by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — If the betting public is any barometer on the caliber of the horses in any race then the 6-5 favorite Night Mystery and 7-5 second choice Vantasic Mike were the ones to beat in Monticello Raceway’s Metamucil Mile on Wednesday (Nov. 30), the race for driver who were 65 years and older.

Vantastic Mike and Jacques Primeau are all alone at the finish.

Night Mystery, driven by Alan Schwartz, made a run at the lead and was second at the three-quarters, only to fade and finish sixth. However, second choice Vantastic Mike, with Jacques Primeau at the controls, ended up a decisive winner in the one mile pace when Primeau hustled his pacer to a five length triumph over seven others in a time of 2:03.2.

For Primeau, a transplanted French-Canadian, it marked his 498th career driving victory. At age 65 he was the youngest in the contest where the combined ages of the participating drivers were 550 years.

Primeau and Vantasic Mike started from the pole position and they got away third as the field headed to the quarter-mile marker. But sensing a slow pace Primeauu moved his pacer to the lead and they controlled the race from there.

Vantasic Mike passed by the half in 1:02.2 and then led his competition through a :31 third quarter. On the final turn, Primeau asked Vantasic Mike for more and the veteran 12-year-old Magical Mike gelding sped away by open lengths and cruised home an easy winner over Four Starzzz Lou, driven by 68-year-old Gerry Fielding. Third place went to He’s Awfully Good, driven by 73-year-old John Gilmour, a former seven-time Monticello Raceway driving champion.

Primeau, who has been driving for over 45 years, was undaunted with his victory, taking it in stride like the professional he is.

“He (Vantasic Mike) won over $335,000 in his life and he had been a good horse for years,” Primeau said in his noticeable French-Canadian accent. “Unfortunately he’s seen his best days but he raced good today.”

Owned by the Change For A Fifth Stable and trained by Billy Devine, Vantastic Mike paid $4.80 for win.

Geri Schwarz photos

Director of Racing Eric Warner presented the tongue-in-cheek Metamucil container to winning driver Jacques Primeau.

In the winner’s circle after the race Primeau was presented a trophy and the horse received a blanket. But the railbirds chuckled when director of racing Eric Warner presented Primeau with the tongue-in-cheek trophy — a container of Metamucil.

Shortly afterwards the participants returned to the winner’s circle for interviews and a group photo.

Other senior citizens who drove in the Metamucil Mile included Greg Decker, Sr. (72), Mickey Bartlette (72), Alan Schwartz (66), Mike Caston (69) and Larry Draper (66).

“This is just another wonderful aspect about harness racing,” said participant Mike Caston, referring to the Metamucil Mile being a race for senior citizen drivers.

Caston, who is also an amateur harness driver, added: “I’m a Thoroughbred veterinarian but harness racing offers so much more. I mean, where can men our age compete in any other sport?”