by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — At 65 years of age Alan Schwartz was the youngest of the eight “oldtimers” who participated in Monticello Raceway’s second edition of the Metamucil Mile, a race for drivers 65 years and older. However, the few years edge he had on his competitors didn’t really make the difference. It was 1-5 shot Haley And Taylor who the bettors thought was the best in the contest. And with Schwartz at the lines they felt quite confident.

Haley And Taylor and Alan Schwartz were all alone at the wire in the Metamucil Mile.

Their confidence was rewarded when Schwartz guided his pacer to a wire-to-wire victory in a time of 2:05.1 over 19-1 longshot JL Lucy, driven by 71-year-old General “Bubba” Washington, Jr. Third place went to Donnina Hanover who was in rein to seven-time Mighty M driving champion John Gilmour, now 72 years of age.

Schwartz had returned the night before from a week in the Caribbean to find he had drawn the favorite in the Metamucil Mile. And he drove her like she was the best, lulling his competition to sleep with early fractional splits of :32.1 and 1:04.4.

“Hey nobody came so what was I to do,” Schwartz said about the slow half. “I wasn’t out there to do any favors, I just wanted to win the race.”

Approaching the halfway point, Washington moved JL Lucy out to challenge and she and Haley And Taylor raced side by side to the third stanza at 1:35.2. At that point the field had bunched up with only five lengths separating the first and last horses.

But visions of things to come developed on the final turn when Haley And Taylor opened up a two length lead on JL Lucy. From there a :29.4 final quarter had Schwartz and his pacer all alone at the wire for an easy four length victory.

Geri Schwarz photos

Track publicity director John Manzi presented winning driver Alan Schwartz a container of Metamucil.

In the winner’s circle after being presented with a huge trophy and a container of Metamucil, Schwartz jokingly said, “This was more of a milestone than getting my Social Security.”

The winning horse, Haley And Taylor, is owned and trained by Brad Clouser of East Waterford, Pa. She paid just $2.60 for win.

Other “oldtimers” — age included — who participated in the event and in the order that they finished after the top three crossed the wire were Alexander (Doc) Savran (72); Paul Moore (67); Richard Campalong (67); Howard (Doc) Gill (84); and Gerry Fielding (67).