11-01-2024 11:13pm

Warren County Agricultural Society Versus The Harness Racers

Beth Callahan Editor

Photo courtesy of Scott Hagemeyer

LEBANON, OH -- Warren County Fairgrounds, currently, is Ohio's largest training center for harness racing ... but not for long, if the Warren County Agriculture Society evicts all horse renters and ends harness race training by Dec., 1, 2024. The reason for the eviction according to the WCAS's letter...

"Pursuant to action taken by the WCAS Board on Monday, October 25, 2024, the difficult decision was made to discontinue harness racing at the WCAS facility and barns due to the overwhelming financial burden it caused to the WCAS organization."

"There are 300 plus horses living there, and these horses are professional athletes. They need a track where they can train everyday. You just don't take away a professional athlete's training facility with no place to go... and there isn't any place for them to go," explained Scott Hagemeyer, a board member of the Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association and resident of Warren County.

"They (WCAS) had recently increased the stall rent from $125 to $150. This is the second highest rent in the state of Ohio for stall rent at a fairgrounds, but this was manageable... but the eviction notice... do you know the impact this decision will have on the equestrian community?" he answered when asked if the renters were blindsided by the notice.

Along with the 47 owners and their families who rent stalls for their horses, the groomers, the vets, the trainers, the horseshoe makers and those who provide feed for the animals are just some of the people who will be negatively impacted. Hagemeyer noted that just the oat and hay industry alone in the area will loose over $800,000 a year.

Hagemeyer, when we spoke, was busy drafting a letter requesting Ohio Auditor Keith Faber for a state forensic audit on WCAS's accounting records. "I'm working with and thankful to State Rep Scott Lipps and State Senator Steve Wilson in helping us to get an audit."

Hagemeyer noted that WCAS accounting records are incorrect. He explained that people who pay cash are given a receipt, yet nothing appears on the WCAS's books showing that they had paid. "It's a mess. The financial report that was given the night they (WCAS board) voted to do this, did not include two of the largest single clients that had actually paid," Hagemeyer said, adding, "Also, if they had renters that were so far in the rears as they claim, why didn't they go through the proper procedures... A horsemen can loose their racing license on things like this... it just doesn't make sense what they are doing or saying."

Hagemeyer added that he was pleased that Warren County Commissioner Tom Grossman had shown concern bringing the matter to the Warren County Commissioners meeting held on Tuesday (Oct., 29, 2024).

While the 94-acre fairground property sits in the City of Lebanon's jurisdiction, the property itself is owned by Warren County. But while it is owned by the county, the county has leased the property to Warren County Agricultural Society to run and manage it.

"In regard to their decision to order these renters to vacate the premise, that's a matter between them... the renters and the agriculture society board, but we do not have any say in that? Is that right?” Grossman asked the county's prosecuting attorney Bruce McGary.

McGary explained that was correct according to the lease.

But when commissioner Shannon Jones asked about the terms of the lease, more questions arose. While doing a quick search on his computer during the meeting, McGary was able to find the the terms of the lease — 5 years, but the only lease he was able to quickly pull up at the time was one that expired in 2013.

"There would have been a renewal in 2018, and there would have been a renewal in 2023. We need to check our records and make sure that happened," McGary said.

"We're in the news and we're being questioned. We own the property. We have an interest. That document that I was just given ... their press release.. raises a lot of questions," Grossman said, adding that he wanted to know if they have an accountant that has looked over their numbers and have they been audited. He also requested that someone from the Agricultural Society come to their next meeting to answer some questions. (Next board meeting is November 12, at 9 a.m. at 406 Justice Drive, First Floor.)

To watch the commissioners October 29, 2024 meeting concerning the WCAS and the fairgrounds harness racing community click below, where the discussion begins close to the 5 minute mark.

Because the fairground property does sit in an area of Lebanon that is being highly sought after for development, rumors have been going around on social media platforms, as well as word of mouth, that a developer is seeking to purchase some of the land.

When WCAS Board President Dana Letner was asked about those rumors she noted, "We would not have any rights to develop as property managers. The commissioner/county owns ours (the fairgrounds)."