| Class: | Pacing Triple Crown |
| Horse Race: | Little Brown Jug |
| Location: | Delaware County Fairgrounds racetrack Delaware, Ohio |
| Race Type: | Standardbred |
| Distance: | 1miles |
| Surface: | Dirt |
| Track: | Left-handed |
| Qualification: | 3-year-olds |
The Little Brown Jug is a harness race for three-year-old pacing standardbred horses hosted by the Delaware County Agricultural Society since 1946 at the Delaware County Fairgrounds racetrack in Delaware, Ohio. The race takes place every year on the third Thursday after Labor Day.
Along with the Hambletonian, a race for trotters, it is one of the two most coveted races for standardbreds. The event is named after Little Brown Jug, a pacer, who won nine consecutive races and became a USTA Hall of Fame Immortal in 1975.[1]
The race is the counterpart to the Jugette for three-year-old fillies.
It began in 1937 when the Delaware County Agricultural Society's members, at their annual meeting, voted to move the County Fair, held since its inception at Powell, to Delaware on a tract of land at the northern edge of the city. Two years later a half-mile track was built and provided the stage for harness racing. R.K. McNamara, a local contractor, designed and built the lightning fast track. Enter attorney Joe Neville, whose family had been identified with the standardbred sport for many years, and his friend, Henry C. "Hank" Thomson, sports editor of The Delaware Gazette. Neville, who had campaigned horses on the Grand Circuit and was familiar with its officers and stewards, was successful in obtaining Grand Circuit dates for the new Delaware track. Neville, concerned over the years by the emphasis placed on the trotter, turned his efforts toward showcasing the pacers, particularly the 3-year-olds. The Little Brown Jug Society was formed to stage the Grand Circuit meeting. Neville headed the organization with Thomson as secretary-treasurer. Then came the birth of the Little Brown Jug, named through a newspaper contest won by Major Lanning Parsons, with its previews in 1944 and 1945. The initial Jug in 1946, with a purse of $35,358, was won by Ensign Hanover with Delaware's Wayne "Curly" Smart driving. Smart, a successful trainer-driver on the Grand Circuit, was later to become an integral part of the Jug's operation as the track superintendent. Over the years the track monopolized the half-mile record section with world standard performances, mainly through Smart's skill in maintaining the fastest racing strip of its size in the country.
Through its humble beginnings, the Jug grew slowly to become perhaps the most traditional stake on the pacing gait. In 1956 the Jug provided the anchor for the newly designated Triple Crown of Pacing to go along with the Cane Pace (currently held at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey) and the Messenger Stakes (currently held at Yonkers Raceway in Yonkers, New York).[2]
In 2023, the total purse of the race (including the purses of the heats) was increased to $1,000,000 for the first time.
The Little Brown Jug is contested in heats. Up until 2016, a horse had to win 2 heats in order to be crowned the winner of the Little Brown Jug. The first heat is split into several divisions, with the top finishers in each division returning to contest the second heat. A horse wins the Little Brown Jug by winning both heats. If a horse does not win both heats, a race off is conducted between the first heat division winners, and the winner of the second heat, to determine the champion. Starting in 2017, the first heat is still split into several divisions (usually 2, sometimes 3) and the top finishers in each division still return to the second heat - however the winner of the second heat is now considered the winner of the Little Brown Jug regardless of if the horse won a division in the first heat.
Ever since 1946 the administrators of the Little Brown Jug have glazed the winners of the horse race on a jug. In 2005, they ran out of room on the first jug and had to make another one. This time, instead of making it out of clay, they made it out of plastic so it would be lighter.
| Year | Winner | Driver | Trainer | Owner | Time | Purse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | It's My Show | Scott Zeron | Linda Toscano | Richard P Young,Boca Raton,FL;Joanne Young,Coconut Creek,FL | 1:49 0/0 | $850,000 |
| 2022 | Bythemissal | Chris Page | Ron burke | Burke Rcg Stb,PA;E Good,MD;Rich Lombardo Rcg,OH; Weaver Bruscemi,PA | 1:51.1 | $541,550 |
| 2021 | Lou's Pearlman | Yannick Gingras | Ron Burke | Burke Racing Stable, W Bruscemi, E Novak, and H Taylor | 1:524/5 | $661,800 |
| 2020 | Captain Barbossa | Joe Bongiorno | Tony Alagna | Alagnafrankinthegym Stable, R Leblanc, and D Anderson | 1:491/5 | $559,000 |
| 2019 | Southwind Ozzi | Brian Sears | Bill MacKenzie | Vincent A. Ali, Jr. & Alma Iafelice | 1:501/5 | $642,000 |
| 2018 | Courtly Choice | David Miller | Blake Macintosh | Hutt Racing Stable/Mac & Heim Stables/Piouffe/Touch Stone Farms | 1:494/5 | $642,000 |
| 2017 | Filibuster Hanover | Yannick Gingras | Ron Burke | Burke Racing Stable, J DiScala Jr, J & T Silva Stables and W Bruscemi | 1:500/5 | $590,000 |
| 2016 | Betting Line | David Miller | Casie Coleman | West Wins Stable, Christine Calhoun, Mac T. Nichol | 1:490/5 | $577,000 |
| 2015 | Wiggle It Jiggleit | Montrell Teague | Clyde Francis | George Teague Jr. Inc. | 1:493/5 | $677,000 |
| 2014 | Limelight Beach | Yannick Gingras | Ron Burke | Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, M1 Stable, & Wingfield Bros | 1:504/5 | $647,500 |
| 2013 | Vegas Vacation | Brian Sears | Casie Coleman | West Wins Stable, A. Sorella, A. Beaton, P. Saunders | 1:500/5 | $552,551 |
| 2012 | Michael's Power | Scott Zeron | Casie Coleman | Jeffrey S. Snyder | 1:500/5 | $487,550 |
| 2011 | Big Bad John | David Miller | Ron Potter | Winchester Baye Acres | 1:500/5 | $526,800 |
| 2010 | Rock N Roll Heaven | Daniel Dubé | Bruce Saunders | Frank J. Bellino | 1:492/5 | $604,100 |
| 2009 | Well Said | Ronald Pierce | Steve Elliott | Jeffrey S. Snyder & Lothlorien | 1:514/5 | $609,150 |
| 2008 | Shadow Play | David Miller | Ian Moore, Serge Savard, R G McGroup | 1:501/5 | $555,000 | |
| 2007 | Tell All | Jody Jamieson | Blair Burgess | My Desire Stable | 1:52 0/5 | $480,000 |
| 2006 | Mr Feelgood | Mark J. MacDonald | Jimmy Takter | Canamerica Cptl, Diversity Stable & Lindy Farm | 1:503/5 | $541,000 |
| 2005 | P-Forty Seven | Dave Palone | Kelly O'Donnell | M. Maynard, K. O'Donnell & C. Ed Mullinax | 1:521/5 | $569,032 |
| 2004 | Timesareachanging | Ronald Pierce | Brett Pelling | Perfect World Enterprises | 1:513/5 | $571,500 |
| 2003 | No Pan Intended | David Miller | Ivan Sugg | Peter Pan Stables Inc. (Robert Glazer) | 1:530/5 | $605,050 |
| 2002 | Million Dollar Cam | Luc Ouellette | William Robinson | Jeffrey S. Snyder | 1:502/5 | $618,625 |
| 2001 | Bettor's Delight | Michel Lachance | Scott McEneny | John B. Grant | 1:514/5 | $646,050 |
| 2000 | Astreos | Charalambos Christoforou | Brett Pelling | M. Chrysomilas, C. Christoforou & Banjo Farms | 1:553/5 | $547,972 |
| 1999 | Blissful Hall | Ronald Pierce | Benjamin Wallace | Daniel Plouffe | 1:553/5 | $543,980 |
| 1998 | Shady Character | Ronald Pierce | Brett Pelling | Sanford & Corinne Goldfarb | 1:523/5 | $566,630 |
| 1997 | Western Dreamer | Michel Lachance | William Robinson | Matthew J., Patrick J. Jr. & Daniel J. Daly | 1:511/5 | $605,210 |
| 1996 | Armbro Operative | Jack Moiseyev | Brendan Johnson | Thomas Walsh, Jr. & David McDuffee | 1:523/5 | $542,240 |
| 1995 | Nick's Fantasy | John Campbell | Caroline Lyon | Markenjay Stud | 1:512/5 | $543,670 |
| 1994 | Magical Mike | Michel Lachance | Thomas Haughton | Shadow Lane Farm & David McDuffee | 1:523/5 | $512,830 |
| 1993 | Life Sign | John Campbell | Gene Riegle | Brittany Farms | 1:520/5 | $465,500 |
| 1992 | Fake Left | Ron Waples | George Sholty | Status Stables Inc. | 1:544/5 | $556,210 |
| 1991 | Precious Bunny | Jack Moiseyev | William Robinson | R. Peter Heffering | 1:550/5 | $575,150 |
| 1990 | Beach Towel | Ray Remmen | Larry Remmen | Uptown Stable | 1:533/5 | $468,050 |
| 1989 | Goalie Jeff | Michel Lachance | Thomas Artandi | Centre Ice Stable | 1:541/5 | $500,200 |
| 1988 | B. J. Scoot | Michel Lachance | Thomas Artandi | Sybarite Stable | 1:523/5 | $486,050 |
| 1987 | Jaguar Spur | Richard Stillings | Charles "Buddy" Stillings | Roy D. Davis & Barberry Farms | 1:553/5 | $412,330 |
| 1986 | Barberry Spur | Bill O'Donnell | Richard Stillings | Roy D. Davis & Barberry Farms | 1:524/5 | $407,684 |
| 1985 | Nihilator | Bill O'Donnell | Billy Haughton | Wall Street Stable & Nihilator Syndicate | 1:521/5 | $350,730 |
| 1984 | Colt Fortysix | Chris Boring | Chris Boring | Proudfoot Farms | 1:552/5 | $366,717 |
| 1983 | Ralph Hanover | Ron Waples | Stewart Firlotte | Ron Waples, Pointsetta Stables, Grants Direct Stables & P. J. Baugh | 1:553/5 | $358,800 |
| 1982 | Merger | John Campbell | John Campbell | J. Campbell, D. Morrisey, P. Oud, W. Muldering | 1:563/5 | $328,900 |
| 1981 | Fan Hanover | Glen Garnsey | William Smythe | J. Glen Brown | 1:584/5 | $243,779 |
| 1980 | Niatross | Clint Galbraith | Clint Galbraith | Clint Galbraith, Elsie Berger, Niatross Stable | 1:544/5 | $207,361 |
| 1979 | Hot Hitter | Hervé Filion | Louis Meittinis | Solomon Katz, S A J Ranch Ltd., Alterman Stables | 1:553/5 | $226,455 |
| 1978 | Happy Escort | William Popfinger | William Popfinger | Keystone Arbor Stable | 2:004/5 | $186,760 |
| 1977 | Governor Skipper | John Chapman | Howard "Buck" Norris | Ivanhoe Stable | 1:562/5 | $150,000 |
| 1976 | Keystone Ore | Stanley Dancer | Stanley Dancer | F&F Perry, R. Jones, S.F. Dancer, R.L. Dancer & R. Hild | 1:572/5 | $153,799 |
| 1975 | Seatrain | Benny Webster | Lee Benson | Lee Benson | 1:594/5 | $147,813 |
| 1974 | Armbro Omaha | Billy Haughton | Billy Haughton | J. Elgin Armstrong | 1:584/5 | $132,630 |
| 1973 | Melvin's Woe | Joe O'Brien | Joe O'Brien | Thurman Downing | 1:592/5 | $120,000 |
| 1972 | Strike Out | Keith Waples | John Hayes | Beejay Stable | 1:563/5 | $104,916 |
| 1971 | Nansemond | Hervé Filion | Charles O. Mumford | F. Perry, W. Camp, Jr., Capital Hill Farms | 1:572/5 | $102,964 |
| 1970 | Most Happy Fella | Stanley Dancer | Stanley Dancer | Egyptian Acres Stable | 1:573/5 | $100,110 |
| 1969 | Laverne Hanover | Billy Haughton | Billy Haughton | Thomas W. Murphy, Jr. | 2:002/5 | $109,731 |
| 1968 | Rum Customer | Billy Haughton | Billy Haughton | Louis & Connie Manucuso & Kennilworth Farm | 1:593/5 | $104,226 |
| 1967 | Best Of All | James Hackett | James Hackett | Samuel Huttenbauer | 2:000/5 | $84,778 |
| 1966 | Romeo Hanover | George Sholty | Jerry Silverman | Lucky Star Stables & Morton Finder | 1:593/5 | $74,616 |
| 1965 | Bret Hanover | Frank Ervin | Frank Ervin | Richard Downing | 1:570/5 | $71,447 |
| 1964 | Vicar Hanover | Billy Haughton | Billy Haughton | Donald D. MacFarlane | 2:010/5 | $66,590 |
| 1963 | Overtrick | John F. Patterson, Sr. | John F. Patterson, Sr. | Allwood Stable (Leonard J. & Helen R. Buck) | 1:573/5 | $68,294 |
| 1962 | Lehigh Hanover | Stanley Dancer | Stanley Dancer | Lehigh Stables | 1:593/5 | $75,039 |
| 1961 | Henry T. Adios | Stanley Dancer | Stanley Dancer | Dr. & Mrs. Nicholas Derrico | 2:050/5 | $70,069 |
| 1960 | Bullet Hanover | John F. Simpson, Sr. | John F. Simpson, Sr. | T. W. Murphy, Jr., J. F. Simpson, Hanover Shoe Farm | 1:593/5 | $66,510 |
| 1959 | Adios Butler | Clint Hodgins | Paige H. West | Paige H. West & Angelo Pellillo | 2:004/5 | $76,582 |
| 1958 | Shadow Wave | Joe O'Brien | Joe O'Brien | S. A. Camp Farms | 2:010/5 | $65,252 |
| 1957 | Torpid | John F. Simpson, Sr. | John F. Simpson, Sr. | Sherwood Farm | 2:034/5 | $73,528 |
| 1956 | Noble Adios | John F. Simpson, Sr. | John F. Simpson, Sr. | Paul Wixom | 2:004/5 | $52,666 |
| 1955 | Quick Chief | Billy Haughton | Billy Haughton | Farmsted Acres & John Froelich | 2:002/5 | $66,608 |
| 1954 | Adios Harry | Morris MacDonald | Morris MacDonald | J. Howard Lyons | 2:032/5 | $69,322 |
| 1953 | Keystoner | Frank Ervin | Frank Ervin | George H. Tipling | 2:093/5 | $54,972 |
| 1952 | Meadow Rice | T. Wayne Smart | Delvin Miller | William G. Reynolds | 2:023/5 | $60,463 |
| 1951 | Tar Heel | Del Cameron | Delvin Miller | William N. Reynolds Estate | 2:000/5 | $66,280 |
| 1950 | Dudley Hanover | Delvin Miller | Delvin Miller | Hayes Fair Acres | 2:032/5 | $56,525 |
| 1949 | Good Time | Frank Ervin | Frank Ervin | William H. Cane | 2:032/5 | $58,281 |
| 1948 | Knight Dream | Franklin E. Safford | Franklin E. Safford | Armstrong Bros & Gray Bros | 2:071/5 | $47,528 |
| 1947 | Forbes Chief | Del Cameron | Del Cameron | Newport Stock Farm | 2:050/5 | $38,200 |
| 1946 | Ensign Hanover | T. Wayne Smart | Sep Palin | Castleton Farm | 2:071/5 | $35,358 |