Record purse expected for 78th Little Brown Jug

Officials with the Little Brown Jug expect the purse for the 78th edition of the pacing classic to be a record and may approach $1 million.

The record Jug purse was $677,000 in 2015, when Wiggle It Jiggleit won the race for 3-year-old pacers.

“It has been our goal and mission to bring the purse to the $1 million mark,” noted Tom Wright, president of the Little Brown Jug Society. “Thanks to the support of our sponsors, industry partners and the Delaware County Agricultural Society, we are close to realizing that dream.”

Sustaining payments for the Little Brown Jug and the other Grand Circuit events — the Jugette (3-year-old filly pace), Old Oaken Bucket (3-year-old open trot) and Buckette (3-year-old filly trot) — are due Feb. 15. These payments are for foals of 2020.

The sustaining payments are as follows: Little Brown Jug ($750), Jugette ($500), Old Oaken Bucket ($500) and Buckette ($400).

Three-year-old pacers not eligible after Feb. 15 may, with a payment of $45,000, supplement to the Little Brown Jug.

The Little Brown Jug and Old Oaken Bucket will be raced Thursday, Sept. 21, and the Jugette and Buckette on Wednesday, Sept. 20.