by Carol Hodes, for the SBOA of New Jersey

Manalapan, NJ — There was a taste of “monte” racing at the Gaitway Farms training center on Friday morning (April 27).

Helene Gregory photo

Jenny Melander (in blue), aboard Shoeless White Sox, held off Jennifer Lowrey (in red) with Lemon Pepper.

Two riders raced on the mile track with their trotters under saddle (monte) in a demonstration for the judges. Jenny Melander of Clarksburg, N.J., aboard Shoeless White Sox, held off Jennifer Lowrey of Chester, N.Y., with Lemon Pepper in a mile clocked in 2:12.

Shoeless White Sox is a 7-year-old son of Mr Lavec currently racing out of the Mark Harder Stable. Lemon Pepper, a 13-year-old gelding by Cumin, raced from 2001 to 2010, earning nearly $600,000 with 40 wins, 40 seconds and 32 thirds from 247 starts.

The purpose of the event was to “qualify” in 2:25 or better and for the riders to demonstrate they could control their horses.

“We have a race on Hambletonian Day (August 7) at the Meadowlands and at Freehold on September 29, and we’re working on more dates,” said Helene Gregory, who has organized the RUS America — Riders Under Saddle — effort in New Jersey. “These will be exhibition races. If these turn out well, there could be betting races in the future.”

Monte racing is popular in Europe, especially in France, but is rare in North America.

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