Hoovler elected to Ohio Hall of Fame

Donald ‘Skip’ Hoovler, a long-time owner known for his relentless dedication to the sport, has been elected as the 51st member of the Ohio Harness Racing Hall of Fame by a vote of the members of the Ohio Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association.

He became involved in harness racing in 1968, and races mostly homebreds in the Ohio Stakes program. Among his top horses were Medoland Sam ($231,120), Medoland Big Sam ($309,423), Medoland Miracle ($289,633), Northmedo Tam ($128,722) and Northmedo Mission ($322,178).

Hoovler’s greatest accomplishment in harness racing has come away from race tracks and breeding sheds. He has given selflessly of his time for the betterment of the sport in the Buckeye state. He serves as the United States Trotting Association’s chairperson for District 1, is a former president and current board member of the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association (OHHA), director of OHHA’s PACER (Political Action Committee for Equine Racing) committee and a member of the Little Brown Jug Society.

Hoovler graduated from Ohio University in 1965, where he was an All-American linebacker. Upon graduation, he played professionally for the New York Jets and Houston Oilers.

He is a financial advisor and owns Hoovler Financial and Insurance Services in Pataskala, Ohio, where he resides with his wife, Tammy, who is an avid horsewoman. They have three children and eight grandchildren with daughter Amy as successor and partner of Hoovler Financial and Insurance Services.

Hoovler will be honored at the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association’s annual banquet on Saturday, January 18 at the Hilton Airport in Columbus.

by Jay Wolf, for the Ohio Chapter of USHWA