Little Brown Jug: the Crown Jewel of Harness Racing
Article and Photographs by Toni
Leland
One of the most important pacing
events in the country is the Little Brown Jug, a $500,000 race that is
considered the most prestigious event of the year—the second leg of the Pacing
Triple Crown. The Delaware County Fair has been home to the Jug since 1946, and
the race is held at the Delaware County Fairgrounds on the third Thursday after
Labor Day. Crowds of 50,000-plus come for a day of sunshine, friendship, food,
and the excitement of watching some of the top Standardbred horses strut their
stuff. The Little Brown Jug has the distinction of being one of the few races
that require horses to finish first in two heats to be declared the winner.
Jug Background
Joseph A. Neville, a Delaware
native, joined the Delaware County Agricultural Society in the mid-thirties and
began a push to move the county fair from Powell, where it had been held since
before the first world war. In 1938, Neville and several businessmen convinced
the fair board that the move would be an economic boon. In 1939, Neville and
his friend Henry C. “Hank” Thomson embarked on the construction of a half-mile
racetrack at the new location for the fair.
 |
| Harness Racing Hall of Fame Greats |
Many world records were made on
the wide, steeply-banked Delaware track, quickly spotlighting it as the
country’s fastest half-mile track. In 1940, the popular track was awarded Grand
Circuit dates and Delaware, Ohio was on the racing map. During those war years,
there were no rich stakes offered for three-year-old pacers, so Neville and
Thomson put their heads together and decided to plan a Grand Circuit meet that
would outshine any event ever held at Delaware. They wanted a new event with a
purse comparable to that of the famous Hambletonian, and began making plans for
the first event to be held in 1946.
But what would they call this
race? A contest was posted with a prize of $100 for the winning name; entries
would be judged by representatives of the United States Trotting Association
and several racing magazine publishers. The contest generated 4,000 name
suggestions, but the choice was unanimous. “Little Brown Jug” had been a
champion pacer in the post Civil War years, and the song of the same name was
well-known.
The inaugural Little Brown Jug
was viewed by an estimated 27,000 racing fans. The weather was perfect and a
field of top pacers put on a spectacular show through four punishing heats.
“Ensign Hanover” became the first Little Brown Jug champion, and history moved
forward.
What to Expect
 |
| The Jug Barn |
Plan to arrive early to snag a
good spot on the rail—that’s where you’ll see the best action. We arrived
around 9:30 a.m. and trackside seating was already at a premium. The crowds
were having a good time watching the preliminary heats, and the pungent aroma
of barbecue and burgers drifted on the mild September air. The barns buzzed
with activity as horses were groomed, exercised, harnessed, and taken to the
track to warm up.
During the morning, the Jug Barn
is open to the public until the official start of the races. This barn stables
the colts and geldings who will compete.
 |
| The Jugette Barn |
It’s a great place to see the horses
up close, and talk to owners and drivers. The Jugette Barn is next door and
holds the racing fillies. A charming octagonal visitor’s center in this
structure houses the Hall of Fame, with photographs and portraits of many
famous drivers. The Grand Stand and Pavilion are on the opposite side of the
track, and there you’ll find dozens of betting windows. Behind the stands, the
midway is ablaze with lights and the happy laughter of children. On Jug Day,
many Delaware schools and businesses close to support this traditional event.
What to Know
 |
| This trotter shows an easy cadence |
Harness racing features the
athletic Standardbred, an easy-tempered horse with stamina to spare. Every
Standardbred has lineage back to Hambletonian 10 (1849-1876), an American
trotter that profoundly influenced the sport. Bay and brown are the most common
colors, and the animal can weigh between 800 and 1,200 pounds. Their bodies are
built for speed and today’s racers routinely clock a mile at 1:50 or better.
Watching these horses fairly fly over the track is an exciting spectacle.
 |
| Racing sulkies |
Harness racers are of two types:
pacers and trotters. It is quite easy to see the difference when the horse is
in motion. A trotter moves with a diagonal gait; in other words, the right
front and left rear legs move in unison, then the left front and right rear
legs do the same. A pacer’s legs move in tandem laterally; i.e., the right
front and hind leg move forward at the same time, then the left front and hind
leg move forward together.
Some of the terms used in
harness racing include “dead-heat”—when the judges cannot make a determination
from a photograph as to which horse won the race; “garden spot”—second place
directly behind the leader, which blocks wind resistance; “handicap”—post
positions are assigned, giving the best horses the outside position;
“qualifier”—a race in which the horse must go a mile in an established time to
prove capable of competing in pari-mutuel races; “sulky”—the cart; and,
“colors”—the driver’s racing uniform.
Try it, you’ll like it
Regardless of your knowledge
about harness racing, the Little Brown Jug is an exciting and fun-filled event,
providing an insight into the sport that is an important part of America’s
heritage. Enjoy the day, the people, the horses, the races. This is an event
that continues to make history.
_________
©2011 Toni Leland. All rights
reserved. This article first appeared in Over the Back Fence Magazine, Sept/Oct
’10. No portion of this work may be reproduced without written permission
of the author. Links to this article are welcomed, with proper full credit.
0 comments:
Post a Comment