Old Oaken Bucket (horse race)

The Old Oaken Bucket is a harness racing event for three-year-old standardbred trotters. It was first raced at the Delaware County Fairgrounds racetrack in 1946.

History The Old Oaken Bucket was established in the mid-1940s at the Delaware County Fairgrounds racetrack in Delaware, Ohio. It served as a companion feature to the Little Brown Jug and was sponsored by the Little Brown Jug Society. While the Little Brown Jug is limited to three-year-old pacers, the Old Oaken Bucket was established as a consolation event for Jug nominees that later developed into trotters. The Old Oaken Bucket became a regular stakes event on the Grand Circuit card staged annually during the Delaware County Fair.

The Old Oaken Bucket for three-year-old trotting colts made its debut on September 20, 1946, with a purse of $6,000. The first race was won by Walter Spencer, driven by Harry Pownall on behalf of the Arden Homestead Stable of Goshen, New York. The Arden Homestead entrant swept both heats in a field of four starters, with Desira Hanover (Bion Shively) placing second and Twilla Hanover (Fred Egan) third, while Chestertown (Thomas S. Berry), winner of the 1946 Hambletonian Stakes, was fourth in each heat. The winner was timed in 2:07 and 2:06 3/4.

The filly division of the Old Oaken Bucket is called The Buckette.

Locations 1946–present: Delaware County Fairgrounds racetrack, Delaware, Ohio, U.S.

Records Most wins by a driver 6 – John Campbell (1982, 1987, 1988, 1997, 2001, 2016)

Old Oaken Bucket winners Year Winner Driver Trainer Owner Time Notes 1946 Walter Spencer Harry Pownall — Arden Homestead Stable 2:06 3/4 — 1947 Grand Parade Harry Fitzpatrick — Baker Acres Stable 2:07.3 $6,250 1948 Rollo Thomas S. Berry — Coldstream Stud 2:12.3 $6,250 1949 Bangaway Ralph N. Baldwin — Saunders Mills, Inc. 2:06.0 $6,750 1950 Lusty Song Delvin Miller — Hayes Fair Acres Stable 2:05.3 $6,000 1951 Mighty Fine Benny Schue — Hayes Fair Acres Stable 2:06.1 $6,500 1952 Hit Song Harry Pownall — Arden Homestead Stable & L. B. Sheppard 2:05.0 $6,250 1953 Elby Hanover Harry Fitzpatrick — Saunders Mills, Inc. 2:09.1 $6,750 1954 Darn Safe Benny Schue — Hayes Fair Acres Stable 2:08.2 $6,750 1955 Galophone T. Wayne Smart — William T. Maybury 2:01.2 $6,000 1956 Elton Hanover Joe O'Brien — A. C. Mudge 2:05.2 $7,000 1957 Philip Forst T. Wayne Smart — Castleton Farms 2:06.0 $6,500 1958 La Belle Richard Buxton — O. L. Mears 2:06.3 $6,250 1959 Rodney Pick Benny Schue — Hayes Fair Acres Stable 2:06.3 $6,250 1960 Uncle Sam Lou Huber, Jr. — K. D. Owens 2:05.0 $6,000 1961 Hoot Mite Lou Huber, Jr. — Mrs. Samuel Huttenbauer 2:10.0 $5,5001962 No races1963 No races1964 No races1965 No races1966 No races1967 No races 1968 Snow Speed Clint Hodgins — Castleton Farm 2:00.2 $19,520 1969 Crain Hanover Harry Harvey — Ken Ross 2:06.0 $22,478 1970 Paris Air Joe O'Brien — Garrett S. Claypool 2:02.2 $23,033 1971 Speedy Crown Howard Beissinger — Crown Stable 1:59.2 $23,223 1972 Songcan George Sholty — Nevele Acres & Don-Hy Stable 1:58.3 $20,404 1973 Macarthur Howard Beissinger — Joseph T. Mendelson 2:03.0 $28,188 1974 Dream Of Glory Pius Soehnlen — Leo A. Soehnlen 2:00.0 $31,715 1975 Skipper Walt Roland Beaulieu — Mildred M. & George A. Smith, Jr. 2:02.3 $33,169 1976 Japa William Herman — Charlotte Sheppard & John F. Simpson 2:02.4 $38,796 1977 Jurgy Hanover John Simpson, Jr. — Kosmos Horse Breeders, Inc. 2:04.3 $33,412 1978 Cami Almahurst Bruce Reigle — Mrs. Gene Reigle & Roger Black 1:59.1 $30,044 1979 Superior Sweep Carl Allen — Loren W. Houston 2:06.4 $39,064 1980 Yankee Mama Delvin Miller — Charles Keller (Lessee) 2:04.3 $39,714 1981 Tarry's Boy William Herman — Crown Stable & Vegas Stable 2:07.4 $46,015 1982 Happy Crown John Campbell — Torgils K B V Langemar 2:01.3 $43,596 1983 Tarport Frenzy Jan Nordin — Stein Dalseng 2:02.3 $81,941 1984 Nevele Express Jan Nordin — Osmo Kalevi Vuorinen 1:59.4 $65,150 1985 Master Willie Jan Nordin — W. W. & Ann Allen 1:58.2 $81,132 1986 Everglade Hanover John Simpson, Jr. — Castleton Farm, Hunt, Gaines & Simpson 1:57.4 $91,270 1987 Mack Lobell John Campbell — One More Time Stable & Fair Winds Farm 1:57.4 $76,845 1988 Armbro Gold John Campbell — Glendale Farms & Thomsa Eaton 1:58.2 $89,772 1989 Dr Guillotine Chris Boring — Proudfoot Farms 1:57.4 $112,608 1990 Lender Hanover Jan Nordin — Simon Bonnier & Bjorn Nordstand 2:02.3 $115,590 1991 Super Pleasure William Gale — Robert J. Key & John Glesmann 1:59.0 $104,880 1992 Sierra Kosmos Richard Beinhauer Richard Beinhauer R. Beinhauer & F. Beinhauer 1:56.3 $89,702 1993 American Winner Ron Pierce Milton Smith Robert J. Key & John Glesmann 1:59.0 $72,260 1994 Call Toll Free Peter Wrenn Ivan Sugg Ivan L. Sugg 1:57.0 $89,220 1995 Dr Fabe Jack Moiseyev Norman C. Jones Fabian, Fabian & Stewart 2:01.1 $93,050 1996 CR Royal Mo Carl Allen Carl Allen Carl & Rod Allen Stable 1:58.4 $85,920 1997 Meadowbranch Lou John Campbell Charles Sylvester Sylvester, Guida, Donahue & Goldman 1:56.3 $103,560 1998 Rockaroundtheclock Wally Hennessey Osvaldo Formia Lindy Farms of Conn 1:56.4 $113,779 1999 Keepitinthefamily Michel Lachance Osvaldo Formia Lindy Racing, Gold, Adkins & Nigito 1:56.1 $130,419 2000 American Native D. R. Ackerman Doug J. Ackerman Douglas Ackerman Stables 2:01.1 $68,215 2000 Credit Winner Jim Meittinis Per Ericksson Manhattan Stables 1:58.3 $68,205 2001 Hard Rock N Roll Ron Pierce Brett Pelling Al J. Libfeld 1:57.4 $66,670 2001 Liverman Hanover John Campbell Charles Sylvester GDS Racing, Lindy Racing & Liverman 1:57.4 $66,670 2002 Chip Chip Hooray Eric Ledford Charles Sylvester Sylvester, Prakas, Wingedfoot & Goldman 1:54.3 $122,310 2003 Mac's Crown K David Miller Charlie Norris Robert J. Key 1:54.3 $111,670 2004 Coventry D. R. Ackerman Doug J. Ackerman Douglas J. & Ada J. Ackerman 1:58.4 $61,410 2004 Make It Hot Luc Ouellette William Gallagher Joseph P. Chnapko 1:55.3 $61,410 2005 Bare It All Ron Pierce Chris Beaver Chris Beaver & David Lang 1:59.0 $106,190 2006 Limbo Glide Ron Pierce Jimmy Takter Takter & Misty Trotting 1:56.1 $75,000 2006 Mystic Glide J. Duke Sugg Ivan Sugg Ivan L. Sugg 1:56.0 $75,000 2007 New Hampshire Boy Ray Schnittker Ray Schnittker Schnittker, Demeter & Burns III 1:57.1 $122,400 2008 The Budster David Miller Peter Foley Oldford & Oldford 1:56.2 $75,560 2008 Dennis David Miller Roland Mallar Slowey, Minute & Osterholt 1:53.3 $75,560 2009 Triumphant Caviar Luc Ouellette Chris Beaver Beaver, Gallagher & Ouellette 1:54.2 $87,000 2009 Keystone Activator George Brennan Jim Raymer Trillium Racing & Raymer 1:55.3 $87,000 2010 Flex The Muscle David Miller Ray Schnittker Schnittker, Silva & Arden 1:54.4 $73,500 2010 Cassis Ray Schnittker Ray Schnittker Schnittker, Kelk's, Arden & Silva 1:55.2 $73,500 2011 Celebrity Bombay Brett Miller Staffan Lind Bender Sweden & Lind 1:55.2 $121,750 2012 Prayer Session Dave Magee Bobby Brower DM Stables 1:54.0 $125,800 2013 Vibe Blue Chip Yannick Gingras Ron Burke DiScala, Jr. & Massari 1:54.3 $65,750 2013 High Bridge Yannick Gingras Jimmy Takter Takter, Fielding, McClelland & Fielding 1:55.1 $65,750 2014 Sumatra Brian Sears Tom Fanning Joseph E. Smith 1:56.1 $118,300 2015 French Laundry Yannick Gingras Jimmy Takter Takter, Fielding, Fielding & Katz 1:53.4 $126,000 2016 Blenheim John Campbell Per Henriksen Steve Organ, Asa Farm & Thomas Nurmi 1:54.0 $122,500 2017 Shake It Off Lindy Scott Zeron Frank Antonacci K R Breeding LLC 1:54.0 $105,125 2018 I'm Your Captain Andy Miller Julie Miller Andy Miller Stable & Black Horse Farm 1:55.2 $111,075 2019 Osterc Yannick Gingras Per Engblom Christina Takter & Goran Falk 1:54.4 $95,425 2020 Sans Defaut Matt Kakaley Ron Burke Burke, Crawford, Silva-Purnel & Libby & et al 1:55.0 $83,800 2021 Sunny Crockett Andy Miller Julie Miller Willow Oak Ranch & Andy Miller Stable 1:58.2 $87,700 2022 S I P Joe Bongiorno Ron Burke Burke, Hatfield, Brixton Medical, & Weaver Bruscemi LLC 1:51.2 $88,600 2023 Herodotus David Miller Ron Burke Burke Rcg, Hatfield Stbs, & Weaver Bruscemi LLC 1:53.1 $100,000 2024 Four Sixes Yannick Gingras Melissa Beckwith William Hartt & Melissa Beckwith 1:54 — 2025 Cheers Hanover Ronnie Wrenn Jr. Ron Burke Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC, James Simpson and J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby 1:54 4/5 —

References