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ASHLAND — Autumn officially arrived on Tuesday. However, the Ashland County Fair reminded us a day early to start bundling up on the last day of summer.
Cold rain and gray skies greeted fair attendees Monday at the 175th Ashland County Fair. The weather forced some events to be rescheduled, but military veterans still gathered for their annual observance and harness racing continued at the grandstand.
The adult antique tractor pull was rescheduled for Wednesday and wiener dog races were canceled because of the weather.
Harness racing took over the grandstand twice Monday, with races beginning at noon and again at 6 p.m. Race programs sold for $2 and gave spectators information about each horse, including previous times, finishes and odds.
Here are the results from the 6 p.m. races:
| Race | Division | Winner |
| 1 | 3-year-old colts and geldings | Kanye Catch Me |
| 2 | 3-year-old goats and geldings, first division | Hunka Hunka |
| 3 | 3-year-old fillies | Ruby’s Creme Brulee |
| 4 | 3-year-old fillies, first division | Takeaway Hanover |
| 5 | 3-year-old colts, second division | Rock on Beach |
| 6 | 3-year-old fillies, second division | Dancin Dottie |
| 7 | Free for all | Seeyousomewhere |
Henry Beachy, an experienced harness racing driver, was at the fair Monday and walked through some of the details of the sport, from reading a race program to comparing horses’ previous performances.
Spectators also could place pari-mutuel wagers on the races, using information such as past times, finishes and odds to compare the horses.
Beachy said the muddy conditions can make the races more difficult for both horses and drivers.
Mud kicked up from the track can hit drivers as they sit behind the horses in their sulkies, while individual horses can respond differently to the conditions.
Beachy said the horses are athletes and require daily care and conditioning, regardless of the weather.
By the end of the races, the horses and drivers were covered in mud.
Veterans get in free
Earlier Monday, veterans and community members gathered at the fairgrounds for the annual Veterans Day observance. The ceremony began with a walk from the Veterans Building to the pavilion, followed by a service that recognized veterans and their families.
An honor guard participated in the ceremony, and organizers recognized organizations and volunteers who helped provide the event and veterans’ meal.
State Rep. Melanie Miller also attended the service. Miller sang “God Bless America” with those gathered and spoke about the sacrifices made by veterans and the responsibility of preserving the freedoms they served to protect.
The veterans observance is one of several annual traditions included in the fair’s schedule. The fair’s Monday schedule also called for free meals for veterans from noon to 6 p.m., with harness racing scheduled at noon and 6 p.m.
The rain and cold kept some fairgoers away from parts of the grounds Monday, but activity continued at the grandstand and other buildings throughout the day.
The night ended with music from Tom’s Kitchen Table, performed at the pavilion from 7 to 9 p.m.
The Ashland County Fair continues through Saturday.
See more photos from the Ashland County Fair:
