MONTICELLO, NY – It’s not like it was totally unexpected but
Monticello Raceway’s Au Revoir, the race exclusively for 14 year olds who will
be forced into retirement on January 1, 2014, failed to attract enough
entries.
“When we opened the (entry) box this morning we only had
three entries,” noted Eric Warner, the tracks Director of Racing.” Actually I
was somewhat surprised because we worked hard on filling the race and there
seemed to be quite a lot of interest.”
However, Warner shouldn’t be too surprised since after the
Mighty M first staged the race for the retiring crew back in 1991 only four
other times in the 22 following years did the Au Revoir fill.
Although the race was presented three times in the last four
years, still getting enough entries is never a given.
“We are asked from time to time why don’t you include 12 and
13 year olds but it wouldn’t be the same race. That it doesn’t always fill (get
enough entries) every year makes the AuRevoir that much more special,” Warner
explained.
Of all five of the Au Revoir’s that were raced the
most exceptional occurred last year when Whitlock N and driver Kevin Switzer,
Jr. turned back the much hyped and race favorite, Tattler’s Jet in a time of
2:01.3.
To say that the 2012 Au Revoir was much hyped would be an
understatement. That $5000 race drew a full page story with a photo
of Tattler’s Jet and his trainer Gene Miller, on the opening page of
their sports section sports page in the New York Times and there was a
follow-up story the next day, also of huge proportions.
The USTA’s Ellen Harvey, whose unwavering assistance helped
get the story published, said a few days after the event “Never did a $5000
race get so much coverage.”
A race exclusively for 14 year olds near the end of the year
is unique in that not only is it hard to find enough 14 year old standardbreds
still competing in late December but it is the final race in the careers of the
entrants because every January 1 all horses become one year older, no matter
when they were foaled, and at 15 years old all Standardbreds have to hang up
their racing shoes.
“Although we are discouraged by not being able to fill the
Au Revoir this year we’ll definitely try again next season,” Warner promised.
