A dozen more facts before they drink from the Jug

by Bob Heyden

Before we celebrate the winners of Jug #80 and Jugette #55, here are a dozen facts to get you ready for the big days:

1. Only the Jug and the Kentucky Futurity have never been raced elsewhere among the six Triple Crown races.

2. John Campbell’s debut in 1981 was, well, forgettable. An accident in the race cost him any chance with Armbro Wolf. But Campbell quickly made up for that with his first ever Triple Crown win in 1982 with Merger in the Jug.

3. No driver has won the Jug back-to-back in the 21st century. Ron Pierce ended the 20th with Shady Character (1998) and Blissful Hall (1999).

4. The Jugette and the Hambletonian Oaks both debuted in 1971. Not coincidentally, Glen Garnsey was the only driver to win at least one of each in its first three years. The same Garnsey who piloted the only filly to win the Jug in 1981, HOY Fan Hanover.

5. This is the 30th anniversary of John Campbell’s last Jug, Nicks Fantasy (1995). He had post 1 in each and won both by a combined 10 lengths.

6. Art Official entered the 2008 Jug on a four-race win streak that started with his epic Meadowlands Pace upset of Somebeachsomewhere. He finished first and third in that year’s Jug won by Shadow Play.

7. A dirty nose is what cost Western Hanover the 1992 Triple Crown. Because of that, still no Pacing Triple Crown winner has sired one. Western Dreamer, a son from Western Hanover’s first crop won it for his dad taking the Triple Crown in 1997.

8. John Campbell’s first sub 1:50 race mile, came in Delaware, OH, on Sept. 19, 1996 with Stand Forever in 1:49.2. Four days later Jennas Beach Boy set the track and world mark of 1:49.3 over the very same oval.

9. Two sires of a Horse of the Year came out of the same Jug, and both were off the board no less: Art Major (fourth) and Mach Three (eighth) in 2002.

10. Precious Bunny was the 1991 HOY and Jug winner. He was 1-for-14 at 2. No Pan Intended was the 2003 HOY and Jug winner and 1-for-13 at 2.

11. Nansemond over Albatross in 1971 in the race-off remains among the most famous Jugs. Did you know there was another in there for the race-off? It was H T Luca. Plus, there was no wagering on the race-off; that was quickly remedied for 1972.

12. From the oddity files, 17 were entered in the 1988 Little Brown Jug, but only one had a blank space in the program next to the driver’s spot, B J Scoot. Even odder is that Mike Lachance was listed on #8 Prince Royce starting from the second tier (2012 was the first year no longer allowing trailers), for his Jug debut. After it all shook out, Ben Webster took Prince Royce (eighth), and Lachance drove B J Scoot to victory for Tom Artandi. To show it was not a fluke that duo repeated in 1989 with Goalie Jeff.