Ken Warkentin has been a fixture at the Gold Cup & Saucer for the last several years. The Canadian native and U.S. Harness Racing Hall of Famer, who hangs his hat at the Meadowlands Racetrack in New Jersey, finds himself alongside Peter MacPhee (pictured above) and Lee Drake on the Red Shores Race Day broadcast throughout Old Home Week.
He also is the voice of the James ‘Roach’ MacGregor Gold Cup & Saucer Consolation, along with calling several other races most nights throughout the week.
Warkentin’s first trip to the Gold Cup & Saucer was back in 1999, when he and his wife were invited guests. He recalls his friend and native Islander John Holmes winning the race that year, aboard Order To Go, on a muddy and rainy night.
“I had met him [Holmes] at Flamboro Downs, when I was working there,” said Warkentin. “He wasn’t expected to win the race, so it was kind of cool.”
He remembers an interaction with a security guard while in the winner's circle after Holmes' triumphant victory.
“It’s crowded, and the security guard says, 'Who are you?' and I said, 'well, I know the driver,' and he goes, 'a lot of people know the driver, stand over there,'” said Warkentin with a laugh.
Despite that interaction, what stood out most to Warkentin during that first Gold Cup & Saucer experience was the amount of people in attendance.
“It was a race where they were able to attract such a large crowd. Just the sheer number of people,” said Warkentin. “There are tracks all over the world, never mind North America, that would die for a night like that. Where you get 20-25,000 people and you have to shut the door and can’t let any more in,” added Warkentin, who still finds the entire experience inspiring.
“The way they respect the families here really strikes me, the overall pride people take in what they do here. The bartender, the waitresses, the staff here in general. [Old Home Week and the Gold Cup & Saucer] is a big deal and they’re proud of it,” said Warkentin. “They want to put on a good show because they know there’s a lot of tourists and people watching. Not just here, but on the simulcast.”
Warkentin didn’t start working on the broadcast at the Gold Cup & Saucer until many years later. His first appearance on the Red Shores broadcast was during the Atlantic Breeders Crown, a three-day event in October that begins with the Atlantic Classic yearling sale and ends with two live cards of harness racing at Red Shores where the best in the Maritimes compete for more than $500,000 in prize money. Warkentin was recruited to help host the Race Day broadcast and read pedigrees during the sale. Since then, he has developed a strong friendship with Lee Drake, Red Shores’ manager of racing, broadcasting and sales.
“Over the last 10 years, I’ve talked to Lee once a week or every other week,” said Warkentin, who's since become a staple on the Race Day broadcast during Old Home Week. “We talk shop.”
In this year’s Gold Cup & Saucer, Warkentin believes there are four horses with legitimate chances at winning.
“You have two standouts that won the trials [Its Major Major A and Miki Shan N] and two runners up, Virgo and Poseidon Seelster,” said Warkentin. "Those two horses [Its Major Major A and Miki Shan N] are just too good. The only way one of them loses is if they get run down.”
$100,000 Atlantic Lottery Gold Cup & Saucer
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer - Morning Line Odds
1. Arbitrage Hanover - Billy Davis Jr. - Anthony Stymest - 8-1
2.: Fortify - Gilles Barrieau - Rene Bourassa - 6-1
3. Miki Shan N - Corey MacPherson - Chris MacKay - 5-2
4. Its Major Major A - Marc Campbell - Rene Bourassa - 3-1
5. Bee Two Bee - Jason Hughes - Ashley Gamester - 10-1
6. Virgo - Brett Beckwith - Daren Taneyhill - 4-1
7. Legion Seelster - Jody Jamieson - Victor Puddy - 12-1
8. Poseidon Seelster - Bob McClure - Don Lindsey - 7-2
To view the full entries for Saturday's finale to Old Home Week, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Charlottetown Driving Park.
(A Trot Insider Exclusive by Grady Hachey)