Dr. John Mossbarger, a veterinarian and president of Midland Acres Inc., has been elected as the 50th member of the Ohio Harness Racing Hall of Fame by a vote of the members of the Ohio Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association.
Dr. John Mossbarger and his family have bred horses in the Buckeye State for half a century at Midland Acres, which was established by Mossbarger’s father, Dr. Don Mossbarger, who was a 1994 Ohio Harness Hall of Fame honouree.
The younger graduated from The Ohio State University with a B.S. degree in 1972 and a D.V.M. degree in 1977.
Dr. Mossbarger’s gift is more than as a breeder. His service to the industry has been extensive. He has served as a past president of the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association and the Ohio Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association. He is a member of the Hambletonian Society, Fayette County Harness Horsemen’s Association, a director of the United States Trotting Association, and serves as a state trustee on the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.
He was honoured as the Maynard and Stella Hagemeyer Significant Contribution Award (2021) and as the 2005 Rambling Willie Achievement Award winner by the Ohio Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association.
His wife, Kyle, is retired from the Madison County Schools. They have two daughters that are married, Jamie Lee (Kyle) Butts and Jill Ann (Chris) Cottrill, and are blessed with six grandchildren.
Mossbarger will be honoured at the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association’s annual banquet on Saturday, Jan. 13 at the Polaris Hilton in Columbus.
(Ohio Harness Horsemen's Association)