Big Ranger named 2025 Ohio 2YO Trotting Colt of the Year

Grove City, Ohio – A perfect harness racing season propelled Big Ranger to being named the 2025 Ohio 2-Year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year.

The son of In Range out of Big Blue Bird was the lone horse to claim the Ohio Triple Crown this year, winning the Ohio State Fair Stakes, Ohio Breeders Championship, and Ohio Sires Stakes Scarlet Championship. Trained and driven by Ronnie Gillespie, Big Ranger closed the year having won all seven of his starts. In addition to the Triple Crown races, he also posted victories in the Next Generation and three legs of the Ohio Sires Stakes en route to $370,610 in earnings.

His season-best mark of 1:53.4 came in the OSS Scarlet Championship at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway on Sept. 27. Big Ranger was bred by Spring Haven Farm and is owned by Madison Global.

“As a breeder, you want to breed the best, and we’re honored to be affiliated with a horse of his caliber,” said Spring Haven Farm corresponding officer Senena Esty.

“We couldn’t be happier for all the connections, especially Ronnie Gillespie, Dalton Walls, and Madison Global.”

“I’ve been around horses long enough to know that there’s not always a storybook ending, so to be a part of this with Big Ranger has been a humbling experience,” added Madison Global corresponding officer Anthony Miller.

“He might be a once-in-a-lifetime horse.”

Big Ranger will be honored at the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association Annual Awards Banquet on Jan. 10, 2026, at the Renaissance Columbus-Westerville in Westerville, Ohio.

The 2025 Ohio Horse of the Year will be announced at the awards banquet.

From Wes Mayberry for the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association