Governor's Cup Stakes

The Governor's Cup Stakes is an American harness racing event run annually for two-year-old standardbred pacers at a distance of one mile. First run in 1985 as a fixed event at Garden State Park, that track closed on May 3, 2001 and the Governor's Cup would then be run at various race venues in the U.S. Northeast and in Ontario, Canada. Since 2013 the race has been part of the 'Fall Four' stakes and has been alternated between Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey and Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.[1]

Governor's Cup Stakes
LocationToronto, Ontario &
East Rutherford, New Jersey
Inaugurated1985
Race typeHarness race for standardbred pacers
WebsiteWoodbine Entertainment Group
Race information
Distance1 mile
(1,609 metres or 8 furlongs)
SurfaceDirt:
Woodbine 7/8 mile oval
Meadowlands 1 mile oval
TrackWoodbine Racetrack or Meadowlands Racetrack
Qualification2 year olds, open
Purse$565,000 (2016)

Historical race events

In a 2011 Hambletonian Society, Inc. article on trainer Ray Schnittker, in referring to the 2009 Governor's Cup winner One More Laugh, author Jay Bergman wrote: "His [One More Laugh] victory in the Governor’s Cup at Harrah's Chester at two may go down as the greatest single effort by a two-year-old in the sports history."[2]

At Woodbine Racetrack, 2010 winner Big Jim, a $35,000 yearling purchase who would go on to career earnings of $1,541,924, set a then world record time of 1:49 1/5 for two-year-old pacers.[3][4] Through 2015 his time is still the Governor's Cup stakes record.

Locations

Records
Most wins by a driver
Most wins by a trainer
  • 8 – Robert McIntosh (1995, 1998, 2001, 2008)
Stakes record
  • 1:49 1/5 – Big Jim (2010) (Wdb)
  • 1:50 0/0 – Western Shooter (2001) (Mmx)
  • 1:52 1/5 – Western Hanover (1991) (GSP)

Winners of the Governor's Cup Stakes

[5]

Year
 Winner
 Driver
 Trainer
 Owner
 Time
Purse
 Track
2016 Downbytheseaside David Miller Brian Brown Country Club Acres Inc., Joe Sbrocco, Richard Lombardo 1:51 1/5 $520,000 Wdb
2015 Boston Red Rocks Tim Tetrick Steve Elliot Peter Blood, Rick Berks 1:50 3/5 $413,000 Mmx
2014 Artspeak Scott Zeron Tony Alagna Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz, Joe Sbrocco, In The Gym Partners 1:50 4/5 $565,000 Wdb
2013 JK Endofanera Brian Sears Ron Burke 3 Brothers Stables 1:51 4/5 $534,500 Mmx
2011 A Rocknroll Dance Yannick Gingras Jim Mulinix Jim Mulinix, Denny Miller, Jerry Silva, Theresa Silva 1:51 0/0 $510,000 Chst
2010 Big Jim Phil Hudon James Dean James Carr 1:49 1/5 $709,000 Wdb
2009 One More Laugh Tim Tetrick Ray Schnittker Ray Schnittker, Mathias Meinzinger, Jerry Silva 1:49 2/5 $600,000 Chst
2008 Nebupanezzar Steve Condren Robert McIntosh Peter Pan Stables Inc. (Robert Glazer) 1:51 2/5 $820,000 Wdb
2007 Santanna Blue Chip Jody Jamieson Carl R. Jamieson C. R. Jamieson, 140545 Ontario Ltd., Jeffrey R. Gillis, George Arthur Stable 1:53 1/5 $731,700 Wdb
2006 Sutter Hanover David Miller Mark Harder Deena Frost, Sampson Street Stable, Fox Hollow Farm, TLP Stable 1:52 0/0 $450,000 Mmx
2005 Jereme's Jet Paul MacDonell Thomas Harmer Genesis Racing Stable (Jolene Leahy ) 1:53 3/5 $593,032 Wdb
2004 Syncro's Z Tam Patrick Lachance Patrick Lachance MJGB Racing Stable 1:53 1/5 $237,400 Mmx
2003 I Am A Fool Ronald Pierce Brett Pelling Perfect World Enterprises 1:54 1/5 $652,898 Moh
2002 Allamerican Native John Campbell Mark Capone David Scharf, A&G Stables, Jerry Silva 1:53 1/5 $520,000 Mmx
2001 Western Shooter John Campbell Robert McIntosh Robert McIntosh, CSX Stables, Michael Koehler Walnut Hall Ltd' 1:50 0/0 $500,000 Mmx
2000 Bettor's Delight Eric Ledford Scott McEneny John B. Grant 1:52 2/5 $545,300 GSP
1999 Tyberwood Richard Silverman Gary Machiz Leon Machiz 1:51 4/5 $572,400 GSP
1998 Island Fantasy Michel Lachance Robert McIntosh Robert Waxman 1:52 0/0 $600,000 GSP
1997 Sealed N Delivered Ronald Pierce Christopher Ryder Sampson Street Stables 1:52 2/5 $590,600 GSP
1996 The Big Dog Joe Anderson Joe Anderson John J. Leahy & Jayne Cummins 1:51 3/5 $612,600 GSP
1995 Live or Die Steve Condren Robert McIntosh 1:54 2/5 $600,000 GSP
1994 CA Connection Joe Anderson Kevin Thomas 1:54 1/5 $616,400 GSP
1993 Magical Mike John Campbell Tommy Haughton Shadow Lne Farm 1:54 3/5 $550,000 GSP
1992 Life Sign John Campbell Gene Riegle George Segal 1:53 1/5 $537,800 GSP
1991 Western Hanover Bill Fahy Gene Riegle George Segal 1:52 1/5 $584,300 GSP
1990 Artsplace John Campbell Gene Riegle George Segal, Brian Monieson 1:53 0/0 $655,600 GSP
1989 In The Pocket John Campbell Dr. Ken Seeber LPG Standardbreds Inc. 1:54 2/5 $681,100 GSP
1988 How Bout It Tommy Haughton Tommy Haughton 1:54 3/5 $705,100 GSP
1987 No Race - No Race No Race No Race 0:00 0/0 ----
1986 Redskin Bill O'Donnell Jerry Smith Jerry Smith 1:55 0/0 $1,513,500 GSP
1985 Barberry Spur Bill O'Donnell Richard Stillings Roy D. Davis & Barberry Farms 1:54 1/5 $1,257,500 GSP

References
  1. Woodbine Entertainment Group January 11, 2016 article titled "WEG announces 2016 $14 million-plus stakes schedule" Retrieved August 28, 2016
  2. The Hambletonian Society, Inc. - October 22, 2011 article titled "Schnittker Still Has Plenty to Laugh About" Retrieved November 4, 2016
  3. Guelph Mercury Tribune December 21, 2011 article titled "Big Jim blazed a brilliant, but short, pacing path" Retrieved November 5, 2016
  4. Meadowlands Racetrack article on Big Jim Retrieved November 4, 2016
  5. Hambletonian.org Governors Cup History Retrieved October 22, 2016
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