Old Oaken Bucket (horse race)

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.^[1] 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.^[2] The Old Oaken Bucket became a regular stakes event on the Grand Circuit card staged annually during the Delaware County Fair.^[3]

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.^[4] 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 (Tom Berry), winner of the 1946 Hambletonian Stakes, was fourth in each heat. The winner was timed in 2:07 and 2:06 3/4.^[5]

The filly division of the Old Oaken Bucket is called The Buckette.^[3]

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