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Tuesday, March 12, 2013

MR - ST. PADDY PACE IS A WIDE-OPEN AFFAIR

Talk about a wide-open race ……just look at Monticello Raceway’s 13th annual St. Paddy Pace slated as the eighth race on  Wednesday afternoon, March 13.

‘There’s no doubt that the horses  in our St. Paddy Pace aren’t top stock but any way you size it up it figures to be very competitive because any one of the eight starters can  be a winner,” noted Eric Warner the track’s director of racing.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if the betting favorite goes off at odds of 3-1 or even 7-2 ” added  race announcer Howard Oil. “It’s true the field isn’t high class but it is what every bettor likes; (that being) a field  so evenly matched that any horse can win it.”

For the first time in the event’s history two real honest- to- goodness Irishmen will be competing. “Irish” Joe Hanney, will handle the Tidewater Moses (8-1) from the pylon position while his friend and fellow countryman, Anthony Haughan has drawn  Quiet Hero (5-2) and post position seven.
Both gentlemen left together from their native Dublin, Ireland and traveled  to North America to pursue  a career in harness racing. Initially they settled in Canada but in  recent years Hanney moved to the States  and has put together a public stable while Haughan stayed on north of the border where he  has produced some impressive stats over the past few years.

Both Irishmen will be up against some former St. Paddy Pace winners in Jimmy Taggart, Jr. (2012); Jimmy Marohn, Jr. (2009 & 2011); John Mc Dermott (2005) and Mike Doherty (2001).
Taggart will handle Song Of The South (7-2) from post two; Marohn has Best of Times (9-2) from post six; McDermott will drive Syncro’s Z Tam(10-1) and start from the five hole, while Doherty  has Sempre Ribera (12-1)and will leave post three.

Joining the aforementioned will be Cory Stratton with Eusebio (3-1) from the eight hole and  Rick Harp with Greystone Matt (4-1) from  post position four.
“Don’t be afraid of the morning line odds “added Howard Oil. “The horse that you think will get the best trip will probably be the winner. And that can be anyone of the starters.”

Even though it’s certainly an oddity to have two “real” Irishmen competing in this year’s race, but then again, so was John Gilmour’s victory in the 2002 St Paddy Pace when he won with a pacer by the name of Irish Lad!
This year the St. Paddy Pace is sponsored by Mary and Peter Grandich who own horses in “Irish” Joe Hanney’s public stable. They will be on hand to make the trophy and blanket presentation to the winner of the race.

The St. Paddy Pace is presented this year on March 13th  because St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th is a Sunday and the Mighty M is dark on the weekends. 
The St. Paddy Pace, the second leg of this year’s Heritage Drivers Series, will be the eighth race on the 11-race Wednesday card  on March 13 with approximate post time at 2:55pm