Former champs expected back for St. Paddy Pace
March 3, 2011,by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway
Monticello, NY — On Saint Patrick’s Day, Thursday, March 17, Monticello Raceway will present its 10th annual St. Paddy Pace, a race which will feature drivers of Irish descent. It will be the fourth leg of the track’s 2011 Heritage Drivers Series.
“We are expecting some of the race’s former champs to again compete,” noted Director of Racing Eric Warner. “Though they are yet to confirm, I expect to soon hear from Jimmy Marohn, Jimmy Marohn, Jr. and Mike Doherty.”
Marohn the elder, with 5,269 career victories, has won this race twice; first with Fly With Action (2:00.2) in 2006 and again with Polar Queen (2:02.1) in 2008. His son, Jimmy Jr., (1,327 wins) with 37 winners at the current meet and third on the local leaderboard, won the 2009 edition with Ya Gotta Belief in 1:59.3, which is the fastest clocking of the previous nine St. Paddy Paces.
Doherty, son of Hall of Fame horseman Jim Doherty, has the distinction of winning the inaugural St. Paddy Pace with Southern Justice in 2:04.1 back in 2001.
However, Warner acknowledged that he already has commitments from Chris McCraken, Kerin Warner (no relation) and Laura MacNamara.
“Hey, let’s not forget John Gilmour,” Warner added. “I know he hasn’t been driving this winter but he should have the right of first refusal. After all he also won two St. Paddy Paces — and he’s the defending champion.”
Gilmour, who is a seven-time Mighty M driving champion and has driven 4,477 winners in his illustrious career, won last year’s St. Paddy Pace with the free-legged pacer Gemini Jon in a time of 2:00.4. He also won the second edition of this event in 2002 with the aptly named Irish Lad in 2:00.3.
Though Warner has a good start on getting drivers for the upcoming race, he still will need eight to fill the race. Anyone of Irish descent interested in competing in the St. Paddy Pace, or for further information, can contact Warner in the racing office at 845.794.4100, ext. 557. Or they can call the track’s publicity office at ext. 455.