Arch Madness, the richest Canadian-sired trotter in history, will return home to Canada this weekend to contest in the $750,000 Maple Leaf Trot this Saturday at Mohawk Racetrack.
The trotting titan has an impressive bankroll of $3,632,396 for owners Marc Goldberg and Willow Pond LLC.
The eight-year-old has had nothing short of a spectacular career, which includes 30 victories from 82 lifetime starts.
“He’s had a tremendous career for us and we are ever so thankful,” said Goldberg. “Who would have thought we’d have the richest Canadian-sired trotter in the world? It’s truly an honour.”
Arch Madness is by the superstar sire Balanced Image, who changed the face of the trotting breeding industry in Canada. He was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall Of Fame in 2000 and has sired the winners over $110 million in purse earnings.
“He revolutionized the trotting breed in Canada and he still has the largest impact on the breeding game in Canada, in my opinion,” said Doug Nash, who managed Balanced Image for over 20 years at Cantario Farms and Glengate Farms. “Trotters were not prominent in Canada, in my opinion, until he came along and most sons and daughters that race today hail from the bloodlines of Balanced Image. That’s a testament to the type of sire he was.”
Although Balanced Image passed away in 2004, his legacy lives on through his offspring with Arch Madness leading the way.
“He’s from the last crop of Balanced Image, which makes him extra special,” Nash said. “I’ve been watching Arch Madness since he began racing as a two-year-old. He makes me so proud every time he steps onto the racetrack. I see a lot of his father in him and the connections have done just a tremendous job with him throughout his career. He has a great shot to win the Maple Leaf Trot this weekend.
“My partner Barry (Goldstein of Willow Pond LLC) had a breeding to Balanced Image, so we quickly jumped on it,” Goldberg continued. “He was such a great sire and it proved to be tremendous for us. ‘Arch’ has been amazing for us since day one and we have to credit Balanced Image for that.”
Balanced Image was one of the world's foremost trotting sires in his career. He has sired 10 millionaires and a pair of double-millionaires including Goodtimes ($2,243,416) and Glorys Comet ($2,057,695).
Yankee Paco, who became the first Canadian-sired horse to win the rich Hambletonian in 2000, added one more credit to his father.
“Balanced Image was always claimed to be a top Canadian producer, but that quickly changed when Yankee Paco captured the Hambletonian in the U.S. and before that Billyjojimbob ($945,741) captured the Elitlopp in Sweden in 1992,” Nash said. “So he quickly became a world-renowned stallion.”
Billyjojimbob still remains as Canada’s only winner of the Elitlopp.
Looking at the historical Maple Leaf Trot, which dates back to 1950, the sons of Balanced Image made their mark on the rich classic. He has produced six ‘Trot’ winners with Natural Image (1988), Earl (1994), Glorys Comet (1995), Goodtimes (1999), Rotation (2003) and, of course, Arch Madness (2009).
Arch Madness will duel nine rivals in this year’s 61st edition for driver Brian Sears and New Jersey-based trainer Trond Smedshammer.
“It’s going to be a great race,” Nash said. “Of course, I’ll be cheering for Arch, but what a terrific field of horses. It’s always nice to see great racing and it doesn’t get much better than that.
“He’s going to have his work cut out for him on Saturday,” Goldberg continued. “If you’re a fan of racing, you will love the Maple Leaf Trot. My daughter and I will certainly be at Mohawk for the big race.”
This Saturday, Arch Madness will look to capture his second Maple Leaf Trot title in honour of his father.
A Hockey Heavyweight And 10 Trotting Titans At Mohawk On Saturday
Watching and wagering on first-class harness racing, meeting a hockey icon and having the chance to ‘Feel it Live’ is what fans can look forward to this Saturday evening at Mohawk.
Racing enthusiasts will find a heavily staked 13-race program, featuring the 61st edition of the $750,000 Maple Leaf Trot, the $391,000 Roses Are Red Stakes and four Canadian Breeders Championship finals.
Hockey fans get to meet and greet the great Paul Henderson. The hockey legend, known for scoring the famous game winning goal in the 1972 Summit Series for Team Canada against the USSR, will be on hand for an autograph session from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The first 300 fans will receive a commemorative photo of the famous game-winning goal.
Customers will also want to check out the trackside tent on Saturday. The tent, which is close to racing action, is outfitted with flatscreen TVs, automated self-serve tellers and a bar.
There are many great contests to enter such as the popular ‘Winning at the Races’ contest, which has been an exciting staple at each major stakes event.
Each contestant will be assigned a horse in a particular race…one fan will represents each horse in the field. A $20 win bet will be given to each contestant on the horse whose post position number they’re wearing. If their horse crosses the finish line first the contestant gets to keep the winnings.
Fans can also enter into a draw where they have a chance to be a finalist in the Road to the Breeders Crown 2012 Chevy Silverado giveaway. Registration runs from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The night’s draw winner will be invited back to Woodbine Racetrack for the Breeders Crown on October 27 with nine other finalists. The other draw qualifiers will be chosen over the summer at each major stakes event.
WEG’s Greg Gangle will host a handicapping seminar, which will begin at 6:20 p.m. in the trackside tent. Special guest Tim Tetrick, who will drive probable favourite Chapter Seven in the Maple Leaf Trot final, will be on hand to offer insight and answer questions.
The Score will air a special two-hour telecast nationally from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. ET.
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Campbellville oval and racing will begin at 7:10 p.m. with Maple Leaf Trot scheduled for 9:42 p.m.
To view the harness racing entries for Saturday at Mohawk, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Mohawk Racetrack.
(WEG)