Louisville has its Kentucky Derby. Central Ohio has the Little Brown Jug.
The annual Delaware horse race that will run for the 81st time Sept. 24 might lack the fancy hats of its cousin to the south. But in harness racing's own Triple Crown, it's a jewel that's just as valuable.
"If you haven’t ever been there, you’ve got to go," Harness Racing Update columnist John Berry wrote in a Sept. 2 article that recommended race-watchers get a cup of fries with malt vinegar, which might just be the Little Brown Jug's version of the Derby's mint juleps.
"To me, the Little Brown Jug is 'the greatest show on earth!,'" he wrote.
Here's what you need to know about the Little Brown Jug and what makes it one of the region's great traditions.
What is the Little Brown Jug?
The annual race has
been around since 1946 and has been part of the Triple Crown of Pacing since it began in the 1950s.
First, a bit about what's happening on the track. In harness racing, horses pull a light two-wheeled cart. Pacing describes the horse gait; according to Bit & Bridle, a website about horses and training, a pacing horse moves both legs on the same side of its body simultaneously. Trotters, on the other hand – make that leg – run with their front and back legs moving at the same time diagonally.
Little Brown Jug competitors are 3-year-old standardbred horses, an athletic breed that Horse Illustrated says is "anything but standard." Elimination heats are run first, with an $800,000 purse divided among top finishers in the final.
What's going on off the track at the Little Brown Jug?
The Little Brown Jug is part of the annual Delaware County Fair, which takes place Sept. 19 to 26. The full fair includes all the rides, 4-H competitions, contests and other attractions you know and love at Ohio county fairs. The Delaware County Fairgrounds is at 236 Pennsylvania Ave. in Delaware.
On Sept. 24, the day of the race, there's also a 4-H and Future Farmers of America Horse and Pony Fun Show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the fairgrounds' horse show arena.
At the race itself, a trackside Jug Social Tent offers craft beer, cocktails and shade. There's also premium space available in a Top of the Stretch Tent and Backstretch Tent, which include drink tickets and private betting tellers.
Ticket information for the Little Brown Jug
Grandstand tickets for the Little Brown Jug are $30 to $50. Tickets to watch the race from one of the premium tents are $50 or $125. (Fair admission on non-race days is $8.)
Tickets can be purchased at littlebrownjug.com or delawarecountyfair.com.
Follow Dispatch dining reporter Bob Vitale on Instagram at @dispatchdining. You can reach him directly at rvitale@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: The Little Brown Jug is a must-see Ohio event
