TRUMBULL CO. Fair to have horse races, stunt show

The fair is one of the half-dozen to be part of the Buckeye Super Stakes.
BAZETTA -- The 154th Trumbull County fair will start with two days of horse racing that hearken back to the annual event's origins.
Sunday and Monday, before the fair's formal opening parade and ceremonies, some of the finest 2- and 3-year-old trotters and pacers in the state will compete for purses totaling more than $100,000.
"Ohio's premier pacers and trotters are going because of the amount of money they are racing for," said T.C. Lane, the Ohio Horsemen's Association fair representative. "It really pulls a lot of people together because the purse is so high."
Harness racing, where the horses pull jockeys behind in small, two-wheeled carriages, has been a staple of county fairs. It's still presented at 73 county fairs across the state.
One of few: The Trumbull County Fair, known for the speed of its1/2 mile track, is one of the half-dozen county fairs to be part of the Buckeye Super Stakes, adding to its importance for big-time racers, Lane said.
The fair board hires a private company to manage wagering on race days, when admission to the fair is free. The number of betters on each horse determine odds on the four races run each day, starting at 12:30 p.m.
The big agricultural and industrial displays, and night-time entertainment, will start Tuesday, when the fair begins in earnest.
"The biggest thing that I want people to understand is that our fair is for all county organizations, companies and businesses," said Bob Biery Jr., fair board president. "All we do is give them a showcase to show themselves off."
This year, six tractor companies will be displaying equipment in the refurbished agricultural building and the Center of Science and Industry will present a display for three days.
The fair will also feature animal judging, midway rides, shows and some high-rev motorsport entertainment: a demolition derby, tractor pull and motorcycle rodeo.
"Probably the biggest thing I'm excited about is we have got Tim Arfons," the Akron daredevil known for his work with jet-powered tractors and cars, said Bob Cebula, fair board vice president.
Arfons will demonstrate his newest creation, a jet-powered snowmobile, at the culmination of the motorcycle show Sunday night.