Interest growing in Monticello’s Au Revoir
November 30, 2010,by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway
Monticello, NY — The inaugural event was contested on Dec. 31, 1991 and since that date only three other Au Revoir races saw the light of day. The most recent was on New Year’s Day Eve last year when Satin Time toured the Mighty M double oval in a time of 1:59.4. Should this year’s Au Revoir get enough entries the race will go to post in the afternoon of Friday, Dec. 31.
This season the folks at Monticello Raceway are once again enthused with the possibility of filling the race for 14-year-olds. And that the New York State Racing and Wagering Board allows the Mighty M to race both trotters and pacers in their Au Revoir is another reason that the track personnel are hopeful of filling the event.
“We have been getting great help from Anne Chunko of the United States Trotting Association who once again gave us a list of the 14-year-olds that are still racing at this time of the year,” said Eric Warner, the track’s Director of Racing. “With that knowledge available we can do our best to contact the owners and trainers of those horses that are still on the racetrack at this time of the year.”
Warner said he currently has two 14-year-olds competing at the Mighty M.
“Both Mr Tourning and Jaccamo A have raced in November and we’re hoping their connections will keep them racing long enough to compete in our Au Revoir this year,” Warner added.
Warner has also heard from Mainer Dick Robertson, Jr., who said if the race fills he’ll bring Prince Rama A down from Scarborough Downs to compete.
Moreover, there are still 20 14-year-olds — including the venerable Boomer Berman — who have raced during November which gives Warner hope that he may attract some who might want to give their old veterans one last race before they are forced into retirement on Jan. 1.
Anyone wanting more information about the Au Revoir, or perhaps to make a tentative entry, can do so by calling Warner in the racing office at 845.794.4100, ext. 557; or they can call the track’s publicity office at ext. 455.