Harness Racing Set to Begin Sunday at Effingham Co. Fair

The 72nd Annual Effingham County Fair harness races will begin Sunday and run through Thursday with post times scheduled for 1 p.m. each day. Then it's the thoroughbreds and quarter horses taking the track Friday with a noon post time.

Five races are on tap Sunday with Big 10 two and three year olds taking the track in the first three races and the Illinois Conceived & Foaled trots in the final two races.

This year's races will feature the first "Standardbred Under Saddle' race ever contested on the half mile oval at Altamont, according to race announcer Kurt Becker.  This is believed to be only the second such race ever held at an Illinois fair and the first contested for a purse. The prior occasion was an exhibition event at the White County Fair in Carmi.

The "under saddle" event will be contested as the final race on the card, the ICF Maiden Trot.

Don't forget the parade will be an hour earlier this year, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Illinois Harness Horsemen's Association Hall of Fame member Randall Finn of Hidalgo has been named grand marshal for the parade.

A winner of 2,000 races and $3.5 million in purses in his career, Finn ranks as the winningest driver in Effingham County Fair history. Finn has amassed 114 victories on the local oval and has won the fair's driving championship a record 10 times.

Also during the week Altamont native and Chicago-based Standardbred driver Kyle Husted has announce plans to return home to make a run at the Effingham County Fair's annual driving championship. Husted seeks to become the third driver born in Effingham County to secure the honor but the first who attended Effingham County schools.

The award, offered annually since 1972, is based on a points system of five tallies for a win, three for a runner-up and one point for a third-place finish. Standings are updated after each race throughout the week.

Kyle's mother, Pam Coleman, is also scheduled to make an appearance, having been named for the amateur driving contest Thursday. Kyle's aunt, Angie Coleman (Pam's sister) is also slated to compete in the amateur event. -- information provided by Kurt Becker.

Effingham County Fair

Harness Racing

Sunday's Entries

Race One

Big 10 3-Year-Old Trot

Purse: $3,231

1. Pj Boy (Michael Rogers), 2. Bunnie Hunter (Michael Rogers), 3. J's Dt (Randall Finn), 4. Victoria Valor (Darla Martin Lohman), 5. Brilliant Winner (Paul Cavett)

Race Two

Big 10 2-Year-Old Filly Pace

Purse: $2,072

1. Cakeatin Anniemay (Barak Patton), 2. Cookielicious (Michele Morgan), 3. Fox Valley Dandy (no driver listed), 4. Susan Sage (Darla Martin Lohman)

Race Three

Big 10 2-Year-Old Colt Pace

Purse: $1,907

1. Scenic Cruise (Ray Gash), 2. Four Star Big Guy (Paul Cavett), 3. Decent Sawyer (Michael Rogers)

Race Four

Illinois Conceived & Foaled

4-Year-Old & Up Trot

Purse: $2,150

1. Show Stopin Monkey (Paul Cavett), 2. Accokeek Apollo (Buddy Simpson), 3. Macie Rae (Michael Rogers)

Race Five

Illinois Conceived & Foaled

Maiden Trot

Purse: $1,080

1. Lofty (Ray Hanna), 2. Make It Shine (Buddy Simpson), 3. Cougar Claws (Harold Finn Jr.), 4. Ramblin Lady (Michael Rogers)

Randall Finn, sporting his red, black and white colors, will be the parade marshal this year as well as racing in the harness races at the Effingham County Fair.