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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Wednesday, 04 November 2026 / Published in Features, Ohio Harness Racing

McCoy: Luke Hanners In A Race To Beat Everything…Except The Odds

The leading driver at Dayton Raceway admits that he doesn't look at the odds on the tote board, and he doesn't care who he beats.  Even his own brother.  But Press Pros did manage to catch up with Luke Hanners.
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Tuesday, 03 November 2026 / Published in Features, Home Features, UD, UD Feature

McCoy: UD Buries New Jersey Institute Of Technology And Storm Door Company, 89-58

The University of Dayton Flyers extend their Opening Night winning streak to 22 straight by completely outclassing and outgunning New Jersey Institute of Technology by 31 points as true freshman Aiden Derkack makes his collegiate debut with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
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Saturday, 31 October 2026 / Published in Features, Ohio Harness Racing

McCoy: There Is No ‘Run’ In Harness Racing, And There Is No ‘Trot’ In Baseball

After years of writing major league baseball, the transformation to writing about harness racing, and horses, has come as a surprise to many, including myself.  But the reasons why are as natural as the hit and run, only you can't say 'run' with this gig...or hit and 'trot' with baseball.
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Sunday, 25 October 2026 / Published in Features, Home Features, Ohio Harness Racing

McCoy: Diabolic Hill Stole The Show…In Breeders Crown Big Tease

In the race of the year...Diabolic Hill (above, left) passes favored Big Ranger in the home stretch to spoil the Breeders Crown rematch between Big Ranger and Hambletonian winner, Apex.  As it turned out, neither matched up to the surprise winner. But what a night of racing!
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Saturday, 24 October 2026 / Published in Features, Ohio Harness Racing

McCoy: Speed, More Speed, And World Records Highlight Opening Night Of The Breeders Crown

Track bugler Will Lovan (above) added tradition and color to things...and then you match a fast track and equine genetics bent on speed to get what patrons got on the opening night of the Breeders Crown - speed, more speed, and a new world's record for a two-year-old trotter. Hal McCoy writes about day one of the Breeders Crown.