Archdeacon: Harness drivers, association donate $3,000 to local woman

The Indiana harness drivers topped their Ohio counterparts in the annual “Buckeyes vs. Hoosiers Drivers Challenge” Saturday night at Hollywood Dayton Raceway.

Each team had five drivers and competed in six races on the card. Points were awarded for finishes to determine the champion.

The night’s real winners though were Dayton paramedic Crystal Wilson and children in the area who benefit from the annual Christmas toy drive sponsored by Dayton Firefighters Local 136.

Wilson served as a trackside paramedic during races in the track’s first two years of operation and last year she led the “Christmas From the Firehouse” drive that partnered with the horsemen at Dayton Raceway and collected toys and gift certificates for kids in need and their families.

In April, the 36-year-old Wilson was paralyzed from the waist down in a fall and is now wheelchair bound, although she is working diligently to try to regain some use of her legs again.

The “Buckeyes vs. Hoosiers” drivers donated their entire $2,500 in purse money from the Challenge to Wilson and the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association (OHHA) added $500.

“I’m overwhelmed,” Wilson told Dayton Race Secretary Gregg Keidel afterward. “These drivers are so awesome. My prognosis isn’t great, but I have faith and I WILL walk again. I can’t thank this track and these fantastic guys enough for their support.”

Over 100 new toys were donated for the “Christmas From The Firehouse” campaign by the Dayton horsemen and the OHHA added $500 for children’s gifts.

Leading driver Josh Sutton, who is from Lebanon, also gave his entire earnings from Saturday night to the toy drive and trainers Randal Smith and Tyler George added 50 percent of their purses, as well.

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