With some behind the scenes work already completed, Dave Hanlon, Monticello Gaming and Raceway's CEO and Jason Settlemoir, Regional Vice President of racing and simulcasting at Tioga Downs and Vernon Downs, are already on board for the competition.

However, recently the raceway's publicity office has been fielding phone calls from other interested parties including Robert J. 'Bobby' Soper, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs' President and Chief Executive Officer and Rick Pullman, President of Autotote Enterprises and Connecticut OTB.

Soper, a graduate of the University of Georgia with degrees in Business Administration and Law, has been at the helm of Pocono Downs since Mohegan Sun purchased the five-eighths oval in 2005.

Since Soper has been in Northeast Pennsylvania his Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs has become a major player in the world of harness racing. Soper says he has been interested in sitting behind a horse for a long while and the Battle of the Brain Trusts may be the perfect venue to facilitate his desires.

Pullman, on the other hand has roots in the New York Catskills. His folks have a summer home in Masten Lake, NY--some 10 miles from the village of Monticello--where he can often be found during July and August. He noted that in his youth that he often frequented Monticello Raceway.

And Pullman is anxious to drive. “I am interested in doing this to help promote racing and for our players in Connecticut who would love to have me represent them in this endevour.”

However, before anyone of the aforementioned executives can participate in the non-wagering race they must practice with a professional trainer and since the Battle of the Brain Trusts is slated for later this season there will be plenty of time for the interested parties to gain some confidence behind a spirited steed.

According to Eric Warner, Monticello Raceway Director of Racing, the long winter in the Northeast has made it hard for the executives to practice which has forced the races timeline back to when the weather gets warmer.

The non-wagering race will be at the usual one mile distance and for safety sake the race will be contested in jog carts without the use of whips.

However, Warner said that he needs more 'brain trusts' for the competition.

Any executive, who needs more information or is definitely interested in driving in the Battle, is asked to contact Warner by calling him in the race office at 845-794-4100 x557; or they can call the tracks publicity office at ext. 455.

John Manzi, Monticello Raceway