Big winners at OHHA Charity Night

Grove City, OH – The first time Holley King met the harness racing horse that was representing the Home For Families charity she knew there was a connection.  Tom Swifty did not disappoint King as he rallied down the stretch to win, giving Home For Families the $10,000 top prize at the second Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association Charity Night of the Year Friday (June 14) at Eldorado Scioto Downs.

The charities participating in the event were paired with a horse in Friday’s eighth race.  Each charity received a donation from the OHHA for participating, with the top three finishers receiving larger donations.

At the first OHHA Charity night of the year at MGM Northfield Park, Dan Noble drove Clearlydreamy to the win for By The Dawn’s Early Night.  Friday night, Noble did it again, this time with Tom Swifty for Home For Families which provides homeless prevention and re-housing, education, and stability programming to improve the health and well-being of families, youth, and the Columbus community. Noble swung Tom Swifty wide around the final turn and passed Mr Wwc mid-stretch on the way to the victory.

“The moment I met T Swifty I just knew once he got on the track, he was going to fight for us,” said King.  King says the top prize will provide rent for many people who are suffering from homelessness and care packages for mothers and families that are less fortunate.

When I’m Gone AS finished second earning the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Ohio, $5,000 while Mr WWC finished third earning the Ohio FFA Foundation a $3,000 donation.

The other charities, Columbus Schools Special Olympics, Dreams on Horseback, M.A.S.H. Food Pantry, Open Shelter, PBJ Connections, Pickaway County Community Action (Ohio House), and Saving Grace Therapeutic Riding Center each received $2,000 donations.

A total of $32,000 was donated to the charities by the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association.

by Frank Fraas, for the OHHA