Woodbine Entertainment announced on Thursday, Jan. 11 that the 2024 Metro Pace for two-year-old pacers at Woodbine Mohawk Park will have a guaranteed purse of $1 million.
Established in 1988, the Metro Pace is annually harness racing’s premier race for two-year-old pacers. The list of past Metro Pace winners includes Hall of Famers Artsplace, Presidential Ball, Rocknroll Hanover, Somebeachsomewhere and Captaintreacherous.
The 2024 Metro Pace, to be held on Saturday, Sept. 21 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, will be the 13th edition to have a purse of $1 million and the first since 2012.
“The Metro Pace has a rich history and is supported strongly each year in nominations,” said Bill McLinchey, Vice-President of Standardbred Racing at Woodbine. “We’ve been able to get the purse of the Metro back up towards seven figures in recent years, including a $970,000 purse in 2023.
“We’re proud of our elite stakes program and it’s very exciting to offer to our racing participants and fans three million-dollar races in 2024.”
The Metro Pace joins the Pepsi North America Cup and Mohawk Million as Canada’s only million-dollar Standardbred races.
Nominations for this year’s Metro Pace close on Feb. 15.
The full 2024 Standardbred stakes schedule for Woodbine Mohawk Park is expected to be released next week.
(Woodbine)