The 50th edition of the Gold Cup and Saucer has attracted 18 entries. Three six-horse fields have been drawn to decide the nine starters which will race for the $60,000 top prize on the final card of Old Home Week
racing at the Charlottetown Driving Park Entertainment Centre on Saturday, August 22.
The draw for the three trials was conducted Tuesday, August 11 at a news conference where the 2009 starters were identified. The first three finishers in each trial will advance to the championship final with the other nine going to the $20,000 James (Roach) MacGregor Memorial on August 21.
The collective field of 2009 Gold Cup & Saucer entrants is a mixed bag which includes millionaire Silent Swing. The Northern Luck gelding won the Gold Cup and Saucer in 2007 and is the current track record holder after having recorded a 1:51.1 mile in the 2006 Trial 2.
Also in the Gold Cup & Saucer hunt are four of last year’s finalists: Match Bayama, Mighty And Strong, St Pete Star and Outlawpositivcharg.
Silent Swing, which recently lowered its mark with a 1:49.1 victory at Mohawk Racetrack, drew the rail in Saturday’s Gold Cup and Saucer Trial 1. Co-owner Reg Petitpas of Shediac Bridge, NB told Atlantic Post Calls that Gilles Barrieau will drive the seven-year-old Northern Luck gelding in the trial. Barrieau, who has won the Gold Cup and Saucer on three occasions, won’t be around for this year’s final because he will be attending his sister’s wedding. “Jody Jamieson says he’ll drive if we make it to the final.” Petitpas said in a telephone interview Tuesday.
Other Trial 1 starters are Hilo, Mighty And Strong, Imjustalittleguy, Cruisinart ad Outlawpositivccharg, winner of the Governor’s Plate and the Northside Downs Invitational for Terry Gallant and owner Fred Lamont of Calgary, Alta.
In addition to Hilo, prominent Nova Scotia owner Paul Gray also has McCain Memorial winner St Pete Star in the hunt, as the five-year-old son of Life Sign will be leaving from Post 5 in the Sunday afternoon's Trial 2.
Monday night’s Trial 3 will see the classy Astronomical back for his second Gold Cup and Saucer series. Back at the races after a disappointing Gold Cup and Saucer showing last year, the 1:50 record performer drew Post 2 in a field that includes Match Bayama, Secret Weapon and All The Weapons.
A couple of Cape Breton-owned entries that have the making of a rags-to-riches story will be in the hunt.
Cruisinart, a six-year-old Real Artist gelding, was rescued from the scrap heap of Quebec racing by horse trader Steve Morton of Windsor, NS and resold for a reported $2,800 to veteran Cape Breton trainer John Heffernan. Cruisinart had dominated the preferred ranks in Cape Breton, finishing second to Outlawpositivcharg in the $8,000 Northside Downs Invitational and winning in 1:57.1 at Inverness last Sunday.
PH Mike, a seven-year-old Fit For Life gelding, was claimed by Myles Heffernan for $4,500 at Truro Raceway earlier this year and has compiled a summary of 9-7-4 in 22 starts this year, earning $8,317. PH Mike is one of two Trial horses bred by Dr. Jim Shive of Shubenacadie, NS. The other is the four-year-old PH Tornado, a Grinfromeartoear gelding recently purchased by Sandy Baird of Trenton, NS and Cliff Garland of Carbonear, Nl. PH Tornado has been racing in the United States this year, winning six races and taking a new lifetime best of 1:51.3 at Tioga Downs.
Fields For The Gold Cup & Saucer Trials
Trial 1 - Saturday
1 - Silent Swing
2 - Hilo
3 - Mighty and Strong
4 - Imjustalittleguy
5 - Cruisinart
6 - Outlawpositivcharg
Trial 2 - Sunday
1 - Along Came Polly
2 - Pacific Oak
3 - PH Tornado
4 - Scotian Sunset
5 - St Pete Star
6 - Duke
Trial 3 - Monday
1 - Match Bayama
2 - Astronomical
3 - Secret Weapon
4 - All The Weapons
5 - PH Mike
6 - Royal Becquet
Harness Racing PEI and Woodbine Entertainment Group have teamed up once again to allow account holders with Horse-Player Interactive, Canada’s premier online and telephone wagering service, to place wagers on the action during the Island’s biggest week of harness racing beginning on Thursday, August 14 and ending with the 50th Edition of the Sobeys Gold Cup & Saucer on Saturday, August 22, 2009 at the Charlottetown Driving Park Entertainment Centre.
“We are very excited to be able to partner with Woodbine Entertainment Group and Horse-Player Interactive during Old Home Week. Woodbine has been a very strong partner of Maritime racing and we appreciate their willingness to continue working with our region,” said Jeremy Pierce, general manager with Harness Racing PEI Inc. “Players throughout Canada will be able to wager into our pools. We are looking forward to offering our product via HPI. Several Canadian tracks and teletheatres will also feature CDPEC racing as part of their regular simulcast schedules."
Harness Racing PEI announced that the Bell Aliant Race Day Show will be broadcasting the evening race events on the Home Week schedule from Charlottetown beginning approximately 15 minutes prior to the scheduled first race post times.
“It’s an opportunity to showcase our great racing product,” said Lee Drake, director of marketing with Harness Racing PEI. “There are a number of events and special presentations planned leading up the 50th Gold Cup.”
The broadcast will also showcase some of the additions taking place during Old Home Week 2009.
(With files from Atlantic Post Calls and Harness Racing PEI)
There are three horses from
There are three horses from Rideau Carleton that wouldn`t waste money on the trip if they didn`t feel they had an outside chance of picking up a cheque. Good luck to John A. & Ted.
Bill Raycroft
I wouldn't throw in the
I wouldn't throw in the towel just yet. Silent Swing is a very nice gelding but there are some other nice horses in here. Don't forget it's still called a horse race!
Good luck to all.
It doesn't appear that
It doesn't appear that Silent Swing will have any real competition here.