Monticello seeking drivers for St. Patrick’s Day Pace
February 16, 2004,by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway
With the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Pace, featuring the talents of African American drivers, already in the books and the Lady Godiva Pace, for women drivers recently completed, Monticello Raceway is now making preparations for it’s annual St. Paddy Pace. That event, featuring drivers of Irish heritage, will be presented on Wednesday afternoon, March 17th the day
The St. Paddy Pace will be the third event in The Mighty M’s year-long Heritage Drivers Series.
According to the track’s Director of Racing,
“For drivers to be eligible to race in the St. Paddy Pace , one or both parents, must be of Irish decent,” Warner explained. “We present this race for Irish-Americans as part of our tribute to their heritage on St. Patrick’s Day .”
Last year the St. Paddy pace had to be cancelled on St. Patrick’s Day due to unsafe track conditions which was caused by the frost coming out of the ground.
However, during the 2002 campaign John Gilmour won the St. Paddy Pace with the aptly named Irish Lad in 2:00:3 over Go Gettem Stormy, driven by Claude Huckabone III.
The inaugural event the previous year saw Mike Doherty, son of Hall of Famer, Jim Doherty, guide Southern Justice to a 2:04:3 victory turning back Jim McCormick, Jr. driving Mystical Wizard.
Among the drivers expected to again participate in this years St. Paddy Pace is Hall of Famer, Harry Harvey.
“Maybe we can coax Hall of Famer, Jim Doherty, to compete this year, “ Warner added. “Having two Hall of Famers in our event would make it that much more appealing.”
But regardless, even if the two aforementioned Hall of Famers can’t make the St. Paddy Pace, the event will go on as scheduled.
Any driver of Irish-American background who is interested in competing in this year’s St. Paddy Pace, can contact Warner in the racing office at 845-794-4100 ext. 557; or they can contact the track’s publicity office at ext. 455.