by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Don’t hang up the harnesses of the 14-year-olds just yet. According to Eric Warner, Monticello Raceway’s Director of Racing, the Raceway will again offer a final race for the older veterans in late December, an event which has gone by the name of the Au Revoir Pace.

“We will be racing on New Year’s Eve Day, December 31, but if a date earlier in the final week of December works out better for all concerned we’ll offer the Au Revoir on a day when it might be more convenient for everybody,” Warner said.

In what was believed to have been an industry first Monticello Raceway presented the initial “Au Revior Pace” for 14-year-olds on December 31, 1991, which turned out to be a great attraction.

“That event was originally slated as a pace but had one trotter competing in it,” Warner explained. “The New York State Racing and Wagering Board gave us permission to have a mixed field in order to fill the race and we’re hoping that they’ll do the same again this year if we can’t get seven or eight horses of the same gait.”

Every year after the inaugural Au Revoir the Mighty M offered a race for 14-year-olds in late December but only on three other occasions was Warner able to get enough old-timers together to present a betting race.

“I know of a few trotters that are currently racing in the Billings Series that are 14 years old and maybe they will stay around to compete in our Au Revoir,” Warner added.

According to the rules and regulations set forth by the United States Trotting Association, the governing body of the Standardbred sport, less than two percent of all horses racing are 14-year-olds and when they become 15 — on New Year’s Day — they can no longer compete regularly in pari-mutuel races.

Anyone owning a 14-year-old — trotter or pacer — who would like have their horse compete in an Au Revior Race at Monticello Raceway during the last week of December are urged to contact Warner in the racing office by calling 845.794.4100, ext. 557; or they can call the raceway’s publicity department at ext. 455.