After settling for a rare defeat in his last outing, the winningest horse in North America this season, Hugh Heff, rebounded gamely with his 24th victory of the season in the $5,000 Governors Cup Series final at Northside Downs on Sunday, Nov. 10. Meanwhile, Ryan Campbell took home top driving honours for the meet and Ardon Mofford secured training honours as the 2024 season meet came to a close.

Serving as the penultimate dash on the 12-race card, the Governors Cup Series final had a field of five head to the starting gate, with Hugh Heff leaving from post four as the even-money favourite with driver Randy Getto.

Getto got away third off the gate as Shir Gain (Rodney Gillis) opened up three lengths on the field before reaching the quarter first in :28. Getto right-lined Hugh Heff on the second turn, moving to the outside with Shir Gain still loose on the lead to the half in :57.2. Hugh Heff began to reel the leader in on the backstretch, surging alongside Shir Gain at the three-quarter pole in 1:26.4.

Hugh Heff won the battle with Shir Gain on the final bend, turning for home with a clear advantage. Eastcoast Invader (Monica Sutherland) began to find his best stride from last, but proved to be too late as Hugh Heff coasted to the wire clear by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:57 over the closer. Shir Gain held for the third position.

Trained by Dana Getto, the four-year-old gelded son of Betterthancheddar-Danika Patrix was won 24 of 40 this season for owners Randy Getto, Susan MacSween and Wayne Hardy. Hitting the board 11 additional times this season, Hugh Heff has banked $69,702 this season and $106,922 for his career.

Hugh Heff's 24 wins in 2024 leads all of North America, with Need Ur Opinion sitting second with 20 wins at this point.

Originally thought to have already had 24 wins prior to his win on Sunday, Hugh Heff had a win from Oct. 18 come off the board in a ruling earlier this week. Hugh Heff had originally been second placed first on Oct. 18 at Northside, after the judges deemed the unofficial winner, Bacononabiscuit, had caused interference. However, a subsequent appeal has since reversed the ruling, placing Hugh Heff second once again behind Bacononabiscuit on Oct. 18.

Earlier on the card, Thunder Alley went gate-to-wire to secure a 1:58.3 victory in the $3,000 Governors Cup Series consolation. Gerard Kennedy drove the eight-year-old gelded son of Mystery Chase-The Three Of Us to victory for trainer Heather Hawkins. It was the ninth victory of the season in 23 starts for Thunder Alley, who returned $2.50 to win as the favourite. 

Ryan Campbell emerged atop a hotly contested race for top driver honours for the meet. He entered the card one win clear of Ardon Mofford. Each driver would go on to secure two victories on the day, giving Campbell 31 wins for the meet and Mofford 30. There was a dead-heat for the show spot, with Randy Getto and Gerard Kennedy each getting to 18 wins following their victories in the Governors Cup Series.

While Mofford had to settle for second in the driver standings, he coasted to a commanding victory in the trainer standings. Adding two more victories on Sunday, Mofford brought his total to 27 for the meet, while Heather Hawkins and Dana Getto shared second with both trainers conditioning 15 winners. 

In addition to celebrating horsemen honours, Northside also celebrated a trio of 14-year-old veteran Standardbreds, who will make their way to retirement at season's end. 

Gotfaithincowboys competed on the closing day card, ending her racing career on the track where she took her lifetime mark of 1:57.4 eight years ago. The 2016 Horse of the Year at Northside, the daughter of Brandons Cowboy-Scented Candle was bred by Angus Bates, who owned, trained and most often drove the mare. A 49-time winner in 280 starts, Gotfaithincowboys banked $51,953 in her time on the racetrack.

Brother John wrapped up his career with a runner-up finish in the finale. Ending his career in the barn of Kenneth Collins, who also trained the 14-year-old son of Stonebridge Regal-Pine Barrens, Brother John is a 61-time winner. Bred by Wayne Hyatt, Brother John took a mark of 1:56 at Rideau Carleton Raceway in 2014 and has earned $115,168 lifetime.

While not racing on the card, fan favourite Culpepper was also honoured as the flashy grey son of Camluck-Bunny My Gal brought his racing career to an end. A 14-time winner in 173 outings, Culpepper ended his career trained by Edgar Jacobs for owner Wanda Mitchelitis. Taking a mark of 1:55.4 at Truro Raceway in 2018, the career earner of $32,052 was bred by Bloomington Farms.

To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Northside Downs.

(Standardbred Canada; Photo of Hugh Heff winning a previous race.)