In 1984, the Ontario Jockey Club hosted the first North America Cup at Greenwood Raceway. With 30 years of harness racing history in the books, which North America Cup stands out as your favourite?
The most recent SC web poll (click here to vote and comment) lists the past 30 winners, and we'd like you to offer your favourite and the reasons why. This year's Pepsi North America Cup is set for Saturday, June 14. Eliminations for the million-dollar race will be held on Saturday, June 7 with the post draw set for Tuesday, June 3.
Trot Insider asked some trainers and drivers for their picks during filming for the SC weekly video feature. Here's what they had to say.
"I’d have to say when Apaches Fame won with Bud Fritz. He’s kind of a small local guy, up in Walkerton. He had his own stable, wasn’t considered a real Jockey Club type of trainer and when he won it that made the news and it was good for small-town guys.” - Bruce Richardson
"Every year it’s always great. I liked seeing, of course, Captaintreacherous last year, that was an exciting race for him to get up there, but I like Thinking Out Loud, he kind of shocked quite a few people winning that race. I like that one.” - Billy Davis Jr.
“Well, I won it once and that certainly was really nice for me. [Staff Director] was a great horse that year. He won 17 races and it takes a good horse to win 17 races racing against the best there is. He was just a phenomenal horse, he was good to train...I loved the horse.” - Dave Wall
"Probably Somebeachsomewhere. That was pretty cool -- probably the best horse I’ve ever seen and one of the best horses ever. I was here that night sitting in the grandstand watching it and it just sent chills down your spine. He ended up winning by [a few] lengths so you could tell how much the best he was that day and ‘Mac’ drove him like he was.” - Doug McNair
"I’m going to go back to Quite A Sensation because he was owned locally here, in Parkhill, with Trevor Ritchie. It was a good night. I was just a kid and we happened to be racing there that night. I think we raced Kawartha Trump in about a $100,000 claimer back at Greenwood in the old days when there was actually some good high priced claimers. We happened to be there that night and it was a great race so I’ll go with Quite A Sensation.” - Mark Horner
"Gallo Blue Chip. Mark [Ford] is a close friend of mine.” - Gregg McNair
"I’ve always liked the North America Cup. They’ve done such a great job, it always brings great horses, great drivers and it’s always a great race to watch…I remember watching Jate Lobell. I wasn’t very old at the time and early in the business, but I really liked that race when Jate Lobell was in it. I loved watching that horse race.” - Kyle Reibeling
“Gallo Blue Chip. I really enjoyed that one. I was there for that one and it was a great race and that was the start of his dominance that year.” - Lorne House
“I remember I went to Greenwood and watched Jate Lobell race. I think it was Frugal Gourmet and Jate Lobell. I think Jate Lobell just got his nose up at the end -- that was a great race. And, you know, last year’s race with Sunshine Beach was exciting too, but the one with Jate Lobell was the best that I’ve seen.” - Mark Steacy
"When Somebeachsomewhere won it because of Ken’s call. Well, I mean the horse was great too, but I think I got that call memorized, the last quarter anyway, so that one sticks out for sure.” - Ryan Holliday