Georgian Downs today unveiled a new stakes event to join its growing repertoire, the $500,000 Upper Canada Cup.
Restricted to Ontario-sired three-year-old colts and geldings, the marquee stakes event will serve as the unofficial opening of the national championship stakes season, and the Canadian-based prep race for the North America Cup.
“There’s been a vacancy in the stakes schedule since the Provincial Cup was discontinued in 2006. We’re excited to fill that void and offer a tremendous purse to those owners and breeders that choose to go with Ontario product,” said Chris Roberts, director of Racing Operations for Georgian Downs.
“The Upper Canada Cup gives us another terrific event and joins the Gold Rush and Xtreme Horsepower in our stable of promotions. Fans can expect all the glitz and fun that they’ve grown to expect from racing events at Georgian Downs.”
The Upper Canada Cup will be conducted in an elimination/final format with eliminations on May 16 and the $500,000 (estimated) final one week later, on May 23. The stakes final will be paired with the annual Earl Rowe Memorial Cup to form a blockbuster card of racing.
Nominations for the newly minted stakes event will close on February 15, 2009 and must be accompanied by a $500 payment. Complete stakes details can be found online by clicking here
The complete Georgian Downs 2009 stakes and events calendar will be released in late December.
i AGREE WITH INCLUDING 4
i AGREE WITH INCLUDING 4 YEAR OLDS. CHRIS PLEASE RECONSIDER AS BOTH THE HORSEPEOPLE AND FANS AGREE. YOU WANT TO ATTRACT MORE PEOPLE TO THE SPORT SO DO NOT GIVE UP ON THE HORSES AFTER THE AGE OF 3
It is amazing that in this
It is amazing that in this economy that people can knock anything that is positive to this struggling industry. For owners, breeders and other stakeholders, this is a wonderful cash injection into supporting the lifeblood of our Ontario harness racing business. We used to have the Provincial Cup and it is now gone. Yes, we all know that adding purse money to older horses would also be great too, but in this case, be thankful for this new initiative.
Bravo to Georgian for allocating some of the money saved from their winter shutdown back to the Ontario horsepeople.
I WOULD THINK THAT THE EARL
I WOULD THINK THAT THE EARL ROWE SHOULD COME UNDER THE SAME UMBRELLA. IT IS AN EXCITING RACE THAT IS BEING SHOVED INTO THE BACKGROUND.
This race would have served
This race would have served better as an open for either 3 or 4 yr. olds. With that kind of added money Georgian could have attracted the best in the world from either age group. The O.S.S program is already subsidized enough and if we want to get the fans out for this kind of premiere event it would be more exciting and marketable if it wasn't limited to Ontario breds.
In reply to This race would have served by Anonymous (not verified)
I can understand why
I can understand why Georgian have resticted this new race to Ontario sired only,it seems that Canadian breeding farms struggle to get owners to stand their top studs in Ontario,so the more they have to offer in terms of racing opportunities for them the better for the provinces breeding industry.
I agree with (Great news),
I agree with (Great news), if there is going to be a $500.00 race added, lets add it to four year olds in hopes that the harness racing industry encourages other horse owners to race beyond the age of three. The industry can not afford to loose another world champion (SBSW) to the breeding shed because of lack of premier backed stake events. We need the fan base and media attention.
Barry Whidden
Either of the two above
Either of the two above ideas have to be far better than what they've come up with, and why pair it with another big night? Spread it out imo.
I would second that emotion
I would second that emotion that this idea would be much better served
to make it for 4 and 5 year olds (OSS) on the same date, to try
and get them to come back at four instaed of retiring!
There are plenty of 3 yr races. WEG has the burlington stakes the next week.
The money would be better
The money would be better used to promote the industry than to have the rich get richer
People want 3 year olds to
People want 3 year olds to stop retiring and yet the calendar is limited in 4 year old events worth good money. Perhaps there is more money in the breeding shed.
The concept is good but with
The concept is good but with the Gold rush and The OSS finals, do we really need another stake limited to Ontario sired pacing colts?
I would have it been a true N.A. Cup prep and had the race be an open.
Great news in and a great
Great news in and a great idea. What would have been even better was to make this a race for 4 year olds to reflect recent discussion on the need for 4 year old stakes.
In reply to Great news in and a great by Todd Spencer (not verified)
A much better idea had it
A much better idea had it been for 4 year olds.