by John Manzi, publicity director, Monticello Raceway

Monticello, NY — Leave it to Monticello Raceway to again come up with another racing oddity.

In the track’s upcoming Au Revoir Pace, now being called just the Au Revoir, not only will 14 year olds race for the final time in their careers, but the event will pit one trotter against six pacers in the betting contest slated as the first race on the 12-race program of Thursday, December 29.

Monticello Raceway photo

Billy Parker Jr. reining Jenna Marvel-the lone trotter in the Au Revoir– to a then Monticello Raceway track record of 1:58:3 earlier this season.

“It’s very rare to see trotters racing against pacers,” noted Paul Ramlow, associate editor of Hoof Beats magazine. “Sometimes trotters race against pacers in qualifying races—and that’s rare too– but hardly ever do they compete against the pacers in betting races.”

The lone trotter in the Au Revoir on Thursday is Freehold shipper, Jenna Marvel, the $363,000 lifetime winner who earlier this year established a Monticello Raceway track record for older trotting mares when she cruised home a winner in the time of 1:58:3. But like almost all of the equine senior citizens at this time of their careers, the latest races of Mike Marx and Anthony Tomasello’s pride and joy have been sub-standard for the ole gal.

However, for one of the combatants in the Au Revoir, old age has not been a deterrent. Art Brewer’s old-timer, Try Kacy N, who is coming in from Delaware just for the contest, is enjoying one of the best years of his life.

The New Zealand-bred altered son of Silk Legacy has won 18 times this season in 32 starts and has amassed over $66,000 in purse money. Though owner-trainer Art Brewer wasn’t available at press it doesn’t take a Rhodes Scholar to determine that he’s undoubtedly disappointed that his grand ole campaigner will not be able to race anymore after the first of the year.

Unquestionably Try Kacy N, who’ll start from post position seven, and Jenna Marvel, who’ll race from post six, will be the favorites in the race but five others have a chance to grab a piece of the $4,000 purse being offered in the Au Revoir.

Two local pacers, Sabine Spring’s, $65,000 lifetime winner, Daylon Spirit, and Peter Sienkwicz’ $102,000 winner, Lorrryland Tornado, will be among the competitors. The former will start from post one while the latter will race from post four.

John Hanning’s, Champs TKO (post three) and Peter Kass’, Butler Brydon N (post five) each have shipped in from Maine for the event. The final starter will be Brian Lamb and Pete Mela’s Great Britain-bred, Jack The Lad GB, who‘ll race away from post two.

Thursday’s Au Revoir race will mark only the second time that Monticello Raceway has filled a race for 14 year olds making their final starts since the inaugural Au Revoir Race in 1991. That contest also featured one trotter, Blazing Dayan, who raced against six pacers. However it was won by Constance McMahon’s pacer, Searights, who shipped in from Maine. He was driven to victory by Kyle DiBenedetto in a time of 2:04:1.