When it comes to the world of harness racing in Delaware County, there are Little Brown Jug attendees, those who have been to the occasional race over the years, and there are Little Brown Jug regulars, and those who try to make it to as many races as they can.  And then there is Evelyn VanDerVoort.  A former Delaware resident, Evelyn, who is 93 years young, will be honored during Thursday's races for having attended every Little Brown Jug.  This will be her 61st.

Imagine trying to keep an annual tradition alive for 61 years and you'll realize that Evelyn boasts a truly impressive accomplishment,  though she doesn't think of it as such.  She has weathered extreme heat and freezing temperatures over the years, light drizzles and heavy downpours.

When the first two-minute mile in Jug history was run in 1951 by Tar Heel, Evelyn was there (and she was heard to say that the horses would never be able to go any faster, and when Adios Butler broke the two-minute maker in 1959, Evelyn was there.  She was also there when Million Dollar Cam set the Track record in 2002 with a time of 1:50.2

Evelyn will be coming to Delaware Thursday from Wilmington, where she's lived since the late 1950's, so I'm not ruining anything by telling you today that there are some surprise festivities planned in her honor on Jug Day.  Prior to the race, Evelyn and her immediate family will be escorted to the Governor's Box in the grandstand, from which they'll watch the 61st running of the Little Brown Jug.   Afterward, an open house is planned at the home of Jerry and Sue Heston, 28 Tanglewood Drive.  Sue is the sister of two of Evelyn's sons-in-law.

Evelyn and her husband, Paul, who passes away in 1990, used to reside at 74 W. Fountain Ave.  The couple raised Saddlebred horses that they boarded at the Delaware County Fairgrounds, not far from their home.  Evelyn watched the first Little Brown Jug in 1946 from a folding chair in the back for a stock truck.  Evelyn and Paul's daughter, Jocelyn, at age 14 was the outrider for that first race.  Another daughter, Marlene, married local brothers Dexter and Bill Martin after graduating from Willis High School.   Elaine married a man named Jerry George, and today they run a fencing business in Wilmington.  When Evelyn and Paul moved to the VanDerVoort family farm in Wilmington, they still remained active with their monthly Delaware euchre club for many years.   They also stayed in touch with several of their Delawar4e friends.  Evelyn's great-grandson, Martin Fisher, is the manager of the local Sherwin-Williams store, and we're hoping to have him pick her up in a cart with a grandstand,  where Evelyn will be escorted into the Governor's box.  I think they plan to give her some kind of plaque too.  Sue said many of Evelyn's former 4-H students, friends and extended family members will no doubt want to help her observe the special occasion Thursday, which is why she is extending the invitation to the open house at her home after the race.  She said the post-race festivities will be held rain or shine and should last from about 6-8 p.m.  "Please come and help us celebrate the good times", Sue said. 

Here's to another 61 years, Evelyn.