Little Brown Jug (horse race)


The Little Brown Jug is a harness race for three-year-old pacing standardbreds hosted by the Delaware County Agricultural Society since 1946 at the Delaware County Fairgrounds racetrack in Delaware, Ohio. The race takes place every year on the third Thursday after Labor Day. Along with the Hambletonian, a race for trotters, it is one of the two most coveted races for Standardbred horses. The event is named after the Little Brown Jug, a pacer, who won nine consecutive races and became a USTA Hall of Fame Immortal in 1975.
The race is the counterpart to the Jugette for three-year-old fillies.

History

It began in 1937 when the Delaware County Agricultural Society's members, at their annual meeting, voted to move the County Fair, held since its inception at Powell, to Delaware on a tract of land at the northern edge of the city. Two years later a half-mile track was built and provided the stage for harness racing. R.K. McNamara, a local contractor, designed and built the lightning fast track. Enter attorney Joe Neville, whose family had been identified with the standardbred sport for many years, and his friend, Henry C. "Hank" Thomson, sports editor of The Delaware Gazette. Neville, who had campaigned horses on the Grand Circuit and was familiar with its officers and stewards, was successful in obtaining Grand Circuit dates for the new Delaware track. Neville, concerned over the years by the emphasis placed on the trotter, turned his efforts toward showcasing the pacers, particularly the 3-year-olds. The Little Brown Jug Society was formed to stage the Grand Circuit meeting. Neville headed the organization with Thomson as secretary-treasurer. Then came the birth of the Little Brown Jug, named through a newspaper contest won by Major Lanning Parsons, with its previews in 1944 and 1945. The initial Jug in 1946, with a purse of $35,358, was won by Ensign Hanover with Delaware's Wayne "Curly" Smart driving. Smart, a most successful trainer-driver on the Grand Circuit, was later to become an integral part of the Jug's operation as the track superintendent. Over the years the track monopolized the half-mile record section with world standard performances, mainly through Smart's skill in maintaining the fastest racing strip of its size in the country.
Through its humble beginnings, the Jug grew slowly to become perhaps the most traditional stake on the pacing gait. In 1956 the Jug provided the anchor for the newly designated Triple Crown of Pacing to go along with The Cane Pace at Yonkers Raceway and the Messenger Stake then at Roosevelt Raceway in Westbury, N.Y.
The Little Brown Jug is contested in heats. The first heat is split into several divisions, with the top finishers in each division returning to contest the second heat. A horse wins the Little Brown Jug by winning both heats. If a horse does not win both heats, a race off is conducted between the first heat division winners, and the winner of the second heat, to determine the champion.
The Little Brown Jug is the third and final leg of the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers.
Ever since 1946 the administrators of the Little Brown Jug have glazed the winners of the horse race on a jug. In 2005, they ran out of room on the first jug and had to make another one. This time, instead of making it out of clay, they made it out of plastic so it would be lighter. The Little Brown Jug is played during the Delaware county fair.

Records

; Most wins by a driver:
; Most wins by a trainer:
; Stakes record:
Year
Winner
Driver
Trainer
Owner
Time
Purse
2019Southwind OzziBrian SearsBill MacKenzieVincent A. Ali, Jr. & Alma Iafelice1:501/5$642,000
2018Courtly ChoiceDavid MillerBlake MacintoshHutt Racing Stable/Mac & Heim Stables/Piouffe/Touch Stone Farms1:494/5$642,000
2017Filibuster HanoverYannick GingrasRon BurkeBurke Racing Stable, J DiScala Jr, J & T Silva Stables and W Bruscemi1:500/5$590,000
2016Betting LineDavid MillerCasie ColemanWest Wins Stable, Christine Calhoun, Mac T. Nichol1:490/5$577,000
2015Wiggle It JiggleitMontrell TeagueClyde FrancisGeorge Teague Jr. Inc.1:493/5$677,000
2014Limelight BeachYannick GingrasRon BurkeBurke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, M1 Stable, & Wingfield Bros1:504/5$647,500
2013Vegas VacationBrian SearsCasie ColemanWest Wins Stable, A. Sorella, A. Beaton, P. Saunders1:500/5$552,551
2012Michael's PowerScott ZeronCasie ColemanJeffrey S. Snyder1:500/5$487,550
2011Big Bad JohnDavid MillerRon PotterWinchester Baye Acres1:500/5$526,800
2010Rock N Roll HeavenDaniel DubéBruce SaundersFrank J. Bellino1:492/5$604,100
2009Well SaidRonald PierceSteve ElliottJeffrey S. Snyder & Lothlorien1:514/5$609,150
2008Shadow PlayDavid MillerIan MooreIan Moore, Serge Savard, R G McGroup1:501/5$555,000
2007Tell AllJody JamiesonBlair BurgessMy Desire Stable1:52 0/5$480,000
2006Mr. FeelgoodMark J. MacDonaldJimmy TakterCanamerica Cptl, Diversity Stable & Lindy Farm1:503/5$541,000
2005P-Forty SevenDave PaloneKelly O'DonnellM. Maynard, K. O'Donnell & C. Ed Mullinax1:521/5$569,032
2004TimesareachangingRonald PierceBrett PellingPerfect World Enterprises1:513/5$571,500
2003No Pan IntendedDavid MillerIvan SuggPeter Pan Stables Inc. 1:530/5$605,050
2002Million Dollar CamLuc OuelletteWilliam RobinsonJeffrey S. Snyder1:502/5$618,625
2001Bettor's DelightMichel LachanceScott McEnenyJohn B. Grant1:514/5$646,050
2000AstreosCharalambos ChristoforouBrett PellingM. Chrysomilas, C. Christoforou & Banjo Farms1:553/5$547,972
1999Blissful HallRonald PierceBenjamin WallaceDaniel Plouffe1:553/5$543,980
1998Shady CharacterRonald PierceBrett PellingSanford & Corinne Goldfarb1:523/5$566,630
1997Western DreamerMichel LachanceWilliam RobinsonMatthew J., Patrick J. Jr. & Daniel J. Daly1:511/5$605,210
1996Armbro OperativeJack MoiseyevBrendan JohnsonThomas Walsh, Jr. & David McDuffee1:523/5$542,240
1995Nick's FantasyJohn CampbellCaroline LyonMarkenjay Stud1:512/5$543,670
1994Magical MikeMichel LachanceThomas HaughtonShadow Lane Farm & David McDuffee1:523/5$512,830
1993Life SignJohn CampbellGene RiegleBrittany Farms1:520/5$465,500
1992Fake LeftRon WaplesGeorge SholtyStatus Stables Inc.1:544/5$556,210
1991Precious BunnyJack MoiseyevWilliam RobinsonR. Peter Heffering1:550/5$575,150
1990Beach TowelRay RemmenLarry RemmenUptown Stable1:533/5$468,050
1989Goalie JeffMichel LachanceThomas ArtandiCentre Ice Stable1:541/5$500,200
1988B. J. ScootMichel LachanceThomas ArtandiSybarite Stable1:523/5$486,050
1987Jaguar SpurRichard StillingsCharles "Buddy" StillingsRoy D. Davis & Barberry Farms1:553/5$412,330
1986Barberry SpurBill O'DonnellRichard StillingsRoy D. Davis & Barberry Farms1:524/5$407,684
1985NihilatorBill O'DonnellBilly HaughtonWall Street Stable & Nihilator Syndicate1:521/5$350,730
1984Colt FortysixChris BoringChris BoringProudfoot Farms1:552/5$366,717
1983Ralph HanoverRon WaplesStewart FirlotteRon Waples, Pointsetta Stables, Grants Direct Stables & P. J. Baugh1:553/5$358,800
1982MergerJohn CampbellJohn CampbellJ. Campbell, D. Morrisey, P. Oud, W. Muldering1:563/5$328,900
1981Fan HanoverGlen GarnseyWilliam SmytheJ. Glen Brown1:584/5$243,779
1980NiatrossClint GalbraithClint GalbraithClint Galbraith, Elsie Berger, Niatross Stable1:544/5$207,361
1979Hot HitterHervé FilionLouis MeittinisSolomon Katz, S A J Ranch Ltd., Alterman Stables1:553/5$226,455
1978Happy EscortWilliam PopfingerWilliam PopfingerKeystone Arbor Stable2:004/5$186,760
1977Governor SkipperJohn ChapmanHoward "Buck" NorrisIvanhoe Stable1:562/5$150,000
1976Keystone OreStanley DancerStanley DancerF&F Perry, R. Jones, S.F. Dancer, R.L. Dancer & R. Hild1:572/5$153,799
1975SeatrainBenny WebsterLee BensonLee Benson1:594/5$147,813
1974Armbro OmahaBilly HaughtonBilly HaughtonJ. Elgin Armstrong1:584/5$132,630
1973Melvin's WoeJoe O'BrienJoe O'BrienThurman Downing1:592/5$120,000
1972Strike OutKeith WaplesJohn HayesBeejay Stable1:563/5$104,916
1971NansemondHervé FilionCharles O. MumfordF. Perry, W. Camp, Jr., Capital Hill Farms1:572/5$102,964
1970Most Happy FellaStanley DancerStanley DancerEgyptian Acres Stable1:573/5$100,110
1969Laverne HanoverBilly HaughtonBilly HaughtonThomas W. Murphy, Jr.2:002/5$109,731
1968Rum CustomerBilly HaughtonBilly HaughtonLouis & Connie Manucuso & Kennilworth Farm1:593/5$104,226
1967Best Of AllJames HackettJames HackettSamuel Huttenbauer2:000/5$84,778
1966Romeo HanoverGeorge SholtyJerry SilvermanLucky Star Stables & Morton Finder1:593/5$74,616
1965Bret HanoverFrank ErvinFrank ErvinRichard Downing1:570/5$71,447
1964Vicar HanoverBilly HaughtonBilly HaughtonDonald D. MacFarlane2:010/5$66,590
1963OvertrickJohn F. Patterson, Sr.John F. Patterson, Sr.Allwood Stable 1:573/5$68,294
1962Lehigh HanoverStanley DancerStanley DancerLehigh Stables1:593/5$75,039
1961Henry T. AdiosStanley DancerStanley DancerDr. & Mrs. Nicholas Derrico2:050/5$70,069
1960Bullet HanoverJohn F. Simpson, Sr.John F. Simpson, Sr.T. W. Murphy, Jr., J. F. Simpson, Hanover Shoe Farm1:593/5$66,510
1959Adios ButlerClint HodginsPaige H. WestPaige H. West & Angelo Pellillo2:004/5$76,582
1958Shadow WaveJoe O'BrienJoe O'BrienS. A. Camp Farms2:010/5$65,252
1957TorpidJohn F. Simpson, Sr.John F. Simpson, Sr.Sherwood Farm2:034/5$73,528
1956Noble AdiosJohn F. Simpson, Sr.John F. Simpson, Sr.Paul Wixom2:004/5$52,666
1955Quick ChiefBilly HaughtonBilly HaughtonFarmsted Acres & John Froelich2:002/5$66,608
1954Adios HarryMorris MacDonaldMorris MacDonaldJ. Howard Lyons2:032/5$69,322
1953KeystonerFrank ErvinFrank ErvinGeorge H. Tipling2:093/5$54,972
1952Meadow RiceT. Wayne SmartDelvin MillerWilliam G. Reynolds2:023/5$60,463
1951Tar HeelDel CameronDelvin MillerWilliam N. Reynolds Estate2:000/5$66,280
1950Dudley HanoverDelvin MillerDelvin MillerHayes Fair Acres2:032/5$56,525
1949Good TimeFrank ErvinFrank ErvinWilliam H. Cane2:032/5$58,281
1948Knight DreamFranklin E. SaffordFranklin E. SaffordArmstrong Bros & Gray Bros2:071/5$47,528
1947Forbes ChiefDel CameronDel CameronNewport Stock Farm2:050/5$38,200
1946Ensign HanoverT. Wayne SmartSep PalinCastleton Farm2:071/5$35,358