by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — With the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Pace, featuring the talents of African-American drivers, already in the books and the Lady Godiva Pace, for women drivers, recently completed, Monticello Raceway is now making preparations for its sixth annual St. Paddy Pace. That race, featuring the talents of drivers of Irish heritage, will be presented on Friday, March 16.

“The reason we’re going with it (the St Paddy Pace) on March 16 is because we are not racing on the weekends and St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Saturday this year,” explained Eric Warner, the track’s director of racing.

The Mighty Mite, Jimmy Marohn, reined Fly With Action to a 2:00.2 victory in last year’s St. Paddy Pace, which turned out to be an impetus to restart his driving career. Marohn stayed on, became a Mighty M regular, and finished the season here with 120 driving victories.

A few weeks ago Marohn was in a racing accident in a qualifying race at Yonkers Raceway. When the horse he was driving had a broken line and ran into the infield, Marohn was dumped out and sustained a dislocated shoulder.

“I’m planning to get back in action when you have the St. Paddy Pace,” Marohn told the Mighty M publicity department earlier this week. “I should be OK by then and besides, I have to defend my title, don’t I?”

Also set to go are former St. Paddy Pace winners Mike Doherty (2001) and John Gilmour (2002) and if Mike Doherty can be believed, he said his dad, Hall of Famer Jim Doherty, will also be among the competitors again this year. “Duff” won the event in 2004.

“We also hopeful that former champ John McDermott (2005) will again join us and maybe his brother Kevin might be willing to come along with him,” Warner said.

Though he has a good start on possible drivers for the St. Paddy Pace-2007, Warner will still need eight reinsmen to have a full field. Any driver with Irish heritage who is interested in competing must contact Warner in the race office at Monticello Raceway by calling (845) 794-4100, extension 557; or they can contact the track’s publicity office at ext. 455.