Trevor Smith is and up and coming driver in the world of harness racing.
Smith, 20, grew up around horses, the family business, as the son of Jeff and Kathy Smith.
His older brother, Tyler, is a well-established driver.
Now Trevor is paying his dues in his first full summer of driving.
Smith drove in six races at the Fayette County Fair Wednesday and will drive in two more at the fair Saturday.
“I started qualifying in mid-March at Miami Valley,” Smith said. “My first drive was at Miami Valley (in Lebanon, Ohio). Now I have about 100 starts in the pari-mutuels.
“I was going to school at Wright State, before I transferred to Sinclair (Community College, in Dayton),” Smith said. “When I sat behind my first horse in a pari-mutuel race, I knew this was it.”
Smith was a fine point guard in basketball at Miami Trace High School.
However, he broke his leg during a game at McClain as a sophomore. He returned to the Panthers, but, the injury all but assured him that he would not play basketball in college.
“I had a six-inch spiral fracture,” Smith said. “Ever since then, I never really went to rehab. I never got back to where I was before. Once I finished my senior year in high school, I knew I was calling it quits.
“When I knew I was not going to be playing basketball, I focused on school and trying to find something I loved to do,” Smith said.
“My brother is a tremendous influence,” Smith said. “I couldn’t thank him enough. He’s been behind me 100 percent. He pushed me to try (driving). I used to think, ‘I’ll never do as good as you.’
“Once I actually got out there, I felt comfortable,” Smith said. “When I got behind my first horse in that first qualifier, I was like, ‘man, I absolutely love it.’ I thank him to this day that he kept pushing me to try it.
“I make mistakes every night driving at Scioto (Downs),” Smith said. “But, he’s calling me, he’s telling me, ‘you’re alright, keep going. You’ll make mistakes every night, but keep going.’
“When you have someone behind you like that, it means the world, it really does,” Smith said.
Smith has been driving all of this season at Scioto Downs.
Trevor said that his brother, Tyler, is driving currently at Hoosier Park in Anderson, Ind.
“I think he has a full card in tonight, like always,” Smith said. “He’s racing. That’s pretty much what he does Tuesday through Saturday. If they are racing at Scioto Downs on Monday, he’ll be there. Then, he’ll go back to Indiana.”
This is the second Fayette County Fair for Trevor Smith.
“I had a couple of drives here last year,” Smith said. “I didn’t do very well, but tonight, I had the opportunity to drive a couple of nice horses and it worked out well.”
Smith had six races Wednesday, winning two.
Smith drove Rompaway Beau to the win in the fifth race and also won the 10th race behind My Femme Fatale.
Harness racing continues at the Fayette County Fair Saturday at noon, culminating with the Fayette County Classic.
Here are Wednesday’s results:
RACE NO. 1, OCRA 3-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACE, 1st DIVISION, TOTAL PURSE, $9,864, Trophy Presentation – Clyde “Tuffy” Martindale Memorial Pace
1. Forever The Gold, 11.20, 3.00, 3.80; 2. Johnsbadgirl, 2.80, 2.80; 3. Bunny Direct M, 2.60
Time: 28.2, 58.0, 1:29.3, 1:59.1
Exacta, 5-7, 19.00; Quinella, 2-4, 8.80; Trifecta, 5-7-1, 51.80
Rest of field in order of finish: 4. Let Me Explain, 5. Big Highway, 6. Katelyn B, 7. Cookie Coolwater
RACE NO. 2, OCRA 3-YEAR-OLD COLT PACE, 1st DIVISION, TOTAL PURSE, $9,750, Trophy presentation – J.K. Precast
1. Cade Ricky, 4.60, 3.80, 2.10; 2. Uf Whosurdarlinboy, 3.20, 2.10; 3. Brandon, 2.10
Time: 30.2, 1:01.0, 1:30.3, 1:59.3
Exacta, 2-4, 10.60; Quinella, 2-4, 6.80; Trifecta, 2-4-5, 12.20; Daily Double, 5-2, 36.00
4. Baywood Shadow, 5. Tc Beck, 6. Robin’s Stock
RACE NO. 3, OCRA 2-YEAR-OLD COLT TROT, 1st DIVISION, TOTAL PURSE, $9,684, Trophy Presentation – Misfit Farm
1. Fiesty Jim, 9.00, 4.40, 5.00; 2. Fleetwood Max, 6.00, 11.40; 3. Triple Malt, 20.80
Time: 34.0, 1:06.3, 1:38.3, 2:10.1
Exacta, 4-1, 65.00; Quinella, 4-all, 2.40; Quinella, 1-all, 4.20; Trifecta, 4-1-3, 151.80
4. Last Tango, 5. One Fancy Kid, 6. Watsup Next, 7. Motown Hall
RACE NO. 4, SIGNATURE SERIES, 1st DIVISION, PACE, PURSE, $1,450, Trophy Presentation – In Memory of Virginia Lee Merritt
1. Harvard’s Z Tam, 3.60, 2.10, 2.10; 2. Rosetta Star, 2.20, 2.10; 3. Giovanni’s Legacy, 2.40
Time: 30.1, 1:01.0, 1:30.2, 1:59.4
Exacta, 1-6, 16.40; Quinella, 1-6, 8.80; Trifecta, 1-6-3, 41.20; Superfecta, 1-6-all-all, 4.40
4. Bongo, 5. Winchester, 6. Three To Dance
RACE NO. 5, SIGNATURE SERIES, 1st DIVISION, TROT, PURSE, $1,450, Trophy Presentation – Doug Marine Motors
1. Rompaway Beau, 3.40, 2.10, 2.40; 2. Celtic Merchant, 2.10, 2.40; 3. Mocking Jay, 3.80
Time: 30.0, 1:00.0, 1:31.2, 2:02.0
Exacta, 1-3, 6.20; Quinella, 1-3, 3.40; Trifecta, 1-3-6, 72.00
4. Blue Boy Yankee, 5. Vacation Angel, 6. Rompaway Hustler
RACE NO. 6, OCRA 3-YEAR-OLD COLT PACE, 2nd DIVISION, TOTAL PURSE, $9,750, Trophy Presentation – Keith Haynes Memorial
1. Standing Proud, 3.20, 3.00, 2.10; 2. Lovin Prayin Hard, 3.00, 2.10; 3. Rockin Hank, 2.10
Time: 30.2, 1:02.3, 1:32.0, 2:02.0
Exacta, 1-2, 9.40; Quinella, 1-2, 4.20; Trifecta, 1-2-4, 11.60; Superfecta, 1-2-4-3, 10.00
4. Obey One Kanobey, 5. Mitchiefinn, 6. River Valley Jet
RACE NO. 7, OCRA 2-YEAR-OLD COLT TROT, 2nd DIVISION, TOTAL PURSE, $9,684, Trophy Presentation – E-Z Oil Change
1. De La Creme, 8.40, 6.00, 3.20; 2. Zero Balance, 22.60, 4.20; 3. Dark Ruler, 2.80
Time: 31.3, 1:03.4, 1:37.0, 2:08.0
Exacta, 1-all, 6.20; Exacta, all-6, 45.20; Quinella, 1-all, 2.60; Quinella, 6-all, 11.80; Trifecta, 1-all-all, 7.60
4. Hunter’s Dutchboy, 5. Spin-drift, 6. Tc Chips Eclips, 7. Heres Wrangler
RACE NO. 8, OCRA 3-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACE, 2nd DIVISION, TOTAL PURSE, $9,864, Trophy Presentation – Kirk’s Furniture
1. Goldikova, 3.00, 4.80, 2.40; 2. Scarlet Coolwater, 6.40; 3. Awakening, 2.20
Time: 29.0, 58.1, 1:30.2, 2:00.1
Exacta, 3-5, 87.40; Quinella, 3-all, 2.20; Quinella, 5-all, 7.20; Trifecta, 3-5-all, 121.20; Daily Double, 1-3, 22.20
4. High Drama, 5. Feelin Colossal, 6. Alimony, 7. Big Cake
RACE NO. 9, SIGNATURE SERIES, 2nd DIVISION, TROT, PURSE, $1,375, Trophy Presentation – Fayette County Veterinary Hospital
1. Rose Run Princess, 11.40, 2.10, 2.10; 2. Rehab Mountain, 2.10, 2.10; 3. Speed Hanover, 2.10
Time: 31.0, 1:02.0, 1:33.2, 2:03.2
Exacta, 1-2, 28.60; Quinella, 1-2, 4.20; Trifecta, 1-2-5, 137.80
4. Niteroi Oaks, 5. Flatrockecho
RACE NO. 10, OCRA 3-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROT, 1st DIVISION, TOTAL PURSE, $8,848, Trophy Presentation – Graff & McGovern, Co. LPA.
1. My Femme Fatale, 37.60, 16.40, 3.20; 2. Dominating Dora, 3.40, 2.60; 3. Heather’s Pride, 3.00
Time: 32.2, 1:03.3, 1:35.2; 2:06.2
Exacta, all-6, 4.60; Quinella, 4-all, 2.10; Quinella, 6-all, 2.10; Trifecta, 4-all-all, 206.00
4. Marty’s Lucky Chip, 5. Away With Buble, 6. Lions’ April Fool
RACE NO. 11, SIGNATURE SERIES, 2nd DIVISION, PACE, PURSE, $1,450, Trophy Presentation, Merrill Lynch, George Smith
1. Stand Tall, 10.60, 3.00, 2.40; 2. Qb Killa, 3.00, 2.10; 3. Cullens Blue Jean, 2.20
Time: 29.3, 58.3, 1:28.4, 1:59.3
Exacta, 4-2, 22.80;Quinella, 2-4, 10.00; Trifecta, 4-2-5, 86.00; Superfecta, 4-2-5-3, 95.30
4. Dontmesswithslim, 5. Saucy Brown, 6. Thunder Noise
RACE NO. 12, OCRA 3-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROT, 2nd DIVISION, TOTAL PURSE, $8,848, Trophy Presentation – Robert Schwartz
1. Caviar’s Yankeechip, 17.60, 3.80, 3.80; 2. Gwen’s Iron Maiden, 7.40, 4.00; 3. Caring Gracee, 2.800
Time: 32.1, 1:04.1, 1:36.0, 2:07.0
Exacta, 1-3, 83.60; Quinella, 1-3, 20.00; Trifecta, 1-all-all, 12.20
4. Katness Coy, 5. Match Point
RACE NO. 13, NON-WINNERS $1,500 LIFETIME AE NW $500 IN 2016, PACE, PURSE, $600, Trophy Presentation – Midland Acres, Inc.
1. Sammy’s Cool Win, 4.40, 3.00, 2.60; 2. Bogey Buds, 3.00, 4.00; 3. Gem Heist, 6.00
Time: 31.2, 1:03.1, 1:34.2, 2:04.3
Exacta, 4-7, 19.20; Quinella, 4-7, 6.20; Trifecta, 4-7-8, 155.00; Daily Double, 1-4, 31.00
4. Kids Wanna Rock, 5. Cyalater, 6. Shakinmymonimaker, 7. O Yankee Buck, 8. Deb’s Familycircle
