In just over one month, the famed Prix D'Ete will be revived after an absence of more than two decades. But it was 25 years ago today (Aug. 20) that a Canadian-based horse won that prestigious event and in turn equaled a long-standing world record.
Some of harness racing's biggest names competed in Montreal for the Prix D'Ete, a race that dates back to the 1960s. It began in 1966 as the Prix D’Automne (Autumn Classic), was renamed Amble du Centenaire in 1967 and then became the Prix D’Été in 1968. Initially a race for older pacers, it was converted into a stake for three-year-old pacers in 1971 and stayed that way until its demise during a horsemen’s strike in 1993.
Bret Hanover won the first Prix D'Ete in 1966, and after him the race was won by the likes of Albatross, Governor Skipper, Abercrombie, Niatross, Cam Fella, Falcon Seelster, Matts Scooter and Beach Towel. And in the 26-year history of the race, only two drivers were able to win the event more than once: 'The Master' Keith Waples, and 'Iron' Mike Lachance.
In 1988 Lachance returned to Quebec and captured his first Prix D'Ete with Matts Scooter. Then 37, Lachance called the win "the biggest thrill of my life...I’m at home. It’s a race I have dreamed of winning since I saw the first one as a boy.”
The next year, Lachance returned to Blue Bonnets with North America Cup winner Goalie Jeff in a highly-anticipated match up with Meadowlands Pace winner Dexter Nukes and John Campbell. Campbell was still looking for his first Prix D'Ete win.
Goalie Jeff ran into road trouble in the first heat, finishing third to Topnotcher and driver Doug Brown in a 1:54 mile.
"They got the half backed off pretty good," said trainer and co-owner Tom Artandi. "It's hard to make up much ground."
Dexter Nukes cruised wire-to-wire in the second heat, winning in 1:55 and setting up a showdown in the final heat.
Lachance took no chances and pointed Goalie Jeff right for the front. He cleared to command just past the opening :27.3 quarter over Topnotcher. After a :56.2 half, Goalie Jeff kicked it into another gear by hitting the three-quarters in 1:23.4 and closing in :28.2 to trip the timer in 1:52.1.
The crowd at Blue Bonnets chanted 'Vive Lachance' as Goalie Jeff and his entourage returned to the winner's enclosure. Goalie Jeff tied the world record for the fastest mile by a three-year-old pacer on a five-eighths mile track. He co-held the record with Marauder (August 10, 1985 at The Meadows) and Towners Big Guy (June 21, 1986 at The Meadows).
The time of the mile also established a new overall pacing mark at Blue Bonnets, shaving two-fifths of a second off Coal Harbor's six-year old record set as a four-year-old in 1983.
"He raced better in the second heat," said Lachance after the win. "We weren't disappointed with his third-place finish in the elimination because he just had no racing luck."
Goalie Jeff would continue his dominance over the Glamour Boy division, winning the Little Brown Jug, Tattersalls and the Breeders Crown en route to divisional honours both in Canada and the U.S.
(Photo: Goalie Jeff winning the 1989 Prix D'Ete. Bob Perez Photo)