RTIP Takes On The Little Brown Jug
RTIP students Tashua Antoinette, Emerald Kwinn and Nathan Klein at the 80th running of the Little Brown Jug
For the first time in RTIP history we had the opportunity to attend the Little Brown Jug, the third jewel of the pacing Triple Crown and arguably the most popular harness race in America. For the three of us, it was a completely new experience. The top-tier harness racing was only the beginning of an entirely different world, one that felt both familiar and wonderfully unique. We arrived on race day bright and early and by the end, we had explored every inch of that half-mile track.
Our day began with the speaker series, where we listened to the life story of Roger Huston, the legendary “Voice of the Jug,” who announced that after more than five decades, he would not be calling this year’s race. He was passing the torch to his protégé, Jason Settlemoir. It was a touching moment that reminded us how rich and historic this event is. From there, we dove into fair life.
As the races began, we toured the paddock with on-track investigators, visited the Jug Barn to see the 14 elite contenders (including heavy favorite Louprint), and met the dedicated crew of the Test Barn responsible for post-race testing. One of the day’s most memorable moments was sitting in the starting gate truck, an experience unique to harness racing. Watching the horse’s pace at 30 miles per hour just feet away from us was breathtaking.
Frank Fraas with students
The grandstand itself is a piece of history, with wooden benches packed with thousands of excited fans. It was abuzz with activity: lawn chairs lined the track, horses stabled nearby, food trucks served customers, fans mingled freely with trainers, and grooms led horses through the crowd. The casual openness was a refreshing change of pace and everyone we met was eager to share their world with us. Despite the crowd of 40,000, it was surprisingly easy to find a great view.
During the afternoon, we visited the grandstand rooftop for a behind-the-scenes look at how the judges oversee each race. We next went to the infield where we were invited for a live on-air interview with Frank Fraas, Executive Director of the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association. We shared our RTIP experiences and insights in front of the 40,000+ fans at the track. It was a surreal and proud moment for all of us.
The day culminated with the 80th running of the Little Brown Jug, where Louprint lived up to his reputation by dominating both his heat and the finals. Watching a horse win twice in one day was a thrilling first for us.
Before heading back to Tucson we met up with Dave Basler, Executive Director of the Ohio HBPA. We also visited a few more Ohio racetracks including Dayton Raceway, Scioto Downs, and the long-gone Beulah Park, now a neighborhood with a commemorative plaque and metal sculptures of racing horses breaking from the starting gate.
The best advice we received on our trip came from Frank Fraas. He said, “take it all in,” and we did. — Nathan Klein, Tashua Antoinette, Emerald Kwinn