Milton, Ont. resident Brad Grant, a longtime standardbred horse owner, who also owns a trucking company, could be in for a bona fide thrill ride on Saturday evening at Mohawk Racetrack.
Fresh off his sizzling 1:49.4 triumph in his Metro Pace elimination, Apprentice Hanover will look to deliver Grant one of his most cherished memories at the racetrack when the star pacer looks to capture the prestigious $1-million final of the Metro Pace.
Grant recently purchased the bay colt for an undisclosed sum, but after Apprentice Hanover’s elimination victory this past Saturday, he's proving to be worth every penny. He bought the son of past Metro winner Somebeachsomewhere from previous trainer/owner Jack Darling, after the youngster’s second career start on July 30.
“It was quite impressive the mile he went in his [Metro] elimination, but the two other elimination winners were impressive as well,” Grant said. “I like to believe we’re a top contender going into the final. We believed when we bought him that he had a legitimate shot.”
Grant was born into the horse-racing business. His father, John, owned part of Flamboro Downs as well as Breeders Crown champion Bettors Delight, who retired with $2,581,461 in earnings.
His father also owned and operated Grant Haulage in Milton before his passing, which is now a family-owned business. Grant also privately owns Active Transport located in Mississauga, which has been in operation since 1983.
“It gets in your blood, once that happens, it’s hard to stay out,” he said. “I was completely out of the game for a while, but I got back in through an old friend. The horsepeople are a great group of people”
Grant’s conditioner, Ben Wallace --- also a resident of Milton --- who is no stranger to being associated with top horses, admired the youngster for quite some time while both he and Darling were stabled at Classy Lane Training Centre near Puslinch, Ont.
“Ben had watched the colt all winter. Everything about him was superior, and after his first lifetime start we really started taking interest in him,” Grant said. “Then we found out by luck rather than good management that he could be bought, because at one point we didn’t think he could be. From there, we were able to work something out really quick and got it done.”
Just how quick?
“The deal happened in one afternoon, maybe four hours and over a span of a few phone calls,” he recalled. “Ben caught wind one morning that the horse could be bought and the deal was completed that day. We realized that this horse was probably the best horse to take a shot at. He’s a long-term colt with a lot of upside, staked really, really well and we felt he was the best colt around.”
Grant also appreciates the relationship he’s had with his longtime friend.
“Ben and I go back probably 35 years and he’s a terrific horseman and good friend,” he said. “He’s not hard on a horse and takes great pride in his craft. We stay in touch a lot to keep us both informed of what’s going on. We have great communication.”
In just five career starts, Apprentice Hanover has tasted defeat just once, with $95,592 in earnings for regular driver and champion reinsman Jody Jamieson of Moffat, Ont.
Although Grant has been in the game for many years, he's quick to admit nothing would be sweeter than tasting victory in the richest race for two-year-old pacers in North America.
“We believed this horse could be a great horse and go on to do great things,” he said. He’s got the breeding, ability and it's showing. Time will tell on Saturday.”
To view the harness racing entries for Saturday at Mohawk, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Mohawk Racetrack.
(WEG)