by Tom White, publicity director, the Little Brown Jug

Delaware, OH — When was the last time a Little Brown Jug champion was owned by a resident of Delaware, Ohio? Never!

When was the last time a Delaware horseman or horsewoman trained a Jug champion? Never! Wayne (Curly) Smart of Delaware drove Jug winners Dudley Hanover (1946) and Meadow Rice (1952) but he did not train either colt.

On Sept. 23, Bud and Janet Bay of Delaware will start their colt Doc’s Yankee in the 65th Little Brown Jug and Ron Potter will attempt to become the first Delaware based trainer to start a Jug champion.

“We’re going to have a big cheering section of Delaware friends and relatives next Thursday,” said Potter, who is a native of Croton, Ohio (Licking County) and a Delaware home owner since 1986. “It’s always been my dream to win the Jug. Living here is very special since my friends know how important this is to me and my owners.”

Doc’s Yankee comes into the Jug with career earnings of $150,984, with seven victories and four seconds in 13 starts this season and a race record of 1:52.3, made in his last start in an Ohio Sires Stakes at Northfield Park.

In 2010, the homebred son of Yankee Cruiser, from the Ohio Sires Stakes champion filly Noble Marty, has won the Ohio State Fair Stakes, Ohio Breeders Stake, Hackett Memorial and two Ohio Sires Stakes.

Doc’s Yankee is Potter’s third Jug starter.

“He’s the most honest colt ever and he gives 100 percent every time. He loves to race and loves a half-mile track. This will be the first time he has faced Grand Circuit colts but if we get a decent post position he won’t embarrass us.

“We are freshening him up this week and he will go a pretty good training mile tomorrow (Friday).”

Following graduation from Northridge High School in Licking County, Potter worked for the Nestles candy factory in Sunbury, Ohio and served in the U.S. Army from 1969-70. He returned to Nestles after his discharge and also began training and driving horses for some friends.

“I bought my first horse in 1971 and became a full time trainer in 1993. I was mostly self-taught but I had a good mentor in Giles Clayton, who trained both at Croton and Delaware. I moved to Delaware in 1986.”

Potter and Delaware County Fair Manager Phil Terry were friends throughout junor and senior high school.