OHHA to present Special Recognition Awards at upcoming banquet

Grove City, Ohio – Former Race Secretary Gregg Keidel, longtime veterinarian Dr. Robert Schwartz, harness racing supporter and clerk Lisa Schwartz, and the connections of Breeders Crown champion Tactical Approach (Tactical Landing) will be presented with Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association Special Recognition Awards at the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association Annual Awards Banquet on Saturday, January 13.

Gregg Keidel has held many different roles in the harness racing industry.  He worked as the publicist at Northfield Park before becoming Race Secretary and Director of Racing, positions he held for 26 years.  Keidel also worked at Running Aces and Pompano Park before returning to Ohio to be the Director of Racing at both Dayton Raceway and Miami Valley. He remained at both Ohio locations for a decade. Keidel estimates that throughout his career we assembled 6,650 racing programs, consisting of 93,100 races and 791,350 starters.

Dr. Robert Schwartz began his career in 1971 working for Ohio Harness Racing Hall of Famer Dr. Don Mossbarger.  Mossbarger started Midland Acres where Schwartz has been a veterinarian since the farm’s inception.  Schwartz is a former Chairman of the Ohio Standardbred Development Fund and served on the Board of Directors at Scioto Downs.  He currently serves as President of both the Ohio Colt Racing Association and the Fayette County Fair Board.

Schwartz’s wife Lisa is also being recognized for her contributions to Ohio harness racing.  She helped merge the Western Ohio Colt Racing Association and the Ohio Colt Racing Association.  Schwartz became the Secretary/Treasurer of Ohio’s Signature Series in 2017 and has grown the series from 14 to 34 fairs.  In 2023, Lisa worked at 18 county fairs as the clerk, charter, or both, including the historic Delaware County Fair.

Ohioans Joe Sbrocco and R. Kevin Greenfield are being recognized for their part in the extensive success of the 3-year-old trotter Tactical Approach.  Sbrocco is part owner and Greenfield is the Syndicate Manager for sire Tactical Landing.  Tactical Approach hit the board in 17 of 19 races, winning 10 including the Hambletonian and the Breeders Crown.  He was named the 2023 3-Year-Old Colt Trotter of the Year by the U.S. Harness Writers Association.

The recipients of the Special Recognition Award for their contributions to the betterment of harness racing in Ohio will be honored at the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association Annual Awards Banquet on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at the Mariott Columbus OSU in Columbus, Ohio.  Tickets to the banquet are $30 each and can be purchased by calling the OHHA office at 614-221-3650

by Frank Fraas, for the OHHA