Reigning Little Brown Jug champion Big Bad John will be returning to the Delaware, Ohio County Fairgrounds again this fall.

One the most popular Jug winner in history, Big Bad John will be in the Jug Barn for the final three afternoons of the Grand Circuit meeting and will be available for photographs throughout each day. The 66th Jug winner will also lead the Jug post parade for the elimination heats with his former trainer Ron Potter in the sulky.

Big Bad John’s win in 2011 was an 'All-Ohio' victory, as driver David Miller was born in Columbus; trainer Potter is from Croton, but now lives within two blocks of the fairgrounds, and owner Ed Telle is from Powell.

Following his triumph in the Little Brown Jug, owner Telle sent him to Midland Acres in Bloominburg, Ohio where he stood his first season at stud in 2012. His stud fee is $4,000.

“We had an overwhelming response from breeders,” said Dr. John Mossbarger of Midland Acres. “By February, he had a full book of 140 mares,” said Dr. Mossbarger, “and his conception rate was excellent.”

Dr. Mossbarger said he told Mr. Telle that he made the right decision to keep Big Bad John in Ohio. “It was like a perfect storm or like the light at the end of a tunnel. The timing was just perfect.”

Telle still can’t get over Big Bad John’s victory last September. “It was fantastic. I had been coming to the Jug since 1981 and I never dreamed I would someday own a Jug winner. I think the fans liked his name and considered him an underdog. The big boys always win, but not in 2011.”

Big Bad John was bred by Kentuckiana Farms of Kentucky and Telle purchased him at the Tattersalls Selected Yearling Sale in 2009 for $130,000. He is by Western Hanover from the Artsplace mare Trulyawork Of Art. Originally named Blank Canvas, Telle changed the colt’s name to Big Bad John. “I was mulling over what to call him when I decided on Big Bad John, the title of a hit song written by Jimmy Dean and sung by Johnny Cash.”

Big Bad John won 19 of 27 starts during his two years of racing and earned $998,607. He has a race record of p,3, 1:49.

(LBJ)