by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — When Monticello Raceway presents its Lady Godiva Pace on Tuesday, February 17, it will mark only the seventh time in the track’s 50-year history that a betting race was offered just for lady drivers.

The upcoming race comes on the heels of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Pace and will be the second leg of the raceway’s 2009 Heritage Drivers Series.

Last year Betsy Phillips took home the trophy and the box of Godiva chocolates when the career winner of 544 races guided longshot Dryad Hanover to a 2:02.4 victory over Devan Miller and Julia’s Girl.

A popular event here at the raceway over the years other Lady Godiva Pace winners include: Jody Riedel (2003 and 2006), Terry Donnelly (2004), Sherry Urquidez (2005) and Devan Miller (2007).

At one time filling a race for the ladies was a tough chore since most of the gentler sex didn’t drive. But things have certainly changed over the years and there is a growing number of women who enjoy racing harness horses, especially since the inception of Ann Curran’s Mildred Williams Series a few years ago.

Some of the most famous women drivers who have competed in North America include the long-retired Bea Farber; the forever youthful Jackie Ingrassia; Canadian pioneer Mildred Williams; and of course, Monticello Raceway’s “Queen of the Sulky,” Betsy Phillips.

Though Farber hasn’t driven competitively since 1995 she still leads the pack with 1,801 winners while Ingrassia is the reining queen with 1,043 driving victories.

Williams, with over 500 wins during the 1950s and 1960s, was instrumental in getting the United States Trotting Association and the Canadian Trotting Association to license women to drive in harness races.

Though Director of Racing Eric Warner has a few women drivers competing at Monticello Raceway he will still need eight to fill the Lady Godiva Pace. Any lady interested in participating in this year’s event is urged to contact Warner by calling the track’s race office at (845) 794-4100, ext: 455; or they can contact the raceway’s publicity office at ext. 455.