by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — The final race card of the 2004 campaign at Monticello Raceway will be presented on Thursday, December 30. 13 races are on tap with the showcase event being the match race between two 14-year-old pacers making their last lifetime starts.

Slated as the first race on the betting card, The Suleiman N and Troy D will tangle in what is being billed as the “Clash of the Senior Titans”.

Lon Frocione’s Troy D has drawn the pylon position while Leah Schifano and Christopher Berke’s The Suleiman N will start from post position two.

Both pacers come into the race in good form. Troy D has two wins and three seconds in his last six starts while The Suleiman N shows three wins and two seconds in his last six outs.

During 2004 Troy D has had four wins, 10 seconds and one third in 31 starts and earned $13,358. His fastest victory was a 1:57.3 effort at Vernon Downs last summer.

The Suleiman N, on the other hand, has raced 35 times and registered 15 wins, eight seconds and four thirds and earned $28,148. His 1:56 victory at Pocono Downs last summer was the old gelding’s best clocking of the year.

After the contest the grand old warriors will have to hang-up their hopples as they will be forced into retirement when the New Year begins.

But both pacers have enjoyed wonderful careers.

Troy D, a Walton Hanover gelding, has won 90 races and earned purses in excess of $371,000. His lifetime record of 1:52.2 was taken as a six-year-old.

The Suleiman N, an altered son of the exported Plat Du Jour (a brother of French Chef) won over $411,000 on two continents. He amassed over $200,000 in his native New Zealand before coming to the States at age eight. In the U.S., The Suleiman N has earned in excess of $211,000 and took his record of 1:52 at The Meadowlands at age 11. In his career he has won 55 races — 46 in America and nine in New Zealand.

“It should be noted that the purses won by each of the ‘old guys’ came from overnight events,” said Monticello Raceway track odds-maker John Flynn, who has installed Troy D as the 3-5 favorite and rated The Suleiman N at odds of 4-5.

“This will be a very interesting race and everyone here (at Monticello Raceway) is looking forward to it,” Flynn added. “Both horses have had great careers and are well matched. And besides, it isn’t very often that you get to see a match race.”