by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — When the Marshall calls the pacers for Monticello Raceway’s 13th annual Passover Pace on Thursday (April 21), Peter Kleinhans will be among the drivers participating.

“I drove last year and though I didn’t have a particularly good horse I did finish fourth,” Kleinhans said. “I know luck of the draw will determine what horse each driver gets so I’m hoping to get a little better caliber this time around. I want to take home the box of matzohs which has been the tongue-in-cheek trophy of the event since its inception.”

Kleinhans is a diverse individual with degrees in law, philosophy, and creative writing and was a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. His is a racing analyst and an announcer and he has developed a pilot for a television show on handicapping and is currently fine tuning a book and computer program on the subject. And he is a part of the ownership of Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs.

He is also an astute trainer, owner and breeder and has raced horses for more than 20 years. He has owned such stars as Wearable Art, Lavec Dream and the sport’s fastest trotter, Enough Talk, and splits his time between Manhattan and a 230-acre farm in Flemington, N.J.

Klienhans’ venerable trotter Enough Talk was a Dan Patch Award winner last year in the older trotting horse category. Enough Talk, owned by Kleinhans Racing in partnership with Jerry Silva, won more than $633,000 last year while earning a 1:51 record at the Big M last summer.

Though Kleinhans doesn’t often get a chance to drive in a race when the opportunity presents itself he enjoys the experience. Last year he drove in just 10 races and had one win, one second and four thirds for his efforts. From a limited amount of pari-mutuel races over the years Kleinhans has reined 42 winners, but as a trainer his stock has earned in excess of $5.18 million.

He’ll join a line-up which includes former Passover Pace winners Alan Schwartz, Mike Kimelman, Alan Charles, PJ Lutman III and Mark Liebowitz. Others expressing interest in competing include Bob Krivelin, Derick Giwner, Dave Yarock, Doug King, Murray Bassin, Ian Kaufman and Jimmy Shields.

“We have a lot of drivers of Jewish descent who have expressed interest in the Passover Pace but unfortunately we can only use eight,” noted Eric Warner, the track’s Director of Racing. “However, if we get any cancellations we’ll contact some of the others who have expressed interest in the event.”

Post positions and driving assignments will be finalized when the entry box for April 21 closes on Monday morning, April 18.