Mohawk ready for Canadian Pacing Derby and Metro
September 2, 2016,by Mark McKelvie, WEG Communications
Campbellville, ON — Mohawk Racetrack is set to host its annual end of summer bash Saturday (Sept. 3), better known as the Canadian Pacing Derby and Metro Pace.
An outstanding 13-race program, featuring more than C$2.4 million in purses, has been put together and will be headlined by the C$616,000 Canadian Pacing Derby, C$661,000 Metro Pace and C$427,000 She’s A Great Lady. The Simcoe Stakes and Ontario Sires Stakes make up a fantastic undercard. Post time is 7:30 p.m.
Along with harness racing’s finest competing on the track, fans will be entertained from start to finish at the Campbellville facility.
Doors open to the Grandstand at 5:30 p.m. and fans will be able to stop by and visit with an Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society horse outside the main entrance.
Fans arriving early can sign up at the Customer Service desk for a sulky ride on a double-seat jog cart during the races Saturday. Spots are limited and are given on a first come, first serve basis.
Mohawk is happy to once again offer the popular “First Bet on Us” promotion, where fans can sign up to receive a free $2 wager upon arrival.
An autograph session with several past winning drivers of the Canadian Pacing Derby and Metro Pace will get underway at 6:20 p.m. inside the Grandstand.
Singer/songwriter Jennifer Newman will be performing the Canadian national anthem, while Brian McIntyre will entertain with live music all evening on the apron.
There will be a variety of food options, including the BBQ Pit, Roast Beef stand and Ice Cream zone.
Harness racing fans are in for a treat Saturday, as three of the top four horses in the current Top 10 Poll will be competing on the card.
The popular Wiggle It Jiggleit is currently ranked first in the poll and he goes up against rival Always B Miki (No. 4) in the Canadian Pacing Derby. Betting Line, this year’s Pepsi North America Cup champion, is ranked third and competes in an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold event.
As always, parking and admission are free to Mohawk Racetrack. For more information on Saturday’s events and everything at the Campbellville oval, visit www.MohawkRacetrack.com.
- Longshots shake up Metro and She’s A Great Lady eliminations (Sunday, August 28, 2016)
The finals are now set for the Metro Pace and She’s A Great Lady after a wild elimination night Saturday (Aug. 27) at Mohawk Racetrack. A total of three $40,000 Metro Pace and two $35,000 Shes A Great Lady eliminations were contested with some major longshots putting an interesting spin on the action.
- Steacy’s fillies look to overcome tough posts in She’s A Great Lady final (Tuesday, August 30, 2016)
The value of picking your post position after an elimination victory isn’t getting to select your exact spot on the gate, but rather eliminating any chance of drawing a poor post. A half-length is all that separated rookie pacing filly Happy Hannah from securing a great post position to drawing the dreaded 10-hole in the C$427,000 She’s A Great Lady final on Saturday (Sept. 3) at Mohawk.
- Stage set for Super Saturday at Mohawk (Wednesday, August 31, 2016)
The C$661,000 Metro Pace and C$616,000 Canadian Pacing Derby will highlight Saturday’s (Sept. 3) C$2.4 million card at Mohawk Racetrack. One of the biggest nights of the season, the Canadian Pacing Derby and Metro card will put the sport’s top older pacers and the stars of the future on display. The C$427,000 She’s A Great Lady is also a main event on the card.
- Lucrative Grand Circuit weekend on the horizon (Wednesday, August 31, 2016)
A busy holiday weekend of Grand Circuit action is led by a pair of Triple Crown events at Yonkers Raceway on Saturday (Sept. 3). The Hilltop oval will host the $500,000 Yonkers Trot for 3-year-old trotters and the $500,000 Messenger Stakes for 3-year-old pacers. These races will be the second legs in the Triple Crown for their respective gaits.
- O’Sullivan starters ready for Metro (Wednesday, August 31, 2016)
Trainer Tony O’Sullivan will send out Beyond Delight, who won his Metro Pace elimination at 20-1, and Calvin K, who finished second to Windsong Napoleon in his elimination, in the C$661,000 Metro Pace final for 2-year-old males on Saturday (Sept. 3) at Mohawk Racetrack.
- State Treasurer ready to defend Pacing Derby title (Thursday, September 01, 2016)
Dr. Ian Moore trainee State Treasurer, the 2015 O’Brien Award Horse of the Year, returns to the stakes ranks to defend his Canadian Pacing Derby crown Saturday (Sept. 3) at Mohawk Racetrack. State Treasurer, who won last year’s edition in 1:47.4, is one of two starters sent out by Moore in Saturday’s C$616,000 contest.
- Gingras is hoping for big Saturday at Mohawk (Friday, September 02, 2016)
Yannick Gingras will head to Mohawk Racetrack on Saturday (Sept. 3) to drive the morning line favorites in both the She’s A Great Lady Stakes and Metro Pace, and the driver is impressed with both of the Jimmy Takter-trained horses.