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Delaware, Ohio To Host Final Leg Of Pacing Triple Crown
By Tom White
2/6/04
Delaware, Ohio--Due to scheduling conflicts, the 59th Little Brown Jug will be the final leg of Pacing's Triple Crown. The Delaware, Ohio County Fair will play host to the final jewel of the Triple Crown on Thursday afternoon, September 23.
The 2004 Triple Crown schedule:
| Aug. 28 |
Cane Eliminations Freehold Raceway |
| Sept. 6 |
Cane Final Freehold Raceway |
| Sept. 14 |
Messenger Elims & Final Harrington Raceway |
| Sept. 23 |
Little Brown Jug Elims & Final Delaware, Ohio |
In recent years the Messenger Stakes has been the third leg of the Triple Crown and was raced at The Meadows but The Meadows dropped the race after the 2003 renewal. Yonkers Raceway owns the Messenger Stakes but due to impending construction at the racetrack, a change in venue was needed. Harrington Raceway, located at the Delaware State Fairgrounds, agreed to host the Messenger Stakes in 2004 and scheduled eliminations and the Final for Tuesday, September 14.
The Cane Pace kicks off the Triple Crown series with eliminations on Saturday, August 28 and the Final on Monday, Labor Day afternoon, September 6 at Freehold Raceway in New Jersey.
The 2004 Pacing Triple Crown will have a time window of only 27 days, from August 28 thru September 23. In 2003, there were 57 days between the first leg (August 23)and the third leg (October 18) of the Pacing Triple Crown. There will be 36 days between the Kentucky Derby (May 1) and Belmont Stakes (June 5) in Thoroughbred racing's 2004 Triple Crown.
There have been 10 Triple Crown winners since the Series began in 1956. Delaware, Ohio served as the host track for the final leg in 1959 and again in 1983. Adios Butler won the Series in 1959 and Ralph Hanover swept all three races in 1983. In recent years the Jug has been the middle jewel of the series.
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