Little Brown Jug (horse race)

Last updated
Little Brown Jug
Pacing Triple Crown race
Location Delaware County Fairgrounds racetrack
Delaware, Ohio
Inaugurated1946(78 years ago) (1946)
Race type Standardbred
Website www.littlebrownjug.com
Race information
Distance1 mile (8.0 furlongs)
SurfaceDirt
TrackLeft-handed
Qualification3-year-olds

The Little Brown Jug is a harness race for three-year-old pacing standardbred horses hosted by the Delaware County Agricultural Society since 1946 at the Delaware County Fairgrounds racetrack in Delaware, Ohio. The race takes place every year on the third Thursday after Labor Day.

Contents

Along with the Hambletonian, a race for trotters, it is one of the two most coveted races for standardbreds. The event is named after Little Brown Jug, a pacer, who won nine consecutive races and became a USTA Hall of Fame Immortal in 1975. [1]

The race is the counterpart to the Jugette for three-year-old fillies.

History

It began in 1937 when the Delaware County Agricultural Society's members, at their annual meeting, voted to move the County Fair, held since its inception at Powell, to Delaware on a tract of land at the northern edge of the city. Two years later a half-mile track was built and provided the stage for harness racing. R.K. McNamara, a local contractor, designed and built the lightning fast track. Enter attorney Joe Neville, whose family had been identified with the standardbred sport for many years, and his friend, Henry C. "Hank" Thomson, sports editor of The Delaware Gazette. Neville, who had campaigned horses on the Grand Circuit and was familiar with its officers and stewards, was successful in obtaining Grand Circuit dates for the new Delaware track. Neville, concerned over the years by the emphasis placed on the trotter, turned his efforts toward showcasing the pacers, particularly the 3-year-olds. The Little Brown Jug Society was formed to stage the Grand Circuit meeting. Neville headed the organization with Thomson as secretary-treasurer. Then came the birth of the Little Brown Jug, named through a newspaper contest won by Major Lanning Parsons, with its previews in 1944 and 1945. The initial Jug in 1946, with a purse of $35,358, was won by Ensign Hanover with Delaware's Wayne "Curly" Smart driving. Smart, a successful trainer-driver on the Grand Circuit, was later to become an integral part of the Jug's operation as the track superintendent. Over the years the track monopolized the half-mile record section with world standard performances, mainly through Smart's skill in maintaining the fastest racing strip of its size in the country.

Through its humble beginnings, the Jug grew slowly to become perhaps the most traditional stake on the pacing gait. In 1956 the Jug provided the anchor for the newly designated Triple Crown of Pacing to go along with the Cane Pace (currently held at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey) and the Messenger Stakes (currently held at Yonkers Raceway in Yonkers, New York). [2]

In 2023, the total purse of the race (including the purses of the heats) was increased to $1,000,000 for the first time.

Race Structure

The Little Brown Jug is contested in heats. Up until 2016, a horse had to win 2 heats in order to be crowned the winner of the Little Brown Jug. The first heat is split into several divisions, with the top finishers in each division returning to contest the second heat. A horse wins the Little Brown Jug by winning both heats. If a horse does not win both heats, a race off is conducted between the first heat division winners, and the winner of the second heat, to determine the champion. Starting in 2017, the first heat is still split into several divisions (usually 2, sometimes 3) and the top finishers in each division still return to the second heat - however the winner of the second heat is now considered the winner of the Little Brown Jug regardless of if the horse won a division in the first heat.

Ever since 1946 the administrators of the Little Brown Jug have glazed the winners of the horse race on a jug. In 2005, they ran out of room on the first jug and had to make another one. This time, instead of making it out of clay, they made it out of plastic so it would be lighter.

Records

Most wins by a driver
Most wins by a trainer
Stakes record

Little Brown Jug winners

Year
Winner
Driver
Trainer
Owner
Time
Purse
2023It's My ShowScott ZeronLinda ToscanoRichard P Young,Boca Raton,FL;Joanne Young,Coconut Creek,FL1:49 0/0$850,000
2022BythemissalChris PageRon burkeBurke Rcg Stb,PA;E Good,MD;Rich Lombardo Rcg,OH; Weaver Bruscemi,PA1:51.1$541,550
2021Lou's PearlmanYannick GingrasRon BurkeBurke Racing Stable, W Bruscemi, E Novak, and H Taylor1:52 4/5$661,800
2020Captain BarbossaJoe BongiornoTony AlagnaAlagnafrankinthegym Stable, R Leblanc, and D Anderson1:49 1/5$559,000
2019Southwind OzziBrian SearsBill MacKenzieVincent A. Ali, Jr. & Alma Iafelice1:50 1/5$642,000
2018Courtly ChoiceDavid MillerBlake MacintoshHutt Racing Stable/Mac & Heim Stables/Piouffe/Touch Stone Farms1:49 4/5$642,000
2017Filibuster HanoverYannick GingrasRon BurkeBurke Racing Stable, J DiScala Jr, J & T Silva Stables and W Bruscemi1:50 0/5$590,000
2016 Betting Line David Miller Casie Coleman West Wins Stable, Christine Calhoun, Mac T. Nichol1:49 0/5$577,000
2015 Wiggle It Jiggleit Montrell Teague Clyde Francis George Teague Jr. Inc.1:49 3/5$677,000
2014 Limelight Beach Yannick Gingras Ron Burke Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, M1 Stable, & Wingfield Bros1:50 4/5$647,500
2013 Vegas Vacation Brian Sears Casie ColemanWest Wins Stable, A. Sorella, A. Beaton, P. Saunders1:50 0/5$552,551
2012 Michael's Power Scott ZeronCasie Coleman Jeffrey S. Snyder 1:50 0/5$487,550
2011 Big Bad John David MillerRon PotterWinchester Baye Acres1:50 0/5$526,800
2010 Rock N Roll Heaven Daniel DubéBruce SaundersFrank J. Bellino1:49 2/5$604,100
2009 Well Said Ronald Pierce Steve ElliottJeffrey S. Snyder & Lothlorien1:51 4/5$609,150
2008 Shadow Play David Miller Ian Moore Ian Moore, Serge Savard, R G McGroup1:50 1/5$555,000
2007 Tell All Jody JamiesonBlair BurgessMy Desire Stable1:52 0/5$480,000
2006 Mr Feelgood Mark J. MacDonald Jimmy Takter Canamerica Cptl, Diversity Stable & Lindy Farm1:50 3/5$541,000
2005 P-Forty Seven Dave Palone Kelly O'DonnellM. Maynard, K. O'Donnell & C. Ed Mullinax1:52 1/5$569,032
2004 Timesareachanging Ronald Pierce Brett Pelling Perfect World Enterprises1:51 3/5$571,500
2003 No Pan Intended David MillerIvan SuggPeter Pan Stables Inc. (Robert Glazer)1:53 0/5$605,050
2002 Million Dollar Cam Luc OuelletteWilliam RobinsonJeffrey S. Snyder1:50 2/5$618,625
2001 Bettor's Delight Michel Lachance Scott McEnenyJohn B. Grant1:51 4/5$646,050
2000 Astreos Charalambos ChristoforouBrett PellingM. Chrysomilas, C. Christoforou & Banjo Farms1:55 3/5$547,972
1999 Blissful Hall Ronald PierceBenjamin WallaceDaniel Plouffe1:55 3/5$543,980
1998 Shady Character Ronald PierceBrett PellingSanford & Corinne Goldfarb1:52 3/5$566,630
1997 Western Dreamer Michel LachanceWilliam RobinsonMatthew J., Patrick J. Jr. & Daniel J. Daly1:51 1/5$605,210
1996 Armbro Operative Jack MoiseyevBrendan JohnsonThomas Walsh, Jr. & David McDuffee1:52 3/5$542,240
1995 Nick's Fantasy John Campbell Caroline LyonMarkenjay Stud1:51 2/5$543,670
1994 Magical Mike Michel LachanceThomas HaughtonShadow Lane Farm & David McDuffee1:52 3/5$512,830
1993 Life Sign John Campbell Gene Riegle Brittany Farms 1:52 0/5$465,500
1992 Fake Left Ron Waples George Sholty Status Stables Inc.1:54 4/5$556,210
1991 Precious Bunny Jack MoiseyevWilliam Robinson R. Peter Heffering 1:55 0/5$575,150
1990 Beach Towel Ray Remmen Larry RemmenUptown Stable1:53 3/5$468,050
1989 Goalie Jeff Michel LachanceThomas ArtandiCentre Ice Stable1:54 1/5$500,200
1988 B. J. Scoot Michel LachanceThomas ArtandiSybarite Stable1:52 3/5$486,050
1987 Jaguar Spur Richard StillingsCharles "Buddy" StillingsRoy D. Davis & Barberry Farms1:55 3/5$412,330
1986 Barberry Spur Bill O'Donnell Richard StillingsRoy D. Davis & Barberry Farms1:52 4/5$407,684
1985 Nihilator Bill O'Donnell Billy Haughton Wall Street Stable & Nihilator Syndicate1:52 1/5$350,730
1984 Colt Fortysix Chris BoringChris BoringProudfoot Farms1:55 2/5$366,717
1983 Ralph Hanover Ron Waples Stewart Firlotte Ron Waples, Pointsetta Stables, Grants Direct Stables & P. J. Baugh1:55 3/5$358,800
1982 Merger John CampbellJohn CampbellJ. Campbell, D. Morrisey, P. Oud, W. Muldering1:56 3/5$328,900
1981 Fan Hanover Glen Garnsey William SmytheJ. Glen Brown1:58 4/5$243,779
1980 Niatross Clint Galbraith Clint GalbraithClint Galbraith, Elsie Berger, Niatross Stable1:54 4/5$207,361
1979 Hot Hitter Hervé Filion Louis MeittinisSolomon Katz, S A J Ranch Ltd., Alterman Stables1:55 3/5$226,455
1978 Happy Escort William PopfingerWilliam PopfingerKeystone Arbor Stable2:00 4/5$186,760
1977 Governor Skipper John Chapman Howard "Buck" Norris Ivanhoe Stable 1:56 2/5$150,000
1976 Keystone Ore Stanley Dancer Stanley DancerF&F Perry, R. Jones, S.F. Dancer, R.L. Dancer & R. Hild1:57 2/5$153,799
1975 Seatrain Benny WebsterLee BensonLee Benson1:59 4/5$147,813
1974 Armbro Omaha Billy Haughton Billy Haughton J. Elgin Armstrong 1:58 4/5$132,630
1973 Melvin's Woe Joe O'Brien Joe O'BrienThurman Downing1:59 2/5$120,000
1972 Strike Out Keith Waples John Hayes Beejay Stable 1:56 3/5$104,916
1971 Nansemond Hervé FilionCharles O. MumfordF. Perry, W. Camp, Jr., Capital Hill Farms1:57 2/5$102,964
1970 Most Happy Fella Stanley DancerStanley DancerEgyptian Acres Stable1:57 3/5$100,110
1969 Laverne Hanover Billy Haughton Billy HaughtonThomas W. Murphy, Jr.2:00 2/5$109,731
1968 Rum Customer Billy HaughtonBilly HaughtonLouis & Connie Manucuso & Kennilworth Farm1:59 3/5$104,226
1967 Best Of All James HackettJames HackettSamuel Huttenbauer2:00 0/5$84,778
1966 Romeo Hanover George Sholty Jerry SilvermanLucky Star Stables & Morton Finder1:59 3/5$74,616
1965 Bret Hanover Frank Ervin Frank ErvinRichard Downing1:57 0/5$71,447
1964 Vicar Hanover Billy HaughtonBilly HaughtonDonald D. MacFarlane2:01 0/5$66,590
1963 Overtrick John F. Patterson, Sr. John F. Patterson, Sr.Allwood Stable (Leonard J. & Helen R. Buck)1:57 3/5$68,294
1962 Lehigh Hanover Stanley DancerStanley DancerLehigh Stables1:59 3/5$75,039
1961 Henry T. Adios Stanley DancerStanley DancerDr. & Mrs. Nicholas Derrico2:05 0/5$70,069
1960 Bullet Hanover John F. Simpson, Sr. John F. Simpson, Sr.T. W. Murphy, Jr., J. F. Simpson, Hanover Shoe Farm1:59 3/5$66,510
1959 Adios Butler Clint Hodgins Paige H. WestPaige H. West & Angelo Pellillo2:00 4/5$76,582
1958 Shadow Wave Joe O'BrienJoe O'Brien S. A. Camp Farms 2:01 0/5$65,252
1957 Torpid John F. Simpson, Sr.John F. Simpson, Sr.Sherwood Farm2:03 4/5$73,528
1956 Noble Adios John F. Simpson, Sr.John F. Simpson, Sr.Paul Wixom2:00 4/5$52,666
1955 Quick Chief Billy HaughtonBilly HaughtonFarmsted Acres & John Froelich2:00 2/5$66,608
1954 Adios Harry Morris MacDonaldMorris MacDonaldJ. Howard Lyons2:03 2/5$69,322
1953 Keystoner Frank Ervin Frank ErvinGeorge H. Tipling2:09 3/5$54,972
1952 Meadow Rice T. Wayne Smart Delvin MillerWilliam G. Reynolds2:02 3/5$60,463
1951 Tar Heel Del Cameron Delvin Miller William N. Reynolds Estate 2:00 0/5$66,280
1950 Dudley Hanover Delvin Miller Delvin MillerHayes Fair Acres2:03 2/5$56,525
1949 Good Time Frank ErvinFrank ErvinWilliam H. Cane2:03 2/5$58,281
1948 Knight Dream Franklin E. Safford Franklin E. Safford Armstrong Bros & Gray Bros2:07 1/5$47,528
1947 Forbes Chief Del Cameron Del CameronNewport Stock Farm2:05 0/5$38,200
1946 Ensign Hanover T. Wayne SmartSep Palin Castleton Farm 2:07 1/5$35,358

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References

  1. THE EARLY CHAMPIONS Archived 2010-10-09 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 2010-11-19
  2. "Home Page - Little Brown Jug". August 21, 2021.

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