On the heels of San Pail’s recently-announced retirement, two racetracks with strong connections to the champion trotter will be hosting tribute nights in his honour.
Mohawk Racetrack, where San Pail won three prestigious Maple Leaf Trots, along with his hometown track of Kawartha Downs where he scored an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold victory in his sophomore year, will each host evenings to honour the triple millionaire and offer racing fans the opportunity to bid ‘Pail’ well in his retirement.
WEG AND FAN CLUB TEAM UP FOR TRIBUTE TO SAN PAIL
On Saturday, September 19, Woodbine Entertainment Group and The I Love Canadian Harness Racing Fan Club will present a tribute to San Pail during Maple Leaf Trot night at Mohawk Racetrack.
San Pail will lead the post parade for the Maple Leaf Trot, a race that he won three times during his career, the most recent in 2011 when he scored a three length 1:51.1 victory in the $730,000 event.
There will be a trackside presentation for San Pail and his connections, including co-owner and trainer Rod Hughes, co-owner and breeder Glenn Van Camp, and regular driver Randy Waples. The tribute will also include a video presentation, a display including trophies and awards won by San Pail along with memorabilia and articles chronicling the super trotter’s career. The Hughes and Van Camps will be on hand to talk to racing fans in the Mohawk grandstand from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
San Pail was one of the original Faces of Racing for the I Love Canadian Harness Racing Fan Club and along with his legion of Fans -- including the San Pail “posse” led by Rod’s mother Susan Hughes -- helped to create a ton of enthusiasm and energy in the Fan Club from the day it was launched.
In 2009 San Pail won his first Maple Leaf Trot and then captured the prestigious event again in 2010 and 2011, with regular driver Randy Waples at the helm for all three races.
The 2011 Breeders Crown win capped off a dream season for San Pail and his connections. In 16 races, San Pail won 14 and finished second in those other two, and banked more than $1.2 million. He was the unanimous choice as Canada's Older Trotter of the Year and runaway winner as Canada's Horse of the Year. The harness racing industry honoured him accordingly, as he was named Horse of the Year stateside as well. Not only was San Pail recognized by the Standardbred side, he was also named Canadian Bred Horse of the Year by Equine Canada.
An injury curtailed San Pail's 2012 season, and kept him off the track for most of 2013 as well. He did return to the Mohawk winner's circle on October 7, 2013, a win that would prove to be his last of his career.
SAN PAIL’S HOME TRACK TO HOST OCTOBER EVENT
Kawartha Downs is pleased to have the opportunity to allow San Pail’s many local fans the opportunity to wish him well in his retirement with a tribute evening on Saturday, October 17.
The Fraserville five-eighths mile oval is the closest track to San Pail’s home in Dunsford, Ontario, and the superstar trotter will be on hand to have his photo taken with race fans.
San Pail retires with a career summary of 52-19-9 in 114 starts, earnings in excess of $3.1 million and a 1:50.4 career mark taken at The Meadowlands in the 2011 Nat Ray Invitational.
ALL HAIL PAIL!
ALL HAIL PAIL!