Woodrow Wilson Pace

Woodrow Wilson Pace
LocationMeadowlands Racing & Entertainment
East Rutherford, New Jersey
U.S.
Inaugurated1977 (48 years ago) (1977)
Last run2012 (13 years ago) (2012)
Race typeStandardbred (Pace)
Websiteplaymeadowlands.com
Race information
Distance1 mile (8.0 furlongs)
SurfaceDirt
TrackLeft-handed
Qualification2-Year-Olds
Purse$309,050 (2012)

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]

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

No 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

Most wins by a driver
Most wins by a trainer
Stakes record

Winners of the Woodrow Wilson Pace

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

  1. ^ 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
  2. ^ Sports Illustrated August 18, 1980 article by Douglas S. Looney titled "Money isn't everything—or is it?" Retrieved October 21, 2016
  3. ^ Poughkeepsie Journal July 26, 1977 article titled "No No Yankee wins Wilson Pace" Retrieved November 23, 2016
  4. ^ New York Times August 17, 1984 article titled "Nihilator Sets A Record In Wilson Pace" Retrieved November 23, 2016