Little Brown Jug (horse racing)
Encyclopedia
The Little Brown Jug is a harness race
for three-year-old pacing standardbred
s hosted by the Delaware County Agricultural Society since 1946 at the County Fairgrounds in Delaware
, Ohio
. The race takes place every year on the third Thursday after Labor Day
. Along with the Hambletonian, a race for trotters, it is one of the two most coveted races for standardbred horses. Little Brown Jug, a pacer, who won nine consecutive races and became a USTA Hall of Fame Immortal in 1975 had the world’s premium pacing event is named in his honour.
The founding of the jug which actually set its roots more than 50 years ago, is as unique as it is interesting. 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. Attorney Joe Neville, whose family had been identified with the standardbred sport for many years, 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. Then came the birth of The Little Brown Jug, named through a newspaper contest, 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 most 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.
The Little Brown Jug is contested in heats. 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 raceoff is conducted between the first heat division winners, and the winner of the second heat, to determine the champion.
The Little Brown Jug is the second leg of the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers
.
Previous winners:
Harness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
for three-year-old pacing standardbred
Standardbred horse
Standardbreds are a breed of horse best known for their ability to race in harness at a trot or pace instead of under saddle at a gallop. Developed in North America, the breed is now recognized worldwide for its harness racing ability...
s hosted by the Delaware County Agricultural Society since 1946 at the County Fairgrounds in Delaware
Delaware, Ohio
The City of Delaware is a city in and the county seat of Delaware County in the United States state of Ohio. Delaware was founded in 1808 and was incorporated in 1816. It is located near the center of Ohio, is about north of Columbus, and is part of the Columbus, Ohio Metropolitan Area...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. The race takes place every year on the third Thursday after Labor Day
Labor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
. Along with the Hambletonian, a race for trotters, it is one of the two most coveted races for standardbred horses. Little Brown Jug, a pacer, who won nine consecutive races and became a USTA Hall of Fame Immortal in 1975 had the world’s premium pacing event is named in his honour.
The founding of the jug which actually set its roots more than 50 years ago, is as unique as it is interesting. 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. Attorney Joe Neville, whose family had been identified with the standardbred sport for many years, 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. Then came the birth of The Little Brown Jug, named through a newspaper contest, 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 most 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.
The Little Brown Jug is contested in heats. 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 raceoff is conducted between the first heat division winners, and the winner of the second heat, to determine the champion.
The Little Brown Jug is the second leg of the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers
Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers
The Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers consists of the following horse races:#Cane Pace, held at Freehold Raceway in Freehold, New Jersey#Little Brown Jug, held at the Delaware County Fair in Delaware, Ohio...
.
Previous winners:
- 1946 - Ensign Hanover
- 1947 - Forbes Chief
- 1948 - Knight Dream
- 1949 - Good Time
- 1950 - Dudley Hanover
- 1951 - Tar Heel
- 1952 - Meadow Rice
- 1953 - Keystoner
- 1954 - Adios Harry
- 1955 - Quick Chief
- 1956 - Noble Adios
- 1957 - Torpid
- 1958 - Shadow WaveShadow WaveShadow Wave is the twelfth novel in the CHERUB series by Robert Muchamore. It was published by Hodder Children's Books on 26 August 2010, and features the final mission of the long-standing central character James Adams. A limited edition of Shadow Wave, with an orange cover , was made available...
- 1959 - Adios ButlerAdios ButlerThe horse Adios Butler, also known as "The Butler" , was a North American harness racing champion.Sired by the great Standardbred Adios with an obscure broodmare named Debby Hanover, Adios Butler was trained and driven by Clint Hodgins...
- 1960 - Bullet Hanover
- 1961 - Henry T. Adios
- 1962 - Lehigh Hanover
- 1963 - OvertrickOvertrickOvertrick was a champion U.S. standardbred racehorse who was memorable for his breaking of many existing world records and his classic duels with champion pacer Meadow Skipper....
- 1964 - Vicar Hanover
- 1965 - Bret HanoverBret HanoverBret Hanover was an outstanding American Standardbred racehorse. He was also one of only nine pacers to win harness racing's Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers and achieved a fine career total of 62 wins from 68 starts...
- 1966 - Romeo Hanover
- 1967 - Best Of All
- 1968 - Rum Customer
- 1969 - Laverne Hanover
- 1970 - Most Happy Fella
- 1971 - Nansemond
- 1972 - Strike OutStrike OutStrike Out, , North American Harness racing championStrike Out was born in 1969 at Castleton Farm in Lexington, Kentucky, and is by Bret Hanover out of the mare Golden Miss....
- 1973 - Melvin's Woe
- 1974 - Armbro Omaha
- 1975 - Seatrain
- 1976 - Keystone OreKeystone OreKeystone Ore was an American standardbred horse, who was the son of Bye Bye Bird. He was trained and driven by Stanley Dancer, and was honored as Harness Horse of the Year in 1976....
- 1977 - Governor Skipper
- 1978 - Happy Escort
- 1979 - Hot Hitter
- 1980 - NiatrossNiatrossNiatross was an American champion standardbred race horse who many believe was the greatest harness horse of all time.The son of Albatross out of the mare Niagara Dream, Niatross was born on March 30, 1977...
- 1981 - Fan Hanover (filly)
- 1982 - Merger
- 1983 - Ralph Hanover
- 1984 - Colt Fortysix
- 1985 - Nihilator
- 1986 - Barberry Spur
- 1987 - Jaguar Spur
- 1988 - B.J. Scoot
- 1989 - Goalie Jeff
- 1990 - Beach TowelBeach TowelBeach Towel was the 1990 Harness Horse of the Year. The colt was trained and driven by Ray Remmen. Beach Towel won 18 of his 23 starts with a fastest race mile of 1:50, whilst earning $2,091,860...
- 1991 - Precious BunnyPrecious BunnyPrecious Bunny is a bay Standardbred horse by Cam Fella out of Bunny's Wish by B Gs Bunny. He was trained to be a harness racer....
- 1992 - Fake Left
- 1993 - Life Sign
- 1994 - Magical Mike
- 1995 - Nick's Fantasy
- 1996 - Armbro Operative
- 1997 - Western Dreamer
- 1998 - Shady Character
- 1999 - Blissfull Hall
- 2000 - Astreos
- 2001 - Bettor's Delight
- 2002 - Million Dollar Cam
- 2003 - No Pan Intended
- 2004 - Timesareachanging
- 2005 - P-Forty Seven
- 2006 - Mr FeelgoodMr FeelgoodMr Feelgood is a high-class Standardbred racehorse. He is the only pacer in recent years to win major races in both North America and Australia....
- 2007 - Tell All
- 2008 - Shadow PlayShadow Play (horse)Shadow Play is a world record holding standardbred racehorse. He was sired by The Panderosa, out of Matts Filly, a Matts Scooter mare...
- 2009 - Well Said
- 2010 - Rock N Roll Heaven
- 2011 - Big Bad JohnBig Bad John"Big Bad John" is a country song originally performed by Jimmy Dean and composed by Dean and Roy Acuff. Released in September 1961, by the beginning of November it went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and won Dean the 1962 Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording.The song and its...