May 15, 2015
XXX Company
999 Wagner Ave.
Greenville, OH 45331
Dear Sir or Madam,
The Great Darke County fair invites you to become a sponsor for our annual Gene
Riegle Memorial Race. This exciting event will be held on August 28, 2015 in
Greenville, OH.
The Gene Riegle Memorial was introduced to honor a lifelong county resident that not
only excelled in the harness racing world but as a valued citizen and friend to so many
people. Gene’s harness racing success earned him a place in the Harness Racing Hall
of Fame and the Living Hall of Fame in Goshen, NY.
The race has been running for three years now and each year the track record has
been broken due to the quality of horses we have attracted. The race is open to all and
the top eight money winners entered have preference. The race has drawn so much
interest that last year a new race was added to the ticket. This race was called the
Three Diamond race in honor of one of Gene’s best known mares and is open to the top
8 money earning fillies and mares that enter. All money raised will benefit these two
races.
The primary source of funding for the Gene Riegle Memorial is from corporate
sponsors, such as yourself.Your sponsorship will help assure the success of Gene
Riegle Memorial race. Enclosed please find more information on this exciting event and
its sponsorship levels.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns. We look forward to
hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
_________________________
Richard Delk
Speed Superintendent
_________________________
Tim Harless
Director of Racing
The Darke County Fair
home of the
GENE RIEGLE MEMORIAL
Friday August 28, 2015
Greenville, OH
Gene Riegle was born into a harness racing family on June 3, 1928
at Greenville, Ohio. Darke County is famous for its long tradition
of harness racing and his parents Roy (a top trainer) and his
mother Delilah raised their son and his brother Dick in the
spirit of their love and passion for the sport.
Unfortunately, both of Riegle’s parents were killed in an
automobile accident when Gene was just a teenager, and he,
along with brother Dick had to assume the training duties,
as well as his mother’s color-making business.
Gene began his driving career at age 17 and won his very first start, besting top horseman
Sanders Russell in the process at their home base of the Darke County Fair. His first top horse
was in 1952 when he piloted and trained the pacer Red Sails. In 1958 his career got a big boost
as he piloted Mr Saunders to a two-three finish behind Emily’s Pride in that year’s Hambletonian.
His owners at the time were Mr. and Mrs. Rex Larkin for whom he drove Rocket Byrd and Lou
Byrd. His other prominent horses at the time included Fly Fly Byrd, Tolson Hanover and Ozzie
Hanover.
In the 1970s Riegle conditioned and drove the horses Jay Time and Arnie Almahurst. Jay Time
deadheated with Strike Out in the 1972 Adios and was one of the best of his crop that year, while
1973 saw Arnie Almahurst, a fast but hard-to-handle colt, win the Kentucky Futurity for Riegle and
catch-driver Joe O’Brien. Carrying the chartreuse and red colors of the Riegle clan those years
also were Three Diamonds, a multi-world champion pacing filly; CamiAlmahurst a top trotting mare
and the exceptional pacing colt Fundamentalist.
Riegle’s top form continued on into the 1980’s. His top trotter of that decade, Op’Art, was known
as a world record breaker. In 1986 he set a world record for an aged gelding trotter on a fiveeights mile track in 1:57.2 at Scioto Downs with Gene in the sulky. In 1984 at three, Op’Art set a
new standard on a half mile track when he trotted in 1:58.3 and in 1985 he trotted in 1:56.1 at The
Meadowlands. This rewrote the oldest major record in the books as the 1:56.1 mark was a world
record for a four-year-old overcame three operations for broken limbs and Gene remarked that
“every time he breaks a bone he comes back breaking a world record.”
Tuscon Hanover was a top Riegle trainee in 1986. The three-year-old colt pacer had earnings of
$457,759 and just missed winning the $1 million Meadowlands Pace when he finished second to
Laughs by a neck. Riegle also trained Enroute who bankrolled $207,310 and came out victorious
in the Roses Are Red Stake at Greenwood. She finished second to Samshu Blue Grass in the
$367,041 Breeders Crown final as well. Other top trainees that season included Heaven’s Glow
and Moonrock.
In 1988 Riegle drove and trained Swirlabout, a freshman who earned $77,594, and was first in a
leg of the Ohio Sire Stakes and in the Ohio State Trot. He also conditioned the 1988 Jugette
winner Leah Almahurst, who won the Breeders Crown in 1987. The following year Riegle
conditioned a pair of top freshman pacers, a filly named Excited and a colt named Righthand Man.
Excited won eight of 14 starts in her freshman campaign, with her biggest victory coming in the
American National at Sportsman Park. Righthand Man won six times in 20 starts with earnings of
$117,111, with his biggest win coming in the Fox Stake in 1:52.1, defeating A’Nutter Butter and
Raven Lunatic.
1990 would prove to be one of Riegle’s finest seasons. He campaigned Nuclear Legacy to a
$349,263 winning season. The colt won the $216,775 Lou Babic Memorial, a Garden State Stake
division, a Tompkins-Geers division and was second to Junes Baby in the $474,500 Sheppard
Final at Yonkers. Riegle also conditioned the No Nukes freshman Silky Stallone in 1990, a six
time winner in 22 starts who earned well over $315,000.
But none were better that year than a colt named Artsplace. The son of Abercrombie-Miss Elvira
reached a level of greatness at Pompano Park in late November of the year when he won the
$605,870 Breeders Crown Freshman Pace in 1:51.1 the fastest mile ever by a two year old over
any size of racetrack. He was named Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year for 1990 and also
won the $797,400 Metro Final and the $655,600 Governor’s Cup Final as well. His three-year-old
campaign was just as exciting, except that he had to face the exceptional Precious Bunny that
season. However, he still won ten of 18 starts, banking nearly $1 million. That year he won the
James B Dancer Memorial, the American National Three-Year-Old Colt Pace, the Thomas P
Gaines Memorial and a Terrapin division. It seemed only fitting, as well, that Gene would pilot the
colt to victory in a $30,100 Tompkins-Geers spilt at his home track of Scioto Downs.
1991 saw Riegle condition the likes of Western Hanover, Caprock, Gamma Ray and Gold Coast.
Western Hanover won Two-Year-old Colt Pacer honors that season, banking nearly $700,000 and
setting a national season’s mark of 1:54.4 on a half-mile track.
In 1985 the Ohio chapter of the United States Harness Writer’s Association (USHWA) honored
Riegle by giving him the Meritorious Award – given to an Ohioan who has distinguished himself in
harness racing over a two decade span. His success in 1990 garnered him the Achievement
Award by the Ohio chapter of USHWA. He is a member of the Ohio Harness Racing Hall of Fame
and the Living Hall of Fame at Goshen, New York.
TRADITION
The First Darke Co. Fair was held on September 7 & 8, 1853.
Harness racing had a then hefty total purse of $2,200 and
single admission to the fair was 25 cents. Since that time the
fair has only been cancelled three times – 1862 and 1863 due
to the Civil War and then again in 1949 due to the polio outbreak.
1923, the 68th annual fair, three additional stake races were added.
In 1948 the speed program’s purse was $14,000 for the five day
run. 1973 saw the additional of the famed Dr. H. M. Parshall
Memorial Futurities. Today the purses have grown to almost
$275,000 with seven sessions of racing – more than any other
county fair in Ohio.
People in general come to the fair to be entertained
in one manner or another. Really very few come
with just one item in mind. Attendance at the
Darke County fair is impressive with people
visiting from all over. The attendance is over four
times the population of the entire county. The fair
attendance for 2014 was over 225,000
COMMUNITY
But all said and done, what makes this fair
special is what really puts the “Great'' in Great
Darke County Fair…the people. This means
from the ticket taker to the board president,
from the ride operator the person that sells
balls at the Kewpie doll game…from the
people who nightly spruce up the grounds,
from the dedicated board members, to the
harness racing drivers and trainers from the
snow cone lady to the waffle guy the people at
the cane toss and the sellers of french fries
and lemonade we can fill pages with tributes.
The greatest of them all, however, is when the
gates are at long last thrown open to one and
all and to children of all ages because that’s
exactly what we are!
2015 RACE SCHEDULE
Friday Aug. 21st
7:00 PM
Saturday Aug. 22nd
1:00 PM and 7:00 PM
Thursday Aug. 27th
1:00 PM and 7:00 PM
Friday Aug. 28th
12 Noon and 7:00 PM
BECOME A SPONSOR
There are opportunities for individuals and
businesses like yours to be part of this event.
The Gene Riegle Race has consistently offered
sponsors and patrons the highest level of
entertainment – all at an investment
considerably lower than other professional
sporting events in the region. A day at the
races provides non-stop fun, memorable
moments and an experience people of all ages
can enjoy. It’s a wonderful and unique way for
companies and large groups to leave lasting
impressions on their customers, prospects and
employees alike not to mention the thousands
exposed to the promotions prior to the event.
Promote your business, advertise product or
services or just be part of supporting this
worthwhile event we have a menu of ideas for
sponsoring opportunities. We are also willing
to work with you to custom build your own
package. We invite you to review the
sponsorship packages on the following pages.
If you don’t see exactly what you are looking
for please call us at 937-564-3393 to custom
build a package that meets your needs.
WHAT A DAY AT THE RACES
CAN DO FOR YOU…….
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•
Promote your company to the
people in your marketing area
Associate your business with a
pleasant county event
Grow your business through
race connected contacts and
exposure
Give back, in the spirit of
community, to the citizens who
support your business
Have you business associated
with giving
WHAT YOUR SUPPORT DOES
FOR THE RACES
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Affords us the ability to offer
purses to attract the best horses
in the country
Allows us to keep the
grandstand admission free for
everyone
Allows us to continue a
century-long tradition that is
intertwined with the history and
welfare of this area.
POST POSITION LEVEL - $1,000
PADDOCK LEVEL - $500
2 Commemorative Mugs
2 Free admissions to grounds on race days
Win blanket with company name given out during an
evening session
Your picture with the blanket on the winning horse
Your company listed on all publicity as a sponsor
Your company listed on our web site and facebook page
as a sponsor
4 Commemorative Mugs
4 Free admissions to grounds on race days
Win blanket with company name given out during an
evening session
Your picture with the blanket on the winning horse
Your company listed on all publicity as a sponsor
Your company listed on our web site and facebook page
as a sponsor
WINNER’S CIRCLE LEVEL - $5,000
VICTORY LEVEL - $2,500
6 Commemorative Mugs
6 Free admissions to grounds on race days
Win blanket with company name embroidered given
out during an evening session
Your picture with the blanket on the winning horse
A representative of your organization will be
interviewed in the winner’s circle between races
giving you the opportunity to present your company
and its services to all in attendance.
A ride in the starting gate for a company representative
of your choice
Your company listed on all publicity as a sponsor
Your company listed on our web site and facebook
page as a sponsor
6 Commemorative Mugs
6 Free admissions to grounds on race days
6 Gift bags
Win blanket with company name embroidered given
out the evening of the Riegle Race
Your picture with the blanket on the winning horse
Box seats for the evening of the Riegle Race
Group Photo in your box seats
A representative of your organization will be
interviewed in the winner’s circle between races
giving you the opportunity to present your company
and its services to all in attendance.
A ride in the starting gate for a company
representative of your choice
Those seated in your box will be included in the win
photo of the Riegle Race
Your company listed on all publicity as a sponsor
Your company listed on our web site and facebook
page as a sponsor
HALL OF FAME LEVEL - $10,000
8 Commemorative Mugs
8 Free admissions to grounds on race days
8 Gift bags
Win blanket with company name embroidered given out the evening of the Riegle Race
Your picture with the blanket on the winning horse
Box seats for the evening of the Riegle Race
Group Photo in your box seats
Food delivered to your guests in the box
A representative of your organization will be interviewed in the winner’s circle between races giving you the
opportunity to present your company and its services to all in attendance.
A ride in the starting gate for a company representative of your choice
Those seated in your box will be included in the win photo of the Riegle Race
Your company listed on our web site and facebook page as a sponsor
The Darke County Fair
home of the
GENE RIEGLE MEMORIAL
GENE RIEGLE MEMORIAL SPONSORSHIP AGREEMENT FORM
$10,000 HALL OF FAME LEVEL
$5,000 WINNER’S CIRCLE LEVEL
$2,500 VICTORY LEVEL
$1,000 POST POSITION LEVEL
$500 PADDOCK LEVEL
OTHER
METHOD OF PAYMENT
My check is enclosed in the amount of $_________________
I prefer to be invoiced
SPONSOR NAME/COMPANY NAME INFORMATION
Please print your name as you would like it to appear in acknowledgements
COMPANY NAME
CONTACT NAME
STREET
CITY
STATE
ZIP CODE
PHONE
EMAIL ADDRESS:
AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE
DATE
Please make checks payable to the Darke Co. Agricultural Society. Send completed form in the envelope
provided no later than July 1, 2015. Please email any logos you wish to be used in promotional ads to
[email protected] Additional questions can be directed to Tim Harless at 937-564-3393