Elkhart County Fair - Goshen, Indiana

When most people think of the Elkhart County Fair, the name Joe Blocker quickly comes to mind.  Joe serves an active role in the racing today.  Moreover, Joe's persistence allowed a renewal of racing in Goshen. 

Joe came to Goshen in 1963.  At the time, there had been no racing for three or four years.  Thus, the barns and grandstand were demolished.  After witnessing these events, Joe started a campaign to bring harness racing back to the fairgrounds.  With the help of the Elkhart County Fair Board and the citizens of Elkhart County, he was able to complete the feat in 1976.  Revamping the facility, the original judge's stand now serves as a race secretary's office. 

Joe credits the horsemen for building the horse barns.  "They mortgaged them and paid the mortgage off with the stall rentals.  All the stalls were full this Winter," says Joe.  Harley Yoder, Gary Peterson, Wayne Younts, Bob Wyman, Abe Graber, Jack Myers, and Sanford Ropp are among the horsemen claiming the Goshen facility as a base. 

The track at the Elkhart County Fairgrounds is popular among horsemen.  Many horsemen feel it is probably the best half-mile track offered within Indiana.  Joe admits there were a few rough spots in reviving racing at Goshen.  One of these involves the track.

Joe explains, "When we built it, we goofed.  We had it all staked out and built and it was way too long.  We had to cut down the turns a little bit.  I've said to many people, 'Why didn't we make it a five-eighths?'  The plans we had were from the Delaware, Ohio track, but there was a mistake made on the surveying and we were long.  I wish I had made it a five-eighths, because I wouldn't have lost my turns.  They were good; they were steep." 

Public donations fund the many improvements seen at the Elkhart County Fairgrounds.  Through this public support, they have built a new restroom facility, stage, and fine first aid station. 

Joe Blocker was also important in the fair becoming a part of the three-year-old Indiana Sires Stakes.  After a successful bid for the races, the Sires Stakes came to Goshen in 1980.  The Sires Stakes era did not last too long, as the fair lost in the bidding later. 

With the loss of the stake races, Joe went to the fair board to implement a race of their own.  When the dust settled, The Classic was born.  Each year, Goshen hosts the event for Indiana Sired Three-Year-Old Pacers.

In recent years, The Maple City Trot has been added to the Goshen racing program, as a trotting counterpart to The Classic.  The year 2000 marked the 25^th anniversary of the renewal of harness racing over the Goshen oval. 

In a few racing seasons, another key race was added to the Goshen racing program.  The Topeka Standardbred Sale approached the fair board with a race.  They sponsored a race for the yearlings offered in their Fall Sale.  They offered 2 races, one for two-year-old trotters and one for two-year-old pacers.  The Topeka Standardbred Sale succeeded in offering sale graduates another racing opportunity. 

Goshen is a favorite stop on the Indiana Fair Circuit for many horsemen.  They cite personal attention and considerations as reasons.  "The personal attention Joe gives you when you are racing at the Elkhart County Fair makes you feel special.  He gives you such great hospitality…he makes you want to keep coming back," states one horseman.

The Elkhart County Fair has won top honors in Class AAA, populations more than 100,000, Indiana county fair competition on several occasions.  It features a beautiful setting and is a class operation in every way.