Officials with Cal Expo in California have announced that the Shelly Goudreau Pace, a dash to honour the memory of the horseman that was tragically killed in 1982 at the age 34, will be the featured event on the track’s 13-race Saturday (February 7) program.

Goudreau passed away from injuries sustained in a racing accident at Hollywood Park in California. Goudreau was involved in the accident on August 27, 1982 and suffered severe injuries. Six days later, on September 2, Goudreau, who was just 34 at the time, passed away.

Horsemen made their way to the winner's circle at Hollywood Park to honour Shelly Goudreau, Sept. 3, 1982

Goudreau first got his driving license in 1966 at the age of 18 and soon led all reinsmen at Windsor Raceway for two consecutive years. It wasn’t long before he ventured to the United States to compete at several Michigan tracks.

Goudreau made the trek to California in 1977 and immediately went to the top of the driving colony. While competing at Hollywood Park and Los Alamitos, he won the most races and earned the most purse monies on that circuit for two consecutive years.

He came back east to compete at Roosevelt Raceway and Yonkers Raceway and won many major stakes in New York, including the $200,000 George Morton Levy Pace in 1979 in track-record time at Roosevelt. Goudreau drove at the Meadowlands Racetrack and was once again successful. He competed at the ‘Big M’ against another up-and-coming driver at the time named John Campbell, as well as a familiar face from home in Ray Remmen.

Horsemen gather in a memorial ceremony to honour Shelly Goudreau at Hollywood Park, Sept. 3, 1982

The 1981 season proved to be Goudreau’s best year. He competed in both the Hambletonian (with Santa Ana) and the Little Brown Jug (with Freedom Fella). He won 170 races and earned $2.3 million in purses that year – gaudy numbers for the then-33-year-old.

During his career, Goudreau was responsible for the success of such horses as Genghis Khan (p, 1:51.4 $983,467), Try Scotch (p, 1:54.3 $956,770), Tijuana Taxi (p, 1:54.3 $784,306), Apollos Way (p, 1:56 $502,536), Freedom Fella (p, 1:54.4 $491,790), Tender Loving Care (p, 1:52.4 $327,822) and Superman (1:58.1 $140,794).

In his short career he amassed 2,291 wins and $12,942,265 in purse money. At the time of his death he was eighth in the North American driver standings. He was inducted into the Canadian Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 1983.

In 2011, in his exclusive ‘SC Rewind’ column for standardbredcanada.ca, author Robert Smith profiled Goudreau in a piece entitled ‘SC Rewind: Memories From A Rescued Photo.’

Hi-5, Jackpot 6 Carryovers, Guarantees Spotlighted

Saturday’s Cal Expo program features the Shelly Goudreau Pace, a $9,900 carryover in the Hi-5 with a $35,000 guaranteed pool, and a $28,540 carryover in the Jackpot 6.

A 13-race card is on tap with first post at 6:10 p.m. The 10-cent Hi-5 will be decided on the final race and is one of four wagers offered on the program with a reduced 16 per cent takeout rate.

The others are the 50-cent Pick 5; the 20-cent Pick 4 that has a $25,000 guaranteed pool; and the Jackpot 6, which like the Hi-5 is a 10-cent wager and has that $28,540 carryover going into Saturday’s program.

A field of seven is set to line up for the $7,400 Goudreau Pace, which will occupy the sixth-race slot on the evening. The likely favourite is Rikybrnthegaragdwn, who has been runner-up in all five of his appearances this season, including a pair of sire stakes where he was beaten a nose and a neck.

A four-year-old son of Living It Up out of the Sportsmaster mare Sports Bra, Rickybrnthegaragdwn is owned by Maryann Plano and Nikki Hudson with Luke Plano reining and training. He was a 1:53.2 winner at Cal Expo last season.

Scheduled to take him on – from the rail out – are Put To The Test with Tim Maier; Tony Cheesecake, who will be guided by James Kennedy; Two Willow Dragon, Steve Wiseman; Lil Stevie Oneder with Chip Lackey; Bettors Promise for Bruce Clarke; and Pamsfoolishterror, who has the services of Mooney Svendsen.

This week will find the trotters and pacers in action on Saturday and Sunday, while the following two weeks will have racing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, February 13-15 and 20-22.

(With files from Cal Expo)