By Tom White
6/19/05

Delaware, OH--Mrs. LaVerne A. Hill, vice-president of Scioto Downs and widow of the late Charlie Hill, founder and former chairman of the board at Scioto Downs, has been elected as the 21st Little Brown Jug Wall of Fame inductee.

Mrs. Hill was elected by a panel of national and international harness racing enthusiasts and is the first woman to be so honored.

"I can not think of a more fitting person to receive this year's award. LaVerne has done so much for harness racing at Delaware," said Mayor's Breakfast Chairman H.C. "Chip" Thomson.

"I get excited and I cry a lot when I think about this award. I feel wonderful and I really appreciate the honor," Mrs. Hill said.

Mrs. Hill has won the Harness Tracks of America's prestigious Messenger Award; the U.S. Harness Writers' Presidents Award; Sulky Sweeties Good Guy Award; and the Social Service Award from the Ohio Harness Horseman's Association. She is also a director of the Little Brown Jug Society and Harness Tracks of America. She and her late husband bred Standardbreds at their farm near Columbus and campaigned the brilliant colt Falcon Almahurst, a heat winner in the 1978 Little Brown Jug and later a prominent pacing stallion.

A new Jugette Barn is nearing completion at the Delaware County Fairgrounds thanks to funds donated by Mrs. Hill in memory of her late husband. "I can not think of a better way to create a memorial to Charlie. He loved the Jug, Jugette and Grand Circuit racing at Delaware." The new Jugette barn is located between the log cabin and the Thomas Walsh Jug barn. Ribbon cutting ceremonies are scheduled for September 8 at the new 30-stall barn.

Mrs. Hill will be officially inducted and presented a commemorative gold ring at the Little Brown Jug breakfast at Ohio Wesleyan University's Hamilton-Williams Center on the morning of September 21, the date of the 35th Jugette Filly Pace.

Tickets to the Mayor's Breakfast are available for $25 each by phoning (800) 335-3247 or by writing The Mayor's Breakfast, PO Box 1278, Delaware, OH 43015.