It has been announced that Donnie Simmonds, a longtime friend of the Little Brown Jug, has been named the winner of the 2011 Joe Neville Award
. Officials with the Delaware County Fair will honour Simmons, who passed away in May, in the winner’s circle during Jug Day ceremonies.
Simmonds, a native of Prince Edward Island and a member of the board of directors of the Charlottetown Driving Club, was also elected to the board of directors of the United States Trotting Association in 1994. He served three years for the Maritime District of Canada.
“Donnie was a great fan of the (Little) Brown Jug and came for years and promoted the race everywhere he went, especially in Canada,” said Tom Thomson, president and treasurer of the Little Brown Jug Society and director of Racing at the Delaware County Fair. “He told his Canadian friends, 'If you ever go to the United States to see a horse race, you have to go to Delaware and see the Little Brown Jug.'”
Simmonds served 35 years in the Canadian Coast Guard. During his career with the Canadian Coast Guard, he was actively involved in the harness racing as an owner, trainer and driver and was still involved with the harness racing industry until he passed away. He raced such horses as Oldtime Robbie, Lusty Pride and Splurge on the Maritime circuit. He also owned horses that raced at the Delaware County Fair.
Simmonds passed away in May, 2011 and is survived by his wife, Nannette.
(Little Brown Jug)