The $6 million Breeders Crown, harness racing’s richest and most prestigious year-end divisional championship series, is set to return in October 2019 to the newly renovated Woodbine Mohawk Park in Campbellville, Ont.
“Woodbine has hosted many Breeders Crown events, however, we are thrilled to welcome the championship series back 35 years later to the new Woodbine Mohawk Park,” said Jessica Buckley, president, Woodbine Mohawk Park. “We look forward to having our fans and community experience this world class event with all the top horses in North America.”
Woodbine Entertainment has played host to more Breeders Crown events than any other racetrack, with the events contested in the past at Woodbine, Mohawk and Greenwood. Woodbine has held all 12 Breeders Crown events three times in the past seven years, most recently in in 2015, setting a Canadian harness racing handle record of $5.7 million.
Mohawk Racetrack was in the initial rotation of host tracks in 1984, and was granted the $539,825 Two-Year-Old Filly Trot, which was won by Conifer and the late Hall of Famer George Sholty.
The seven-eighths-mile oval last staged the four Open divisions in 2008, capped by an epic rematch between open pacers Mister Big and Artistic Fella, with Mister Big emerging the winner.
In 2017, Woodbine Entertainment announced a $10 million renovation and rebranding of Mohawk Racetrack to Woodbine Mohawk Park, to create a year-round showcase for Standardbred racing. Woodbine’s continued support of championship events resulted in a commitment to host the Breeders Crown as soon as there was an opening.
“Woodbine Entertainment has been an exemplary partner of the Breeders Crown series since our inaugural year in 1984,” said John Campbell, president & CEO of the Hambletonian Society, which owns and administers the races. “We look forward to bringing the Crown back to a familiar but also brand new setting of Woodbine Mohawk Park.”
(With files from Woodbine Entertainment / Hambletonian Society)
This is great news. It
This is great news.
It would've been nice however, if the news had come a month ago. Possibly there are some that would keep their horses eligible for the Breeders Crown if they knew its in their backyard. Unsure on March 15th (when 3-year-olds of 2019 had to be be sustained) where the races will be held, some might have held back, not wishing to truck into the U.S.
It isn't world altering; however, with a little more thought and timing, issues could have been avoided.