by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — It’s not like it was totally unexpected, but Monticello Raceway’s Au Revoir, the race exclusively for 14-year-olds who will be forced into retirement on January 1, 2008, failed to attract enough entries.

“When we opened the (entry) box this morning we only had two entries, Renotherenegade and GE’s Justin, for the race which was to be presented on December 31,” noted Eric Warner, the track’s Director of Racing. “Actually I was somewhat surprised since there seemed to be quite a lot of interest (in the race).”

Warner shouldn’t be that surprised since after the Mighty M first staged the race for the retiring crew back in 1991 only one other time in the 17 following seasons did the Au Revoir fill.

The last time the raceway attracted enough entries to present the race was at the end of the 2005 season. That year Art Brewer’s Try Kacy N was victorious in 2:03.4 over a muddy race track for driver Jimmy Taggart, Jr. The inaugural contest was won by Constance McMahon’s Searights in a time of 2:04 with Kyle DiBenedetto aboard.

During the 2004 campaign, although the Mighty M didn’t attract a full field of 14-year-old pacers, it did offer a match race on the betting card between two grand old campaigner’s — $372,000 winner Troy D and $412,000 winner The Suleiman N — in which the latter, driven by Billy Parker, Jr., turned back the former by a nose in a 2:02.4 clocking.

A race exclusively for 14-year-olds near the end of the year is unique in that not only is it hard to find enough 14-year-old Standardbreds still competing in late December, but on January 1 of the new year all harness horses turn one year older and when a horse is 15 years of age it can no longer compete in betting races.

“Though we are a little discouraged in not being able to fill the Au Revoir this year we’ll definitely try again next season,” Warner promised.