On the heels of a record-breaking night of harness racing featuring a spectacular international trotting contest, the Hambletonian Society and Woodbine Entertainment Group today announced the Breeders Crown $6 million year-end championships will return to Canada in 2012, on Saturday, October 27
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“The 2011 Breeders Crown at Woodbine exceeded our expectations for attendance and wagering, and the quality of the racing on the night was outstanding. I was very proud of our Woodbine team for all their efforts in making the night a success,” said Jamie Martin, executive vice-president of racing for Woodbine Entertainment Group. “WEG is honoured and thrilled to have the opportunity to host the Breeders Crown in 2012.”
Woodbine enjoyed their highest pari-mutuel handle of the past six years with $3.6 million (not including foreign wagering) wagered on the Breeders Crown events. The series, first raced in 1984, typically crowns champions in every division for trotters and pacers and has been the deciding factor in Horse of the Year honours. 2011 marked just the second time all events were raced on a single night and the first time all 12 were raced in Canada.
“The recent Breeders Crown night at Woodbine was a success by any measuring stick,” said Tom Charters, president and CEO of the Hambletonian Society, which owns and administers the Breeders Crown.
“Handle, attendance, world record performances, international participation, top drivers and horses…and a great host track partner in WEG. They really hit it out of the park,” said Charters. “We are happy to build on a great relationship.”
The 12-race extravaganza was highlighted by Canadian trotter San Pail’s defeat of European invaders Rapide Lebel and Commander Crowe. The victory made San Pail odds-on to win harness racing’s top honours - Horse of the Year - in both countries. Other stand-out moments included two-year-old male pacer Sweet Lou’s breathtaking seven-length 1:49 world record and Hall of Fame driver John Campbell winning his 45th Crown trophy.
Eliminations, if necessary would be held on Friday, Oct. 19 and Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012.
All my life I was more of a
All my life I was more of a harness racing fan then a thoroughbred fan. Recently in the last few years I have turned to thoroughbred racing, at least as far as the WEG circuit goes.
The best harness racing is easily at the BIG M and one of tha main reasons is because of the ONE MILE track. A one mile track creates a lot more movement and flow which the 7/8th and 5/8 tracks never could. I agree with most people here that Woodbine in my opinion is not a good track and I say this for thoroghbred or harness racing. On the thoroughbred side it may be ok for the actual racing but for the fan inside, all thoses desks in front of the windows block the track view and make it bothersome to even try to get ouside. All the tv monitors and chairs right in the middle of the place on the first floor just make it complete chaos. And I agree that it's dot racing. You can barely see any upclose action. I don't even bother trying to go anymore.
I agree Mohawk is much nicer but I have no intention of driving on a highway for 45 minutes to an hour so that prevents me from going.
Just my two cents.
Add me to the overwhelming
Add me to the overwhelming number of fans who much prefer watching and going to the races at Mohawk. However, having said this, the folks at WEG have stepped up and decided from an economic (I assume) standpoint Woodbine is better for their business than is Mohawk.
Folks, remember WEG is making a huge investment in the sport's premier product. I have to bow to their superior knowledge and assume that Woodbine makes more economic sense for the venue than does Mohawk. Perhaps someone from WEG's administration can explain the reasons why Woodbine is their choice rather than Mohawk. One thing I do know is that the Breeders Crowns are in the best of hands with the folks at WEG administering them.
In reply to Add me to the overwhelming by murray
I say make the best it can
I say make the best it can be. Woodbine has a great paddock that lets the fans like me who are not in the business to get a good look at the horses. Maybe this could be used for a couple more races. It has been used for harness in the past.
Maybe the day of the Breeders Woodbine can do a bunch of thoroughbred races on the turf and constuct some temporary stands on the runners dirt course to get us up and close to the action. I want to be where the photographer is during the race.
I live 8 minutes from
I live 8 minutes from woodbine and 45 from Mohawk. This year, I went to Mohawk about 15 times to watch races live-Woodbine-ONCE, for The Breeders' Crown. Mohawk is a MILLION times better venue for live harness racing, atmosphere, etc.
Here is an idea, convert the
Here is an idea, convert the one mile track at Woodbine to a standardbred track!
Well I think its time for
Well I think its time for WEG to finally listen to the people that keep this sport alive (the fans) and give us what we want! The breeders crown at Mohawk!
Well it looks like a general
Well it looks like a general opinion Mohawk for 2012 would be the place to race this type of program in the best interest of marketing our sport to the general public.
I really hope WEG is listening to the people ???
The Breeders Crown is a
The Breeders Crown is a world class event and very good for all of harness racing. WEG is also a first class organization but all comments on this topic demonstrate a total dislike for Woodbine harness racing and the customer experiences. I would encourage management to re think their ongoing determination to convince anyone who will listen that this is the venue of choice. Owners, trainers, drivers and customers all express the same ongoing dislike for the venue but so far it falls on deaf ears. As an owner we fly to many stake races with partners and seldom venture out to Woodbine to watch our horses race. Easier to stay home and watch it on the internet as we can follow the flow rather then guess the position. The access to the paddock is a venture on its own for the proud owners and the winners circle photos might as well be conducted in a garage.
Time to show off real harness racing in 2012 by featuring Mohawk and allowing new fans, international attendees and all to rave about the racing experiences from Mohawk.
Sounds simple but it's obvious (like in years gone bye) a selected few will defend Woodbine and position it as the best venue for harness racing. I am glad many of us are speaking out and encouraging WEG management to look at the alternative that many already endorse. 2012 could be the year of the future customers and young race fans!
You said it Lynn Magee,
You said it Lynn Magee, harness fans want to be where the action is. After Greenwood was closed I tried Woodbine once and hated it. It's Mohawk for me for live harness racing. TV coverage from Woodbine was excellent but I would love to see this great event in person at Mohawk.
Great for WEG to get the
Great for WEG to get the 2012 BREEDERS CROWN . But as alot have said not my cup of tea to go and watch from the stands. Now if they made Mohawk A COMPLETE one MILE TRACK maybe a one turn mile track with a shute to come out of as they do at Colonial they would have my interest. Mean well from the otb or the internet is my extent.
Mohawk would be a fantastic
Mohawk would be a fantastic venue due to the fans proximity to the track and races. I hope WEG will consider Mohawk for next year
Having harness racing at
Having harness racing at Woodbine is like holding the Super Bowl in the Yukon, you would watch it but you sure would not want to be there! We went to Woodbine when we owned a horse and I can tell you it's one of the coldest places on earth, plus you need a telescope to see the races. Imagine how great it would be with the crowd roaring at beautiful Mohawk !
I don't even consider going
I don't even consider going to the Breeders at Woodbine for the reasons stated by Mr. Edwards. If it was held at Mohawk, I would be one of the many trying to get as close as possible to these magnificent stars of our industry. Television coverage on the Score was so much better than having to watch through binoculars. That might be ok for thoroughbred patrons but we standardbred folk are the "up-close-and-personal" type. We want to smell the sweat. Being a few arm-lengths from San Pail would have been a hi-light of the night for so many of his fans. If we want to promote this sport, get it back to where is belongs---next to the people!
Have to agree 100% with
Have to agree 100% with previous comments that Mohawk is a much more fan-friendly oriented venue, not to mention it also provides bettors more opportunities for price horses to win with the wider stretch. Woodbine does not provide this, it's a speed oriented type racetrack, hence more front running favorites win there. Too bad WEG couldn't extend the Mohawk meet longer until the thoroughbred racing is complete at Woodbine, then move the harness racing there for the winter meet. I'm sure drivers, trainers, and fans would all be in favor of that change.
Would have been even more
Would have been even more fun to hear the San Pail faithful yelling their lungs out in the longer stretch drive at Mohawk at much more up close and personal quarters. Would it have made a difference for Rapide Lebel?
I agree 100% with Sherwin.
I agree 100% with Sherwin. These races are much more exciting when raced at Mohawk. Just ask the drivers where they'd rather race. I'm pretty sure 9 out of 10 would prefer Mohawk as well.
This is great news for
This is great news for Canadian harness racing .
In my opinion WEG did a great job with exception of the location of the venue. It would be nice to see this event at Mohawk in 2012 in order to give the public an opportunity to be up and close to the racing action.
As a participant in canadian harness racing and also a avid horse lover the one thing that was lacking was the opportunity for the onsite fans to access and view the greatest horses in harness racing up close and personal.
Apparently the television Broadcat was exceptional but the live product was lacking due to the distance between spectators and the racetrack.