Watt Center Speaker Event

The Watt Center for History & the Arts (511 Watt Avenue, Barnesville) welcomes Nancy Napolitano to share her story as a race horse trainer on August 24, 2023, Thursday, at 7 p.m.

Learn how a girl growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, came to love horses and how that took her to Belmont County to become a trainer for Dr. Daniel Stearns, DVM.

Early in her career Nancy was a trail ride escort rider during high school.  Following high school she attended Meredith Manor International Equestrian Centre in Wood Co. WV (now closed), became a riding instructor and returned to the Cleveland area.  She soon began reschooling horses for Doc Stearns and he asked her to ready his horses for racing.  His racing silks colors were Scarlet and Gray, in honor of his love of Ohio and The Ohio State University.  “Doc” Stearns owned and operated Harmony Hill Farm, a thoroughbred breeding farm south of Barnesville from 1965 until his passing in 2011.  Their efforts produced more thoroughbred race winners than any other in Ohio during those years.

In late 1981 Nancy and family made the move to Doc’s Belmont County farm to train his horses full time.  Nancy went back to school in 2007 to become a Registered Nurse while still working full time for Doc.  When Doc died, she chose to end her 30-year career with horses and saw that all of the horses were placed in new homes.  Nancy now works for The Walton Retirement Home full time.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. so visitors can enjoy the local history displays.  A suggested $5 donation at the door will help ensure future programming at the Center.  For more information about the program or The Watt Center please call Mary Sidwell, (740) 926-1547 or visit The Watt Center Facebook page.