Racing returns today at Delaware County fair

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The Delaware County Fair is already in full swing, with Junior Fair competitions underway, reluctant animals getting groomed and prepped for their events, plenty of people on the midway, kids eager to explore, and lines of cars waiting to get in from Pennsylvania Avenue to park in a dusty and packed lot.

Fair general manager Bill Lowe didn’t have opening-day attendance figures, but did say the gate was down from last year. He attributed it to two factors — a couple of showers and a close mid-afternoon Ohio State football game.

Jon Melvin, who was handling the Junior Fair’s horse shows, said it rained at noon and 2 p.m. on Saturday. The good news, though, is that the weather looks great for the rest of the week.

Fair officials, and even Delaware Mayor Carolyn Kay Riggle, are touting Monday’s return of harness racing. The action gets underway at 3 p.m., and there will be extra incentives to attend — food and drink (including beer) costs $1 in the grandstand, and there will be seminars on reading a race program and placing bets for novices.

Even if you’re not keen on the horses, there’s plenty to see and do. Among the afternoon’s entertainers is Professor Bubblemaker, who fair officials and fellow entertainers alike have raved about for his ability to draw a crowd of youngsters. There’s also strolling comedy juggler Matt Jergens, of whom Lowe said could be juggling just about anything.

They’ll be drag racing in the mud at the motor sports track at 7 p.m., with competition from ATVs, trucks, cars, buggies, super stock, and lastly, the open class.

On the WDLR stage, local country singer Simba Jordan will perform starting at 7 p.m. Jordan, who calls himself the “Urban Cowboy,” and his band have released a single, “Country Thang,” and recently performed at the Hollywood Casino. Jordan’s website said he has always liked country music, started singing professionally in 1996 and sounds like Keith Urban and Travis Tritt.

A family sees Smokey the Bear at the Delaware County Fair.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2015/09/web1_bear.jpgA family sees Smokey the Bear at the Delaware County Fair.

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By Gary Budzak

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