Monticello Raceway maybe one horse closer to having a
field for the Au Revoir, the race exclusively for 14 year olds on Monday,
December30.
“I recently heard from Joe Rayll who said he was going to
enter Hez Da Man N in our Au Revior,” related Eric Warner the tracks
director of racing.
“Joe’s been racing at Freehold (Raceway) and will have to
travel a ways to be with us next Monday (Dec.30). That’s usually the case with
all the 14 year olds who enter. They aren’t concentrated in one place and have
to travel so we never know who really is coming until we open the (entry) box.”
Warner has also heard from the connections of, Copper
Canyon, Run Tim Run, and Rare Glory and if they, and Hez Da Man N enter t only
a few more pacers will be needed.
However, he also has received interest from Will Johnson,
the owner of Anvil Raider N. Last Saturday night the veteran pacer became
the winningest horse in North America when he notched his 22nd
victory of the season with Ronnie Wrenn, Jr aboard. That triumph is now one
more than the Mighty M’s Tracys Song whose 21 wins had led the parade until
then.
“Mr. Johnson said there may be another 14 year old in the
Cleveland area that may want to come and that maybe they can van in together,”
Warner added.
One oldtimer , who will probably skip this year’s Au
Revoir and perhaps rightly so, is Forest Vic A. Although the
Australian-bred gelding by the American stallion Troublemaker, has only won two
races this year he has bankrolled over $81,000 while competing at Yonkers
Raceway all season long.
Obviously there are other 14 year olds still competing in
December and hopefully some may join the fray for this year’s Au Revoir.
Last year the winner of the Au Revoir, Whitlock N,came in
from Maine while the early favorite Tattler’s Jet was from Wisconsin.
“As I said, we never know who is actually coming although we
work hard to find possible entrants,” Warner added. “And should anyone want to
enter their 14 year old in our race please remember the entry box for the Au
Revoir closes at 9AM Thursday, December 26.“
In spite of the distances that the horses have to travel
just to compete, the Mighty M has filled and presented the Au Revoir
three times in the last four years
