POMEROY, Oh (WSAZ) -- Harness racing with wagering returned to the Meigs County, Ohio Fair Thursday providing some betting relief.

People were getting the rigs ready in the stables, lining up at the two dollar window and checking the tote board.

It's been years since harness racing with betting has been done at the fair but it may soon be trotting back to stay.

"We're not really sure," Racing Superintendent Steve Swatzel said.
"Some say it's been 30 years, others say it's been 50 years, no one is sure."

One harness horse and driver group tours the Ohio County Fair circuit. The long timers remember when the betting was just quarter pools.

"Now, they can bet through the mutuals," Driver Bryan Weaver said. "And get exact odds and it's how good they handicap a race."

On rig number one we found hometown favorite Don Spencer.
He's one of many who says the days of neighboring states raiding the Buckeye state harness racing industry, now have Ohio leading down the stretch.

"In Ohio, we lost all our money when the other states around us beat us to it - it's just beginning to come back," Don Spencer said.

"Harness racing to me is going to be back in the buckeye state - with wagering, I hope," Track announcer Chris Patterson said.

Many say its a sure bet that harness racing will come back to Ohio county fairs, and they aren't horsing around.

This is the 149th year for the Meigs County Fair.
And the big grandstand was first used back in 1869 for horse racing.