by Tom White, publicity director, the Little Brown Jug

Delaware, OH — Three months after major colon surgery, 3-year-old gelding Tivoli Hanover is preparing to race in Thursday’s $480,000 Little Brown Jug at the Delaware, Ohio County Fair.

One week after winning his elimination of the Art Rooney Pace at Yonkers Raceway, Tivoli Hanover led in the Rooney Final until tiring in the stretch and finishing fifth.

“He was not himself, I knew something was wrong,” said trainer Chris Oakes. “He seemed to be in pain so I took him immediately to the New Bolton Center. He was diagnosed with a displaced colon.”

Tivoli Hanover was listed in “critical” condition following an operation during the first week of June.

“We weren’t even sure he would live. But he responded and we were able to resume jogging him in about six weeks.”

By August 30, Tivoli had improved so much that Oakes entered him in a qualifier at Pocono Downs, which he won by eight lengths in 1:52, with a last quarter of :27.1 seconds.

“I decided that if everything kept going well, we were pointing him for the Little Brown Jug.”

Racehorsephoto.com photo

Tivoli Hanover was a 1:51 winner at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in capturing the Max Hempt Memorial Final.

Oakes added that following the gelding’s operation, the veterinarians at New Bolton estimated it would be three months before Tivoli Hanover would be well enough to resume training.

Tivoli Hanover has finished third twice since winning the qualifier. In his final pre-Jug start he was third to Adios winner May June Character on September 13 in a Pennsylvania Sires Stakes at Harrah’s Chester, timed in 1:51.3.

Tivoli Hanover has earned $236,567 this season, the biggest chunk coming from his victory on May 19 in the $301,032 Max Hempt Memorial at Pocono Downs in a track record of 1:51.

“I think a half-mile track suits this horse,” said Oakes.

Tivoli Hanover drew post position eight in the second $76,800 elimination of the Little Brown Jug.

Charley Barley making just his fourth 2007 start in $480,000 Jug

2006 Breeders Crown freshman colt champion Charley Barley will be making only his fourth start of the season in the 62nd Little Brown Jug. He joins Hondo Hanover (1963) and A Stud Named Sue (1996) as the pacers with the least amount of starts by a Jug starter during their 3-year-old campaign.

Hondo Hanover finished 7-9 against Overtrick and A Stud Named Sue was second twice to Jug winner Armbro Operative.

Charley Barley won the $600,000 Breeders Crown on October 28, 2006, at Woodbine Racetrack in Ontario. He was then sent to Morrisville College’s Standardbred program near his owner’s home in Canastota, N.Y.

Trainer Doug Miller, whose sister-in-law, Kimberlie, trained Charley Barley in 2006, began conditioning the son of Western Hanover in May. The colt had only one training mile prior to moving into Miller’s stable.

After a pair of qualifying wins on August 16 and August 23 at Pocono Downs, Charley Barley made his 2007 pari-mutuel debut on August 29 at Harrah’s Chester, finishing third. The colt then underwent throat surgery, but came back a week later to again finish third.

“We had some problems with his throat and operated on it a couple of weeks ago,” said Miller.

Charley Barley won a $10,000 pace in 1:52.2 at Chester in his final Jug prep on September 12.

“I think we are back on the right track with him, we’ll see what happens,” added Miller.

Charley Barley will start from post two in the first Jug elimination heat. He will be driven by Mike Lachance, who is tied with the late Bill Haughton with five Jug victories.