by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — When Cedric Washington won the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Pace, featuring the talents of African-American drivers in mid-January, and Lisa Krom copped the Lady Godiva Pace in February, both became eligible to compete in Monticello Raceway’s Heritage Drivers Series final, which will be presented later this year.

They’ll be joined by future winners of the six other Heritage Drivers Series events planned throughout the remainder of the season. Then in the early fall all the winners will return to the Mighty M for a final contest to crown the overall winner in the series.

Other ethnic events slated to be presented this year will feature races for drivers of Irish, Jewish, British, Canadian, Italian, and German descent.

Next up will be the 10th annual St. Paddy Pace, on St. Patrick’s Day, Thursday, March 17, and of course, that race will feature the talents of drivers of Irish heritage.

Geri Schwarz photo

John Gilmour won the 2010 St. Paddy Pace with Gemini Jon.

Last year former seven-time Mighty M driving champion John Gilmour won the event and will be back to defend his crown. The veteran reinsman guided the free-legged pacer Gemini Jon to a 2:00.4 victory which marked the second time that Gilmour has won the St. Paddy Pace. During the 2002 campaign the transplanted Canadian copped this event with the aptly named Irish Lad in a time of 2:00.3.

Also expected to be among this year’s competitors is Jimmy Marohn, Jr. who won the St. Paddy Pace in 2009 when he reined Ya Gotta Belief to a 1:59.3 clocking which is still the event’s fastest time.

Young Marohn will probably be joined by other former winners, among them his dad, Jimmy, who won this race in 2009 with Polar Queen in 2:02.1. And Mike Doherty, who won the inaugural with Southern Justice in 2:04.1, could also be in the mix.

Though Director of Racing, Eric Warner, has a good start with drivers for the 2011 St. Paddy Pace he will need eight reinsmen to have a full field. Any driver of Irish extraction who is interested in competing must contact Warner in the race office at Monticello Raceway by calling 845.794.4100, ext. 557, or they can contact the track’s publicity office at ext. 455.