Hal McCoy is a former beat writer for the Dayton Daily News (Dayton, Ohio), covering the Cincinnati Reds baseball team. He was honored by the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2002 as the winner of the J. G. Taylor Spink Award, which is awarded annually "for meritorious contributions to baseball writing." He has won 52 Ohio and national writing awards and was the first non-Cincinnati newsperson elected to the Cincinnati Journalists Hall of Fame. He also was inducted into the National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame and the Irish-American Baseball Hall of Fame. He has a stone on Dayton's Walk of Fame and the press box at Dayton's Howell Field is named the Hal McCoy Press Box. McCoy has been the Cincinnati BBWAA Chapter Chair 22 times and was the BBWAA national president in 1997. He is the third writer from the Dayton Daily News to win the J. G. Taylor Spink Award, joining Si Burick (1982) and Ritter Collett (1991). Residing in Englewood, Ohio, McCoy is an honors graduate in journalism from Kent State University.
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Saturday, 29 August 2026 / Published in Features, Ohio Harness Racing

McCoy: Something Older, Something Newer…Local Touch Adds So Much To Darke County Racing Tradition

Randy O'Dell and former Ohio state representative and racing fanatic Jim Buchy made their mark on this year's racing tradition at the Darke County Fair...and plan on growing it even bigger. Read Hal McCoy......
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Friday, 28 August 2026 / Published in Features, Home Features, Ohio Harness Racing

McCoy: Strangers Meet, Find $uccess…Kauffman Wins Gene Riegle Memorial In Greenville

A big night for the Darke County Fair, and a big night for harness racing in Greenville as a local does the legacy of Gene Riegle proud.  And proves...that you cannot have the town, and the fair, without racing. Read more about Arcanum's Kayne Kauffman (above).....
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Wednesday, 19 August 2026 / Published in Features, Home Features, Ohio Harness Racing

A Few Aches And Pains, But No Hard Feelings For Kayne Kauffman After May Wreck In Columbus

After a scary wreck on May 8 at Scioto Downs, Arcanum standardbred driver Kayne Kauffman is back on his feet, in the race again, and winning.  A few aches and pains, but no hard feelings. Read Hal McCoy in the latest inside feature.
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Wednesday, 05 August 2026 / Published in Features, Home Features, Ohio Harness Racing

McCoy: Gillespie’s Dream Turns Nightmare Overnight…Loses Ride In Hambletonian

Driver Ronnie Gillespie's dream of driving in the Hambletonian this weekend won't come true in the short term, but his work to prepare a pre-race favorite may cause his phone to ring in the future.  After reading his story, one can only hope so. Hal McCoy writes for Press Pros.......
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Wednesday, 29 July 2026 / Published in Features, Home Features, Ohio Harness Racing

McCoy: For Jeff Nisonger, Perseverance Has Its Benefits

There are those who speak their mind without talent...and talents who keep their thoughts to themselves.  Greenville native Jeff Niswonger proves he can do both, with 4,000 wins in his resume' and an opinion at the ready if and when it's necessary.