by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — An oddity of sorts happened at Monticello Raceway on Wednesday afternoon, April 4, in the first race on the card when all six horses finished in the exact order that they started.

“Though it (the race results) can’t equate to that of an eight horse field, still six horses who finish in exact order from which they start is certainly highly improbable,” noted Shawn Wiles, Monticello Raceway’s General Manager.

The eventual winner, Rakin N The Bucks (#1) driven by Bruce Aldrich, Jr., sat a pocket trip behind pacesetter Mister Dale N (#3, Billy Parker, Jr.) and rallied in the stretch and then held off a late charge from Meditator (#2, Matt Romano) to score a neck victory in a 1:59 clocking. Mister Dale N faded and finished third. Wise Guy (#4, Greg Merton), who was second at the top of the lane, ended up fourth and Inntheriggin (#5, Mike Forte) finished fifth. Jaccamo (#6, Betsy Phillips) trailed the field the entire mile and was last in the six-horse field.

The odds of six horses finishing in the exact order from which they started is 720-1. However the odds are 5,040-1 with a seven horse field and when an eighth horse is added to the equation the odds of the horses finishing in the exact order that they started is a whopping 40,320-1.