by Bob Heyden

P Forty Seven won the Jug but never another race — and he competed at age 4.

The Horse Of The Year Rocknroll Hanover lost twice that day (finishing second and third). His part-owner, Jeff Snyder, did not win the final, but got three checks for finishing second with Village Jolt, third with Rocknroll Hanover and fifth with Cams Fool.

Lis Mara finished sixth and last in his heat, but a year later was the Older Pacer Of The Year

With Anticipation was also no factor in his heat, but two years later — on Aug. 4, 2007 — his 1:47.2 on Hambletonian Day was the fastest mile in the sport that year.

From longshot to fave

Steve Elliott sent out the favorite to win the 2009 Jug — Well Said. But 23 years earlier, he was far from the public choice with 332-1 shot Mr Rodeo Drive (who finished eighth).

Best Bret

Bret Hanover entered the1965 Little Brown Jug — which he swept — with a 40-for-43 career slate going in.

$8 million finish in 2001 Jug

The 1-2-3 finishers across the wire in the 2001 Jug — coincidentally the richest Jug ever to that point with a purse of $646,050 — wound up with over $8 million in career earnings when all was said and done.

1st Bettors Delight — $2,581,461
2nd Real Desire — $3,159,299
3rd Four Starzzz Shark — $2,537,267
The three had combined earnings of $8,278,027

Mother and Child Reunion

Three Diamonds won the 1982 Jugette and her son, Life Sign, won the 1993 Jug. Scott Nazdeo was the caretaker for both.

Dream anniversary

In 1997, for the first time since Dream Maker raced in the 1976 edition (sixth), a horse with “DREAM” as a part of his name competed in the Little Brown Jug. Three horses had DREAM in their names, as a matter of fact, and all they did was win every race and the final.

Dream Away $4.40

Gothic Dream $14.60

Western Dreamer $2.60, $5.00. The latter price is in the final where he was not favored — 6-5 Dream Away was.

Did you know…

… The Jug Preview debuted in 1944, but the Little Brown Jug itself would not begin until 1946?

Dozen dominance

In the 12 years between 1954 and 1965, Adios sired the winner of the Jug eight times. He did so with a brown, a bay and a chestnut and six of the eight winners were conditioned by trainers who became Hall of Famers.

Jug milestones

First $100,000 Jug — 1968 Rum Customer
First $200,000 Jug — 1979 Hot Hitter
First $300,000 Jug — 1982 Merger
First $400,000 Jug — 1986 Barberry Spur
First $500,000 Jug — 1989 Goalie Jeff
First $600,000 Jug — 2001 Bettors Delight

Quiz

Q. Who is the only trainer to win the Jug, the North America Cup, the Meadowlands Pace twice, the Hambletonian twice and have the Horse Of The Year twice as well?

A. Blair Burgess.