CAROL CRAMER IS DELAWARE FAIR'S 2005 LADY PACE HONOREE By Tom White 5/19/05 Carol Cramer, editor of the USTA Stakes Guide and Grand Circuit Steward and Secretary, will be honored as the 2005 Lady Pace honoree at the Delaware, Ohio County Fair. The $20,000-estimated Lady Pace will be raced Sunday afternoon, September 18th, opening day of Delaware's five afternoons of Grand Circuit harness racing. The Little Brown Jug will be raced Thursday, September 22nd.

Carol, a native of Bloomingburg in Fayette County, Ohio, launched her 40-year USTA career in February of 1965 as project assistant to James Harrison in the publication of "CARE & TRAINING OF THE TROTTER & PACER." In 1995, in cooperation with the late Curt Greene and fellow USTA associate Ed Keys, Carol helped edit and rewrite the second edition of the care and training book.

In 1967, at the suggestion of USTA Publicity Director Stanley Bergstein and the late Hall of Fame trainer-driver Delvin Miller, the Harness Racing Secretaries convened and the idea of a publication that would list every stakes and added event along with conditions and payments was discussed. Carol Cramer was assigned the task to gather the information and produce the "book." For the last 37 years she has met with the Racing Secretaries annually and carried out the Herculean job of producing the USTA's Stakes Guide and Calendar. Twenty years ago an Event Calendar and Yearling nomination book was added.

It is hard to imagine trying to campaign a Grand Circuit stable without consulting the Guide. It really has become the owner and trainer's bible.

In 1999, Carol was a recipient of the Frederick Van Lennep Memorial Achievement Award presented by the Hambletonian Society and given in a ceremony at the Delaware County Fair.

During her career at the USTA, Carol has served as advertising director of Hoof Beats magazine, was assistant to Marketing Director Phil Jursek, and helped coordinate the World Drivers Championship which the USTA hosted in 1995. She has been a field representative, and serves on several stakes related committees.

Ms. Cramer also helps with special events and exhibits for the USTA. The main one being the USTA off site "office" at Delaware County Fair during Jug Week.

Carol has served as a Grand Circuit Steward for 15 years, and for the last six years she has been the organization's secretary.

For many years Carol assisted in training Springer Spaniels for field trials. One of the clients was Will Farrish of central Kentucky's Lanes End Farm. "One of their dogs who was a grandmother to Millie, owned by (former) President George Bush."

Another of her many causes is the Great Oaks Joint Vocational Equine School located in Wilmington, OH. The school was the first of its kind to feature Standardbreds and Carol serves on the advisory board.

Carol has a son Michael who is a 26-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force (active/reserves) and recently completed participation in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Carol estimates that she has driven more than 800,000 miles commuting from her home to Columbus, a distance of 80 miles roundtrip.