Neal steals the show with eight wins at Meyersdale

MEYERSDALE PA – The Pennsylvania Fair Circuit came to the Somerset County Fairgrounds in a southwestern borough of this state, just under 90 minutes southeast from Pittsburgh and almost within sight of the Mason-Dixon line.

And the Meyersdale racing quickly became the Eric Neal Show, as the youthful veteran horseman, the 2023 Fair Circuit leader, won eight races, four during two-year-old action on Wednesday and another four with three-year-olds on Thursday. Neal’s Wednesday success made for several storylines, as he combined with trainer Tom Loughery Jr. for a “triple sweep” among the freshman colt ranks.

RT Bad Business (Fordham Road – Order By Meryl, 2:05.4) and RT Road Of Glory (Fordham Road – RT Gloria De Dios, 2:04.2) swept the “A” trotting colt ranks for Neal, Loughry, and the Rocky Top stable of the late Lefty Brocious. There was only one cut of the “A” filly event, won by Western Twister (Father Patrick – Wind Of The West) in 2:07.2, to give Neal, Loughry, and Brocious a second sweep, that of all the “A” baby trots. Then for good measure, RT Plain Jane won the “B” baby filly trot, effecting a third “sweep” of both the A & B filly trots for the same sponsorship.

Among the 2YO colt pacers, the Heston Blue Chip – McVenus gelding Flying Arrow was successful in 2:04.1, preventing second-place Lucas Hanover from being the first five-time fair winner. (That time was bettered by a tick in the “B” ranks by Joe Bananas, from the hot shedrow of Steve Schoeffel.)

Becoming a four-time PA fairs winner was the Papi Rob Hanover – Ideal Appeal pacing miss Unreal Appeal Sgt, whose 2:02 was the fastest freshman time, for the ownership of trainer Linda and driver-husband Tony Schadel.

Neal came right back with a quadruple on sophomore Thursday, including a 1:59.4 win with the Sweet Lou gelding Jaybird. The other “A” section went much faster – 1:57, just missing the 1:56.2 standards of gelding Needham Hanover and filly Milagro. It was taken by Adam Cheesehead, an altered son of Papi Rob Hanover, making his fair debut but beating three previous “A” circuit winners, for driver Billy Carter, trainer Neil Balcerak, and owner George Prushnok.

Tying for the equine circuit lead with four fair successes is the “claimer,” pacing filly Lovebug Hanover, who after being purchased is four-for-four at the fairs and here won in 2:00 for driver Kyle Bolon, trainer Kevin Johnson, and P T Stable.

Trotting speed honors were shared at 2:02 by the Captain Corey filly Cocktail Captain and the Father Patrick gelding Family Guy, who last week had set the seasonal speed mark for trotters in 2:00 at Bedford.

And Eric Neal got three more wins in the “B” ranks, including his fifth combination of the meet with trainer Tom Loughery via the trotter Coach Brett. Neal and Loughery far outdistanced their fellow horsemen to take the meet’s honors.

The crisscrossing Pennsylvania Fair Circuit jumps an hour to the northeast for its next racing, a Two-Day Meet at the Bedford Fairgrounds on Tuesday (August 4, freshmen) and Wednesday (August 5, sophomores), with declarations due on Sunday, August 2, according to the circuit’s usual procedures.

Now the Circuit gets REALLY hot in August: Bedford 2-Day on the 4^th and 5^th; Honesdale 2-Day on the 8^th and 9^th; Honesdale Fair on the 12^th ad 13^th; Washington Fair on the 16^th and 17^th; Dayton Fair on the 19^th and 20^th; Meadville Fair on the 21^st and 22^nd; Indiana Fair on the 27^th and 28^th; and Wattsburg Fair on the 30^th and 31^st!

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

From the PFHHA, MSOA and PHHA partnership