by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Fern Paquet, Jr. is the latest addition to Monticello Raceway’s Junior Free For All, a tribute to fathers one day after the National Holiday.

Slated for Monday (June 18) the Mighty M will have that special race to honor fathers, especially the ones whose sons have become harness drivers and who carry their dad’s name with a Junior added at the end.

Fern Paquet, Jr. joins a solid field which includes top Mighty M drivers Jimmy Taggart, Jr. Jimmy Marohn, Jr., Billy Parker, Jr. and Kevin Switzer, Jr.

Paquet will bring 2,399 driving victories to the contest, 50 of which he has recorded this year. Currently racing at Tioga Downs, Paquet is in much demand as a catch driver and is currently battling Jimmy Marohn, Jr. for the driving title there.

Taggart is the current leader at Monticello Raceway with 122 wins, stalked closely by Marohn with 111. Switzer has 60 wins here which ranks him sixth on the local leaderboard. He, like Marohn, competes out of town on the weekends when the Mighty M is dark and he, too, is doing well, but Vernon Downs is where he is among the leaders.

Billy “Zeke” Parker, Jr. certainly needs no introduction. His 17 driving crowns here and his 10,700 career victories, which ranks him seventh all-time, speak for themselves.

Others who have recently thrown their hats into the ring include Greg Decker, Jr. and Mike Marx, Jr.

“We will have a lot of talent in our event and I believe it will be a worthy tribute to their dads,” noted Eric Warner, the track’s director of racing. “There’s no doubt that it will be an interesting race considering the talent involved and the luck of the draw, both for horses and post positions, will certainly play a big part in the contest.”

Warner was referring to the lottery drawings for both horses and post positions which will be done for the Junior Free For All.

However, there still remains an opening for some junior who would like to join the others. Any junior who is interested in competing is urged to contact Warner in the race office by calling 845.794.4100, ext. 557. Or they can call the track’s publicity office at ext. 557.