by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Calling all greys — that’s what Monticello Raceway’s racing secretary Eric Warner is doing now. He’s seeking grey-colored horses for the track’s annual Little Grey Jug.

The 19th edition of the Little Grey Jug, a race strictly for grey-colored pacers, is slated to go to post on Monday afternoon, October 6, and should there be enough entries for another race for the greys it’ll be called the Little Grey Mug and also presented that day.

In what started out in 1990 as a spoof on the world famous horse race the Little Brown Jug, Monticello Raceway’s Little Grey Jug has become a regular attraction and an anticipated event for both horsemen and fans alike. So much so that over the years more than one division has been necessary to accommodate all the entries.

“Over the years the Little Grey Jug has been a real favorite,” noted Warner. “Fans enjoy watching a race with all grey horses because it’s a spectacle and something that they don’t often see.”

According to the United States Trotting Association, the governing body of harness racing, less than five percent of all harness horses are grey in color with the most famous having been the former world champion trotter and Hambletonian winner, Greyhound.

Now with this year’s event on the horizon Warner is seeking grey-colored pacers for the event.

“We are going to need quite a few grey horses for our event this year,” Warner said. “In years past we had many grey horses competing here on a regular basis but this season we have only a few. I’m now in the process of searching for greys who might like to come to Monticello for our race, or races, on October 6.”

Anyone with a grey or roan-colored pacer interested in competing in the grey races is urged to contact Warner at Monticello Raceway by calling (845) 794-4100, ext. 557. Or they can call the track’s publicity office at ext. 455.