The Woodrow Wilson Pace was a harness racing major event for two-year-old Standardbred pacers run from 1977 through 2012 at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey.[1]
| Location | Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment East Rutherford, New Jersey U.S. |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1977 |
| Last run | 2012 |
| Race type | Standardbred (Pace) |
| Website | playmeadowlands |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1 mile (8.0 furlongs) |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | 2-Year-Olds |
| Purse | $309,050 (2012) |
First run in 1977 for a purse of $280,000, by 1980 the purse was $2,011,000, making it the richest race of any breed in horse racing history.[2]
Historical race events
editNo No Yankee won the inaugural running of the Woodrow Wilson Pace and went on to earn American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Pacer honors.[3]
In 1984, the undefeated Nihilator won what would be the richest Woodrown Wilson Pace with a purse of $2,161,000. His winning time for the mile of 1:52 4/5 set a world record for 2-year-old Standardbred horses.[4]
Records
edit- Most wins by a driver
- 5 – John Campbell (1988, 1993, 1994, 1997, 2001)
- Most wins by a trainer
- 2 – Joe Holloway (1992, 2003), Jim Campbell (1997, 2010), Robert McIntosh (1999, 2001), George Teague, Jr. (2005, 2009), Tony Alagna (2011, 2012)
- Stakes record
- 1:49 3/5 – Captaintreacherous (2012)
Winners of the Woodrow Wilson Pace
edit| Year |
Winner |
Driver |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
Purse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Captaintreacherous | Tim Tetrick | Tony Alagna | Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz, Joe Sbrocco, White Birch Farm | 1:49 3/5 | $309,050 |
| 2011 | Major Bombay | Brian Sears | Tony Alagna | Aaron Waxman, Louis Willinger, John Fodera, Major Bombay Partners | 1:51 3/5 | $317,800 |
| 2010 | Fashion Delight | David Miller | Jim Campbell | Fashion Farms | 1:51 0/0 | $473,000 |
| 2009 | Windfall Blue Chip | Brian Sears | George Teague, Jr. | George Teague, Jr., Kovach Stables LLC, Theodore Gewertz | 1:51 4/5 | $455,400 |
| 2008 | Major In Art | Brian Sears | Justin Lebo | Chester & Justin Lebo | 1:50 4/5 | $350,000 |
| 2007 | Dali | Luc Ouellette | Duane Marfisi | Uncirculated Stables (Aaron & Isaac Waxman) | 1:50 2/5 | $415,000 |
| 2006 | Fox Valley Barzgar | Tony Morgan | Thomas Harmer | Michael Polansky | 1:50 2/5 | $410,000 |
| 2005 | Western Ace | Ronald Pierce | George Teague, Jr. | Teague, Inc. & Kovach Stables | 1:51 2/5 | $375,000 |
| 2004 | Village Jolt | Ronald Pierce | Edward Hart | Jeffery S. Snyder & Jules & Arlene Siegel | 1:51 3/5 | $432,000 |
| 2003 | Modern Art | David Miller | Joe Holloway | Val D'Or Farms, Ted Gewertz, Milton & Martha Frank | 1:51 3/5 | $640,000 |
| 2002 | Allamerican Native | George Brennan | Salvatore Capone | David Scharf, A&G Stables, Jerry Silva | 1:51 1/5 | $650,000 |
| 2001 | Allamerican Ingot | John Campbell | Robert McIntosh | Robert Waxman | 1:51 3/5 | $700,000 |
| 2000 | Whitefish Falls † | Catello Manzi | Mervin Burke | 1:52 0/0 | $703,000 | |
| 1999 | Richess Hanover | Michel Lachance | Robert McIntosh | Robert Waxman | 1:53 0/0 | $600,000 |
| 1998 | Grinfromeartoear | Luc Ouellette | Monte Gelrod | Perfect World Enterprises | 1:52 3/5 | $660,250 |
| 1997 | Real Artist | John Campbell | Jim Campbell | Fashion Farms (Arlene & Jules Siegel) | 1:52 0/0 | $765,750 |
| 1996 | Jeremys Gambit | Michel Lachance | Noel Daley | Steven Burn & Martin Cornick | 1:52 4/5 | $800,000 |
| 1995 | A Stud Named Sue | George Brennan | Liz Quesnel | Liz Quesnel & Bud Burke, et al. | 1:52 4/5 | $585,500 |
| 1994 | Dontgetinmyway | John Campbell | William Robinson | Guida Stables & Joan Goldsmith | 1:53 4/5 | $774,750 |
| 1993 | Magical Mike | John Campbell | Thomas Haughton | Shadow Lane Farm & David McDuffee | 1:51 4/5 | $747,700 |
| 1992 | America's Pastime | Wally Hennessey | Joe Holloway | Robert J. Suslow | 1:51 4/5 | $778,800 |
| 1991 | Sportsmaster | Ron Waples | John F. Simpson, Jr. | Lon Frocione | 1:52 1/5 | $889,000 |
| 1990 | Die Laughing | Richard Silverman | Jerry Silverman | Alnoff Stable & Val D'Or Farms | 1:52 1/5 | $1,043,500 |
| 1989 | Sam Francisco Ben | Ronald Pierce | Klevin Harrison | Judith & Irving Levit | 1:56 0/0 | $907,000 |
| 1988 | Kassa Branca | John Campbell | William Popfinger | Douglas A. Rass | 1:52 3/5 | $1,041,000 |
| 1987 | Even Odds | Ben Webster | Steve Elliot | Arlene Traub | 1:54 1/5 | $1,422,500 |
| 1986 | Cullin Hanover | Buddy Gilmour | Richard Thomas | Bert Seltzberg, Don Baker & Mike Grossman | 1:54 4/5 | $1,561,000 |
| 1985 | Grade One | Ray Remmen | Lee Broglio | Richard M. Schwartz | 1:54 3/5 | $1,344,000 |
| 1984 | Nihilator | Bill O'Donnell | Ernie Gaskin | Wall Street Stable (Louis P. Guida et al.) | 1:52 4/5 | $2,161,000 |
| 1983 | Carls Bird | Carl E. Allen | Carl E. Allen | Carl E. Allen | 1:55 3/5 | $1,700,000 |
| 1982 | Fortune Teller | Eldon Harner | Eldon Harner | Max Buran, Stanley Becker | 1:55 3/5 | $1,957,500 |
| 1981 | McKinzie Almahurst | Billy Haughton | Billy Haughton | 5 Guys and Me | 1:56 1/5 | $1,760,000 |
| 1980 | Land Grant | Del Insko | Del Insko | Yizhar Glaser & Stephen Lang | 1:56 4/5 | $2,011,000 |
| 1979 | Niatross | Clint Galbraith | Clint Galbraith | Harold Graham & Elsie Berger | 1:55 4/5 | $862,750 |
| 1978 | Scarlet Skipper | William Herman | William Herman | Frank Perry, Bill Camp, Jr., John F. Simpson Jr. | 1:57 3/5 | $481,250 |
| 1977 | No No Yankee | Walter Ross | Peter Blood | Peter Blood, Roger Slobody, Gary Piontkiowski | 1:57 4/5 | $280,000 |
- † 2000: Ameripan Gigolo finished first but was disqualified for interference and set back to 10th place.
References
edit- ^ Harness Racing Update.com October 19, 2012 article by Bill Finley titled "Return of Final Four Among Many Changes at Meadowlands 2013" Retrieved November 3, 2016
- ^ Sports Illustrated August 18, 1980 article by Douglas S. Looney titled "Money isn't everything—or is it?" Retrieved October 21, 2016
- ^ Poughkeepsie Journal July 26, 1977 article titled "No No Yankee wins Wilson Pace" Retrieved November 23, 2016
- ^ New York Times August 17, 1984 article titled "Nihilator Sets A Record In Wilson Pace" Retrieved November 23, 2016