Monticello Raceway announced on Monday that the 2008 Au Revior race exclusively for 14 year olds has failed to attract enough entries and will be canceled.
“When we opened the (entry) box for December 31, we had just four entries, Parawanga A, Timbo Timbo, Camelia Classic, and trotter Bs Classy Dude,” noted Eric Warner, the tracks Director of Racing. “Actually I was somewhat surprised since there seemed to be quite a lot of interest (in the race).”
However, Warner shouldn’t be that surprised since after the Mighty M first staged the race for the retiring crew back in 1991, only one other time in the 17 years following seasons did the Au Revoir fill.
The last time the raceway attracted enough entries to present the race was at the end of the 2005 season. That year, Art Brewer’s Try Kacy N was victorious in 2:03.4 over a muddy race track for driver Jimmy Taggart, Jr. The inaugural contest was won by Constance McMahon’s Searights in a time of 2:04 with Kyle DiBenedetto aboard.
During the 2004 campaign, however, the Mighty M didn’t attract a full field of 14-year-old pacers, but it did offer a match race on the betting card between two grand old campaigners, $372,000 winner Troy D and $412,000 winner The Suleiman N, in which the latter, driven by Billy Parker, Jr., turned back the former by a nose in a 2:02.4 clocking.
A race exclusively for 14 year olds near the end of the year is unique in that not only is it hard to find enough 14-year-old standardbreds still competing in late December, but on January 1st of the new year all harness horses turn one year older and when a horse is 15 years of age it can no longer compete in betting races.
“Though we are a little discouraged in not being able to fill the Au Revoir this year, we’ll definitely try again next season,” Warner promised.
Monticello will begin the 2009 harness racing season with a 13-race card on New Years Day, Thursday, January 1 and close out the week with live race cards on Friday, January 2 and Saturday, January 3.
Following the aforementioned race dates, The Mighty M will offer live harness action on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays throughout the month, with one exception. There will be no live race program on Monday, January 19.
All post times will continue to be at 12:40 p.m.
The raceway’s 9th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a race that showcases the talents of African-American drivers, will be contested on Thursday, January 15.
Simulcast wagering on harness and thoroughbreds will continue seven days a week throughout the month. And of course, there’s also gaming and entertainment daily at Monticello Gaming and Raceway.
(Monticello)
that's too bad -- each year
that's too bad -- each year I hope to see some great old masters compete just one last time. here's hoping for next year