 2026, twenty-six states still enjoy the sport of harness racing.
