The Governor's Cup Stakes is an American

harness racing Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait (a trot or a pace). They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, or spider, or chariot occupied by a driver. In Europe, and less frequently in Australi ...

event run annually for two-year-old

standardbred The Standardbred is an American horse breed best known for its ability in harness racing, where members of the breed compete at either a trot or pace. Developed in North America, the Standardbred is recognized worldwide, and the breed can trace i ...

pacers at a distance of one mile. First run in 1985 as a fixed event at

Garden State Park Garden State Park was a harness and thoroughbred race track in Cherry Hill, Camden County, New Jersey. It is now the site of a high-end, mixed-use "town center" development of stores, restaurants, apartments, townhouses, and condominiums. Garden ...

, that track closed on May 3, 2001 and the Governor's Cup would then be run at various race venues in the U.S. Northeast and in

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

, Canada. Since 2013 the race has been part of the 'Fall Four' stakes and has been alternated between

Meadowlands Racetrack The Meadowlands Racetrack (currently referred to as Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment) is a horse racing track at the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States. The track hosts both thoroughbred racing and harness ...

in East Rutherford, New Jersey and

Woodbine Racetrack Woodbine Racetrack is a race track for Thoroughbred horse racing in the Etobicoke area of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Owned by Woodbine Entertainment Group, Woodbine Racetrack manages and hosts Canada's most famous race, the King's Plate. The track ...

in Toronto, Ontario.

Historical race events

In a 2011 Hambletonian Society, Inc. article on trainer Ray Schnittker, in referring to the 2009 Governor's Cup winner One More Laugh, author Jay Bergman wrote: "His ne More Laughvictory in the Governor’s Cup at Harrah's Chester at two may go down as the greatest single effort by a two-year-old in the sports history." At Woodbine Racetrack, 2010 winner Big Jim, a $35,000 yearling purchase who would go on to career earnings of $1,541,924, set a then world record time of 1:49 1/5 for two-year-old pacers. Through 2015 his time is still the Governor's Cup stakes record.

Locations

Garden State Park Racetrack Garden State Park was a harness and thoroughbred race track in Cherry Hill, Camden County, New Jersey. It is now the site of a high-end, mixed-use "town center" development of stores, restaurants, apartments, townhouses, and condominiums. Garden ...

(GSP) (1985-2000) *

(Mmx) (2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2013, 2015) *

Mohawk Raceway Mohawk Racetrack (branded as Woodbine Mohawk Park) is a harness racing track in Campbellville, Ontario. It is owned by Woodbine Entertainment Group (formerly the Ontario Jockey Club) and is about 40 km southwest of the company's other race ...

(Moh) (2003) *

(Wdb) (2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2016) * Harrah's Chester Racetrack (Chst) (2009, 2011)

Records

; Most wins by a driver: * 6 – John Campbell (1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 2001, 2002) ; Most wins by a trainer: * 8 – Robert McIntosh (1995, 1998, 2001, 2008) ; Stakes record: *1:49 1/5 – Big Jim (2010) (Wdb) *1:50 0/0 – Western Shooter (2001) (Mmx) *1:52 1/5 – Western Hanover (1991) (GSP)

Winners of the Governor's Cup Stakes

Hambletonian.org Governors Cup History
Retrieved October 22, 2016

External links

YouTube video of Big Jim winning the 2010 Governor's Cup in World Record time

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Governor's Cup Stakes Harness racing in Canada Harness racing in the United States Recurring sporting events established in 1985 Sport in Toronto Sports in East Rutherford, New Jersey 1985 establishments in New Jersey