Monticello Raceway will play host to a unique trotting event – the Monticello Marathon – during the afternoon festivities on Monday, December 15. The square gaiters will compete at a distance of 1-3/4 miles over the half-mile oval.

“Not knowing what caliber horses might enter we are offering a purse somewhere between $5,000 and $7,500 according to the ability of the horses entered,” noted Eric Warner, Director of Racing. “Obviously if we get better class trotters the purse will be higher.

“Another attraction to the odd-distance race could be the fact the World Record of 3:45:2 for 1-3/4 miles is attainable and has more of a chance of being lowered than say, the distance of 1-1/4 or 2 miles. And that the winner could own a World Record might also be an enticement for some to enter.”

Over the years Monticello Raceway has pioneered some odd-distance races and the track still holds two World Records.

On May 7, 2000 amateur driver Paul Minore drove Another Blizzard to a 2:15:3 victory over a distance of 1-1/8 miles – a record that still stands for a trotter on a half-mile track.

And the 3:45:2 mark mentioned above was set here by a trotter by the name of Poppa IM. Jack Rice drove the veteran gelding to that standard on December 20, 1998 and that’ll be the record that the entered horses in the Monticello Marathon will be shooting for.

The entry box for the Mighty M December 15th card will close on December 10 at 9 a.m. Anyone interested in entering a trotter, or for further information, they are urged to call Warner in the racing office at (845) 794-4100 ext. 557 or the publicity office at ext. 455.

(Monticello Raceway)