Jug week kicks off with strong amateur club presence

Delaware, Ohio…September 13, 2024…Little Brown Jug week begins on Sunday (September 15) with a strong presence from amateur harness racing clubs in the form on the Tim Fouts Memorial and a pair of races for the Great Lakes Amateur Association (GLADA).

The Tim Fouts Memorial features many of the top amateur drivers in the U.S.A. with Larry Ferrari, Christina Johnson, Lee Morris, Todd Whitney, Joseph Skyway and John Mungillo selected to represent the amateurs in this prestigious event.

John MunGillo will represent the United States Harness Driver’s Club in this event and lamented the occasion stating, “It took a about a fifth-of-a-second to say ‘yes’ to the honor of representing our Club in this event.

“This event has become a historical one on Jug week and I am honored to have been invited.

“I didn’t draw too well in there—outside—but that doesn’t diminish the importance being selected to participate.”

MunGillo is hardly a stranger in the winner’s circle having 124 driving wins to go along with 1,178 training wins.

He’s handling the four time 2024 winner Big Bad Whamo in the Fouts.

Drawing the coveted one post in this event was Larry Ferrari, representing GLADA.

Ferrari, who won the Centennial Amateur Championship held in Rome, Torino and Florence, Italy two years ago, has 387 lifetime wins and will be driving Buck Rogers in the Fouts.

“I’m just hoping to represent our Club (GLADA) well in this great event. It’s an honor to have been chosen to participate.”

Christina Johnson also represents GLADA and has drawn post two the Mayfield Duke, Lee Morris of the EWEY Driving Club will handle Salty Robyn N from post three, Todd Whitney of the Maine Amateur Club will take Manny to the starting gate from post four, Joseph Skowyra will take the 7 to 5 morning line favorite JK’s Champ from post five representing New York’s Southern Tier Driving Club with the aforementioned John Mungillo from the USHDC on the outside in this sextet of pacers.

The two GLADA events will feature 14 different Club member, including Ferrari, Steve Oldford, Marvin Rabor, Matthew Brown, Harrison Le Van, Lauren Harmon, Daniel Jones, D Evan Miller, Lukas Harper, Darrell Rideout, Braiden Rhoades, Cristian Pacheco, Christina Johnson, Floyd Rhodes and Jason McGinnis.

The first of 17 races on Sunday is set for 1:00 p.m.

For complete race entries, click here: US Trotting entries

by John Berry, for GLADA