DELAWARE, Ohio — This week marked the 75th annual “Little Brown Jug” harness horse race in Delaware, but things looked a lot different due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Mike Woebkenberg is the race starter for the event, something he’s done for 28 years.
“We would normally have 40 to 50 thousand people and we’ve probably, I don’t know, around 500 maybe, these are just owners and trainers, those who are directly involved,” said Woebkenberg.
Horse driver and trainer Peter Wrenn has been traveling from Indiana for this race for as long as he can remember. He says it’s one of his favorites.
“Well, over the years, we’ve got a lot of luck so that’s one, and second of all, it’s just the association with the crowd — it makes you feel real enthusiastic,” said Wrenn.
He says he could immediately tell this year would be different.
“We noticed it my first day here.”
But to make sure the race could go on, Woebkenberg says the group has been able to adapt and has even found a way to stream the race to fans.
“Probably the nicest thing that’s occurred from this — my Ohio Harness Horseman Association has come out with a live streaming putting it on Facebook Live.”
Wrenn says the efforts have not gone unnoticed.
“I want to give a hats off to the whole state of Ohio. They’ve done a great job with horse races to push it through and handle it in a good environment where its safe and eligible to put on entertainment.”
