The Acid test on 2 and 3 year olds are 3 races

[JT]

Unless you have a top horse or are locally owned, you're probably going to skip it, even some of the top ones have in recent years.

In recent times the best horse that skipped it that I hated to not see in person was SBSW. I think it was the 2 heats that kept him away. He won the Messenger at Yonkers in a monsoon

[Lockedin with Pace]

Speaking as someone that lives here  , yes its permanent
I drive by there everyday on my way to work
A couple years ago the purse was a million dollars
Last year the total purse dropped back down to around $700000 total I think.
The county of Delaware passed a bed/occupancy tax a few years ago of I think 1.5 % to strictly go towards the LBJ purses and improvements to the fairgrounds.
Alot of the buildings and barns are in bad shape including the grandstand and need a ton of repairs or torn down completely and rebuilt. Attendance is way down from when I was there as a kid..like all harness tracks. My first LBJ was Niatross..1980..I was almost 6 years old. This was the only tax increase I have ever voted for in my life
I will never need a hotel in the county I live in
They won't get rid of the 2 heat racing as long as the old timers are in charge. They got rid of the potential 3rd heat I think 5 or 6 years ago.
It is a combination of racing on a half and the 2nd heat that keeps some horses away. You draw post 7 or 8, you are likely doomed

I used to love the 3 heats, also remember it going to 4 heats one year with the 3 winners, with the race going off around 7:00.

[rainman2]

I used to love the 3 heats, also remember it going to 4 heats one year with the 3 winners, with the race going off around 7:00.

Wasn't 1 year right at sundown?

[JT]

I used to love the 3 heats, also remember it going to 4 heats one year with the 3 winners, with the race going off around 7:00.

Well they would have 3 divisions full fields and the top 3 from each division would race in heat 2. If the winner from heat 2 was not a division winner. That triggered the 3rd heat with all 4 winners..3 division winners and 2nd heat winner.
Best example in my time going there of this is was the battles between Western Hanover and Fake Left. Maybe 1992 or 1993.

[JT]

Wasn't 1 year right at sundown?

Pretty much every year is now John, great view of it from our families box

[rainman2]

Well they would have 3 divisions full fields and the top 3 from each division would race in heat 2. If the winner from heat 2 was not a division winner. That triggered the 3rd heat with all 4 winners..3 division winners and 2nd heat winner.
Best example in my time going there of this is was the battles between Western Hanover and Fake Left. Maybe 1992 or 1993.

Waples said after the race, he wanted to follow Western but the horse had others ideas!

I believe Waples got the drive as McNichol got hurt earlier on the card.

[JT]

The elim winners do have the advantage of the inside posts in the finals and are probably the better horses anyway.

I think they changed that this year, where division winners draw between post 1-5 rather then 1 and 2

[JT]

Waples said after the race, he wanted to follow Western but the horse had others ideas!

I believe Waples got the drive as McNichol got hurt earlier on the card.

You are correct sir
Also Fake Left ran that year at the jug preview at Scioto and didn't do anything.
I was there at Scioto that night. Shame Scioto discontinued it.

[Lockedin with Pace]

I think they changed that this year, where division winners draw between post 1-5 rather then 1 and 2


If that's the case and you still had to win 2 heats, they'd be a better chance of it going to 4 heats.

[rainman2]

You are correct sir
Also Fake Left ran that year at the jug preview at Scioto and didn't do anything.
I was there at Scioto that night. Shame Scioto discontinued it.

No money or not important?

[JT]

If they're going to have a new Triple Crown for 3-year-olds the LBJ has to be one of the races even though the top horses rarely race on 1/2-mile tracks.

Agreed tmbz1yes it has to be included
I know I am biased because I live here
And the Jug and their Society, just like the Hambo, has many,many faults
There are alot of things I'd do differently
But, having said that it is still one of the most prestigious races to win
What did the Cane Pace draw, 5 or 6 entries
The Messenger had none of the best 3 year olds entered this year.

[Lockedin with Pace]

Most of the top horses skipped it so they probably discontinued it.

[rainman2]

Most of the top horses skipped it so they probably discontinued it.

Should they bring it back as they are trying to make the Jug relevant again?

In today's day and age, where would the purse money come from?

Lower the overnights like Hoosier did when breeders crown came to town?

[JT]

No money or not important?

Scioto has plenty of $ because of racinos of course
I think alot of the best horses have other races a week and a half before the LBJ
Mostly sire stakes finals
Scioto a week and a half before the LBJ on September 12th has huge stakes races and all of Ohio's sire stakes finals. It will be probably over 3 million in total purses

[Lockedin with Pace]

Scioto has plenty of $ because of racinos of course
I think alot of the best horses have other races a week and a half before the LBJ
Mostly sire stakes finals
Scioto a week and a half before the LBJ on September 12th has huge stakes races and all of Ohio's sire stakes finals. It will be probably over 3 million in total purses

The top horses don't run as often now as they used to and most would skip it anyway.