by Shawn Wiles, for Monticello Raceway
Monticello, NY — It is rare to have a 14-year-old veteran campaigner stay sound long enough to race until their 15th birthday, but on Wednesday (Dec. 27) Monticello Raceway had two 14-year-old warriors race in their final career start in the same race in Grecale AS and Schalom G.
Grecale AS ends his career as a winner, while Schalom G closes out his professional appearances behind him in fourth.
Grecale AS retires as the winningest aged trotter in North America in 2017 with 17 wins. The son of Sugarcane Hanover had a stellar season with yearly earnings over $50,000. Grecale AS is owned and trained by Don Hoover of Ballston Spa, N.Y.
His final career race record is 269–49–35–21, with $394,639 in purse money and a lifetime mark of 1:56 as a 10-year-old.
The other elder statesman is Schalom G, a son of Toss Out – Pleasure Way, who ironically, took his lifetime mark (1:52.4) at the age 10 also. Schalom G is owned and trained by Jim Doherty Jr. of Monticello, N.Y.
His final career race record is 205-30-21-19 and he earned $373,768.
Schalom G recently did his Rudolf the Rednosed Reindeer impression over the weekend for his young fans in Liberty, N.Y.
Geri Schwarz photos
Schalom G make an impressive reindeer for a recent Christmas celebration.
Grecale AS and Schalom G are both imports, as Grecale AS was foaled in Italy and Schalom G was foaled in Germany back in 2003.
The barefooted Grecale AS, went out in style as he scored an easy wire-to-wire victory in 2:03.4 with Monticello Raceway’s leading dash winner James Devaux at the helm. S
Schalom G finished a game fourth in the duo’s last pari-mutuel performance.