MR - “THE RACE FOR THE MATZOHS”—MONTICELLO’S PASSOVER PACE- SLATED FOR THURS. APRIL 12

MONTICELLO, NY – Arguably the biggest favorite of Monticello Raceway’s eight ethnic races is “the Race for the Matzoh’s” better known as the Passover Pace, which features the talents of  drivers of Jewish heritage.

As proof of its continued interest earlier this week the racing office had three calls from drivers who want to participate  in the 14^th edition and the date of the contest had yet to be announced.

“We received  calls from Alan Charles, Peter Kleinhans, Mike Kimelman each saying they would like to drive in our Passover Pace this year which I thought was unusual since the date had yet to be confirmed. But we appreciate their interest and will find a mount for each of them,” noted Eric Warner, the tracks director of racing.

“With Passover falling at different times each year we make certain that we don’t schedule the race during the holy days and every year the race goes on a different date. This year our Passover Pace is slated for Thursday, April 12^th.”

Alan Charles won the event in 2010  and Mike Kimelman  was victorious in 1999; 2003 and 2007.  And the Mighty M is always pleased when Peter Kleinhans can find time to drive in the race.

According to Eric Warner, the tracks director of racing, this is one of the easiest Heritage Drivers races to get drivers to participate in..

“People seem to come out of the woodwork to request a mount in this race,” Warner said, “And I’d love to accommodate everyone but getting the horses for them to drive is a lot harder than getting the drivers to participate,” Warner added. .“On the other hand, the local horsemen have always been responsive to these Heritage Drivers races because they feel what goes around comes around and if someone helps supply a horse now maybe that effort will be reciprocated when their ethnic event comes up.”

The event, presented during the Passover Holiday, will be the third leg of the tracks year long Heritage Drivers Series and follows the St. Paddy Pace, the race for drivers of Irish extraction which was presented on March 15 and won by Jimmy Taggart, Jr.

The Passover Pace is open to any licensed harness driver of Jewish heritage who holds a full (A) or a provisional (P) license for the United States Trotting Association . For further information, or to enter the event, please contact Warner in the racing office at 845-794-4100 x 557; or call the tracks publicity office at extension 455.