The racing officials at the Delaware County Fair are pleased to announce that, thanks to the support of James Koehler, the Jug Day Open Pace originally carded with a $5,000 purse will be increased to $10,000 and will be renamed the Won The West Open Pace.
Won The West, winner of $3.9 million in career earnings, was co-owned by Koehler’s Country Club Acres, the Strollin Stable and William Robinson. The son of Western Hanover made 109 career starts, winning 36 times, and was twice winner of the Dan Patch Award for Older Pacer of the Year. Won The West finished fourth in the 2007 Little Brown Jug. The now nine-year-old gelding retired from racing in 2012 and is a resident of the Kentucky Horse Park’s Hall of Champions.
To celebrate the new event, the namesake will be in attendance and will lead the post parade. Joining Won The West on the trip up from Lexington, Kentucky will be the 1997 Little Brown Jug and triple crown champion Western Dreamer.
“Won The West has given me a lot of enjoyment,” noted Koehler. “I thought it would be great to see him again in front of the fans of the Little Brown Jug one more time. He was more than just a horse. He touched everyone who came in contact with him.”
The event (#53) will be restricted to the top nine entries with the highest 2013 earnings and will be drawn on Monday, September 16.
For more information on the Won The West Open Pace, please call the Delaware County Fair Race Office at (740) 363-6000.
(Little Brown Jug)