Harness Racing at Walworth County Fair
The first harness racing event took place at the Walworth County Fair in 1898. Ever since, it has been one of the highlights of the festival and this year will be no different. The Annual Celebrity Harness Race will again attract thousands of spectators who have come to the Walworth County Fair to enjoy the festivities, entertainment, stalls and good harness racing. The Walworth County Fair will kick off on the 27th of August till the 1st of September.
For a hundred and fifty years, horses and their drivers have been making memories on the track at the Walworth County Fair. Horses that have become legends of the event, includes the pacer He’s All That, who broke the two minute record by winning in a magnificent time of 1:58 in 2003. Or Red Oaks Alex, who took victory in 1995, in a time of 2:02. Other horses that stand out are Primarose Hotspur, The Long Goodbye, Holly’s Hot to Trot and Forty Something.
There have been many people involved with harness racing at the fair and with the track, such as Willard Olson. His daughter still recalls the wonderful times her late father enjoyed here, especially his first win at the Walworth County Fair in 1929. Even the fair’s superintendant, Ned Livingston, used to be a driver for Olson from 1956 until the late 1970’s. Many local owners have a long and close relationship with the fair, supporting it each year and ensuring that the tradition of harness racing at the Walworth County Fair remains.
The Annual Celebrity Harness Race will take place on Saturday the 30th of August with the children’s peddle harness racing events being hosted on Saturday and Sunday. Visitors to the fair and the racing events will also have the opportunity to have their photo taken while sitting in a racing sulky. Over and above the racing, visitors can look forward to competitions, arts and crafts, games and wonderful entertainment that include performances by Little River Band, Little Big Town, Billy Ray Cyrus and Huey Lewis and the News. The Walworth County Fair is one of the biggest of its kind and visitors will not be disappointed by this festival of fun and racing.
