14 year old wins at MR

Could it be that equine senior citizen, 14-year-old Back O Benachie N, is tuning up for Monticello Raceway’s Au Revoir Pace on Dec. 28 after scoring his 14th victory of the season at Monticello on Thursday? Owned and driven by Bobby Sumner, the New Zealand-bred pacer turned back a field of seven en route to a 2:00.4 victory.

Sumner says he’s ready to take on all comers in the Au Revoir Pace, which if it attracts enough 14 year olds will be presented on Dec. 28, the final race card of the 2006 season at the Mighty M. Last year the track was able to have only its second Au Revoir Pace since the inaugural event went to post on the final card of the 1991 racing season. Try Kacy N won last year's 14-year-old event with driver Jimmy Taggart Jr. aboard.

Called the Au Revoir Pace because the event –if filled—will mark the final race for the entrants since on Jan. 1 of each year all horses get one year older. When the 14 year olds turn 15, they are forced into mandatory retirement.

“I’m ready to take on all comers. I just hope that Monticello Raceway can get a enough entries to put a race together,” Sumner said. “My horse is still in good shape and it’s a shame he’ll have to retired after the first of the new year.”

But according to Eric Warner, the Mighty M’s director of racing, he’s a long way from filling the Au Revoir Pace.

“Right now Sumner’s pacer is the only 14 year old we have here on the grounds,” Warner said. “However, we have checked with David Carr of the USTA and found that there are still eight or 10 decent caliber pacers still competing at this time but they're are in places like Maine, Michigan and Ohio, and we would need to have them come here for their horses final event. And if we can get six or more we can offer them a real nice getaway purse.”

Anyone with a 14-year-old pacer or trotter who might be interested in competing in the Au Revoir Pace, or if they want more information, are urged to contact Warner in the race office at Monticello by calling (845) 794-4100, ext. 557. Or they can call the publicity office at ext. 455. (Monticello)

« Back