The OCRA originally started in 1933 and was incorporated in 1981 to improve and protect the Standardbred horse racing at Ohio's county fairs.  The original incorporators of the association included Corwin Nixon, Dick Junk, Lowell Lehman and Gage VanHorn.  Stella Hagemeyer served as the circuit's secretary for many years and is still considered the matriarch of the organization.