Confederation Cup - Historical Highlights

 

The Confederation Cup, which moved into its 35th year in 2011, has evolved into the finest day Canadian harness racing has to offer.

If it takes prestige, tradition, excitement and world-class performances by champion horses to make a race great, then the Confederation Cup is truly a great race.

In 1977, Governor Skipper was named North America's Pacer of the Year with John Chapman driving in what was a spectacular season. One year later, Abercrombie added more prestige to the Cup by winning the Cup in his Horse of The Year season.

Cam Fella, with Pat Crowe driving, became the second winner of the Cup to be named Horse of The Year (as a three year old) in 1982. He then went on to win 28 straight races as a four year old to take the horse of the year title for the second consecutive year. Cam Fella truly was a "Pacing Machine".

Matts Scooter, winner of the 1988 Cup, was voted both three year old pacer of the year and pacer of the year in his sophomore season and then captured Horse of The Year honours as a four year old. His performance in the 1988 edition was one of the most exciting in Cup history.

On The Road Again (Buddy Gilmour) won Cup VIII in 1984 and was named Pacer of The year. His 1:56.1 established a new Canadian record for three year old pacers on a half-mile track. This champion pacer went on to record a mark of 1:51.4 and earned more than $2.8 million.

Hot Hitter (Henri Filion) in 1979 and Jate Lobell (Mark O'Mara) in 1987, captured 3-year-old Pacer of The Year titles after winning the Cup.

Nobleland Sam (Sam Noble III) set a new stakes record of 3:52.1 for two heats in 1986. However, that Cup will best be remembered as the year that local favourite Armbro Emerson was disqualified and placed down after winning the first elimination in what would have been a new track record of 1:55.4. Emerson was exceptional again as a four year old. He won Aged Pacer of the Year honours in 1987 for trainer Brian Burton and driver Walter Whelan.

Whats next (John Plutino) was awarded the 1985 Cup when race winner Armbro Dallas was disqualified. His two world records later in his career stamped him as yet another champion winner.

Justin Passing (Doug Arthur) in 1980, and Conquered (Dr. John Hayes) in 1981, were Canadian three year old pacing champions. Bill Gale won the 1989 Cup with Mystery Fund with a 1:56.3 mile after winning his elimination in 1:56.4.

In 1990, Center Strip nosed out Apaches Fame in their elimination, but was no match for him in the final as Apaches Fame streaked to a 1:55.0 victory to become the first Ontario sired/bred/owned winner of the Cup with Bud Fritz driving.

Arcane Hanover (Norm McKnight Jr.) set a new stakes, track, and Canadian record of 1:53.3 in winning the 1991 final after a 1:55.1 victory in his elimination heat. Survivor Gold and Doug Brown teamed up for a 1:54.3 win in 1992.

Village Connection's spectacular win in 1995 helped him earn the title of Canada's top 3-year-old pacing colt of the year. The Cam Fella colt experienced road trouble in his elimination and had to settle for second, but in the final, driver Paul MacDonell scored a decisive gate-to-wire decision in 1:54.0.

The 1996 Cup was won by a pint-sized pacer named Stout for Hamilton owners Matt, Pat, and Dan Daly, setting a new two-heat record for elimination and final in a combined time of 3:48.2. Tony Kerwood drove for the 1:54.2 elimination and the 1:54 time in the $175,000 final.

Owner-trainer Bill Wellwood achieved his second Cup in 1997 with the pacing son of Jate Lobell. Village Jasper won his elimination for driver Paul MacDonell in 1:57.4, and the $180,000 final in 1:55.3, running gate-to-wire as the clear favourite.

The 1998 event was nick-named Woody's Cup as trainer Bill Wellwood collared his third Cup with Rustler Hanover, who pushed his lifetime earnings over the one million dollar mark in an impressive win. Driver Paul MacDonell also landed his third Cup victory in four years.

1999 saw the names Teeth Of The Dog and John Stark Jr. etched on the Cup for the last time in the century when he cruised to victory in 1:55.

At the dawn of the new millennium, Flamboro Downs completed its expansion into a world-class gaming and entertainment centre. In the 2000 Cup edition, driver Ron Pierce brought High On Emotion to the wire in 1:54.1 for owner George Millar Sr. of Millar Farms in Newmarket Ontario.

In 2001, Ring Of Life, trained by Yves Filion, finished second in his elimination by a head, and then went on to win the record $531,500 final in 1:54.2 for driver Sylvain Filion.

The 2002 edition saw Art Major, trained by Bill Robinson, break the all age flamboro downs track speed record in the final. After winning his elimination heat in 1:52.2, Art Major was driven by Steve Condren to a wire to wire victory in the final in 1:51.1.

In 2003, Stonebridge Premio, a last minute supplemental entry, won his elimination race and was subsequently driven to victory by Mike Lachance to capture the $558,000 second and final heat.

In 2004, in the 28th edition of the Confederation Cup, Paul MacDonell became an unprecedented four-time Cup winner by steering Sparkler to victory in both the elimination heat and the $567,000 final.

2005

Confederation Cup XXIX in 2005 produced one of the most spectacular races in Ontario.

Despite starting from the ninth trailer position, American Ideal made a breath-taking three-wide move on the final half-mile back stretch, exploding into a huge lead he would not relinquish, and then a 7 3/4 length margin at the finish.

In demolishing Art Major's previous 1:51.1 mark set three years earlier, American Ideal set a new Confederation Cup record, plus an all-age Canadian record and was just 1/5 sec off the world record for three-year olds on a half mile track.

Casie Coleman, who made history as the youngest trainer and the first woman to win the Confederation Cup, in 2005 garnered the O'Brien Award as Canada's Trainer of the Year.

Mark MacDonald went on to break the all-time Canadian single season win record and also captured the coveted O'Brien Award as Driver of the Year.

2006

A record crowd of 11,285 watched a record-setting race Sunday afternoon in Confederation Cup XXX in 2006.

Armbro Deuce won the $608,000 Flamboro Downs’ classic in 1:50.2, eclipsing the mark set last year by American Ideal by a fifth of a second, setting a new track and Confederation Cup record, a Canadian all-age record on a half-mile track and a world record for three-year-olds on a half miler.

Driver George Brennan had Armbro Deuce (trained by Blair Burgess) leading all the way to the finish line ahead of second place finisher Western Ace with Ron Pierce in the sulky and Secluded Island, guided by Roger Mayotte, who placed third.

The Ontario-based owners of Armbro Deuce, Robert Burgess of Campbelleville, Karin Olsson Burgess of Milton, Neal Cooper and Richard Kostoff of North York, supplemented the colt into the race for $25,000. It proved to be a very wise choice. After winning his elimination heat and earning back the entry fee for his owners, Armbro Deuce banked them another $254,000 by winning the Confederation Cup XXX final.

2007

Tony Chiaravalle will be laughing all the way to the bank.

After watching his horse, Laughing Art, win Confederation Cup XXXI this afternoon (Sunday) at Flamboro Downs, the Hamilton, Ontario, owner said the only thing that could make the win any better would be to have former Flamboro Downs owner, Charlie Juravinski, write the cheque.

After a tough battle to win his $50,000 elimination race, Laughing Art electrified a crowd of over eleven thousand shooting up the rail down the homestretch to win the $548,500 final in 1:53.3. Mark MacDonald drove the early pacesetter, Domitian Hanover, to a second place finish while Forensic Z Tam, with Pat Lachance at the reins, eagerly hung in for third.

Local boy, Jody Jamieson, got the winning drive for trainer, Bill Elliott. For Jamieson, who started his illustrious career at Flamboro Downs, it was his first Confederation Cup win and “an unbelievable dream come true.”

The thirty-first edition of the Confederation Cup offered a record purse of $698,500 for the Flamboro Downs signature event.

2008

An epic performance Sunday afternoon at Flamboro Downs has re-written the harness racing record books.

A scorching 1:49.2 mile by fan favourite Somebeachsomewhere in the $593,000 Confederation Cup XXXII wiped out the world record for three-year-old pacers on a half-mile track. It was the fifth Confederation Cup victory - also a record - for driver Paul MacDonell.

An enormous crowd cheered, clapped and whistled as Somebeachsomewhere crossed the finish line. The colt phenom, whose nonchalant, Seabiscuitesque demeanor has endeared him to a growing legion of fans, returned to the winner’s circle to the ovation of the adoring crowd, appearing to bow his head in tribute.

Santanna Blue Chip with last year’s Confederation Cup winning driver, Jody Jamieson, in the bike was second. Steve Condren guided The Mohegan Pan to finish third and Keystone Horatio with Randy Waples in the sulky was fourth.

Shadow Play, partly owned by Montreal Canadiens great, Serge Savard, equaled the previous Flamboro Downs, Confederation Cup and Canadian all-age record of 1:50.2, in winning his $50,000 elimination heat but came home fifth in the $493,00 Confederation Cup final.

A new world record mile - 1:54.2 - for three-year-old trotting geldings was set by Define The World in the $140,00 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Final. Paul MacDonell got the driving win.

Jody Jamieson guided Andy Roo across the finish line first in the $62,500 Signature Pacing Series.

2009

If I Can Dream Wins Confederation Cup XXXIII (courtesy Standardbred Canada)

If I Can Dream pulled off a dreamy victory in the 33rd edition of the $560,000 Confederation Cup for three-year-old pacers at Flamboro Downs on Sunday afternoon.

With luck on his side, If I Can Dream drew the rail heading into the final after finishing second to Bay Of Sharks in the first of two elimination heats held earlier in the day. While elim winner, River Shark (Luc Ouellette), fired off the gate from Post 5 in the rich final, Jim Morrill, Jr. sent If I Can Dream to the lead from third before the :26.4 first quarter. From there, the Western Hanover-Arterra colt carved out middle splits of :56 and 1:24 and turned back a challenge from Lyons Horace (Randy Waples) en route to victory 1:52.1 by two and a quarter lengths.

River Shark finished second and Bay Of Sharks (Mario Baillargeon) rolled three-wide at three-quarters to come on for third.

“You’ve got to have a lot of luck and we were lucky and drew the rail in the final so today was our day,” said Morrill, Jr. following the race.

Trained by Tracy Brainard for the Bulletproof Enterprises of Boca Raton, Florida, If I Can Dream won for the sixth time in 11 outings this year. The bay boosted his bankroll to $986,888 with his eighth lifetime score.

“It's unbelievable," said Josh Marks, Brainard's assistant trainer. "Never in a million years did I expect to win this race.

“I know we’ve got the Jug and the Cane Pace [coming up]," he added. "Everything depends on how he comes out of today with double heats. I’ve never had a horse do that before so we’ll see what happens after today.

“We tried to avoid the Chester horses today by coming here, but we’ll face them in the Jug and it won’t be quite as easy.”

2010

(courtesy Standardbred Canada)

Aracache Hanover overcame a bumpy start and survived a pair of judges’ inquiries to capture the 34th edition of the $547,000 Confederation Cup in straight heats for the father-son team of Doug and Gregg McNair on Sunday afternoon at Flamboro Downs.

After avoiding an early breaker in his elimination heat earlier in the day, Aracache Hanover got off to a bumpy start himself in the finale. He put in a few steps leaving the gate from Post 1 but quickly reset and advanced to the lead in front of Foreign Officer (Jody Jamieson) before the :26.4 first quarter.

The 2-5 favourite, with Doug McNair in the bike, lead the way through the remaining fractions of :54.2 and 1:23 as he extended his lead to five and a half lengths, which allowed him to cruise home for the 1:52.1 score.

Aracache Hanover survived a pair of judges' inquiries regarding his early miscue and the whipping rule. The judges ruled he did not cause interference while on a break, and although McNair had both lines in one hand in the stretch to celebrate the win, he did not strike the horse and no whipping violation occurred.

Fellow elimination winner BGs Folly (Dan Dube) finished second with Four Starz Trace (Luc Ouellette) third.

"He just put a few steps in and then came right back pacing -- he didn't bother anybody I don't think," said Doug McNair before the results were made official. "That was the first time [he did that]. He kind of shied from the gate a little, that's what happened. I kind of stopped and started him that's why he put a few steps in.

"He finished up tired," continued Doug. "He was real tired but I went a pretty big middle half, but the more I got into him the faster he went. He felt kind of weak coming around the last turn but he had five or six [lengths] on them. He just raced huge."

Aracache Hanover notched his seventh consecutive win and eighth of the season in 10 starts pushing his earnings to over $500,000. Lifetime, the three-year-old Dragon Again-Armbro Cachet colt has recorded 10 wins while banking $540,217 for trainer Gregg McNair and owners William Switala and James Martin of Clarence Center, New York, who purchased him for $37,000 at the Harrisburg Yearling Sale.

Gregg McNair's other entry, Stonebridge Tonic (Mike Saftic), finished fourth and also survived a judges’ inquiry. The judges ruled Stonebridge Tonic did go inside two consecutive pylons but was not lapped on at the finish and therefore remains fourth.

"The other horse raced good," said Gregg. "He did what he could in two heats. It's a lot to ask from him and he raced big.

"We have two horses with the owners [of Aracache Hanover]. The other horse was OK Commander and he made a bit more money at the end of the year last year and we kept him eligible to the million dollar races and we skipped them with this horse," explained Gregg. "[Aracache Hanover] eligible to the Little Brown Jug and the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes final."

2011

(courtesy Standardbred Canada)


The 35th edition of the $532,500 Confederation Cup went to the best three-year-old pacing colt on Sunday afternoon at Flamboro Downs, which proved to be Bestofbest Hanover.

Drawing into the final off his fifth place finish in the first of two eliminations earlier in the day, Bestofbest Hanover shot up the rail to score the 1:52 victory in the final with Jack Moiseyev in the sulky for trainer Daniel Martin. The Western Hanover-Bunny Lake colt is owned L Ecurie Triple P Inc. of Quebec, Que.

Mystician (Rick Zeron) and favourite Up The Credit (Jody Jamieson) blasted off the gate together from post positions four and five, but with the inner advantage, Mystician held on to the lead and forced Up The Credit to settle into the pocket at the flashy :26.1 opening quarter.

Elimination winner Prodigal Seelster (Scott Zeron) made the first over sacrifice from fourth with Bestofbest Hanover and driver Jack Moiseyev following his cover as Mystician led the field in front of the grandstand for the first time and past the half in :54.3.

Heading to three-quarters in 1:23.1, Prodigal Seelster inched closer on the outside while Up The Credit broke stride from the pocket and backed through the field. Bestofbest Hanover dove down to the rail and out-sprinted his rivals to score the 1:52 triumph by three-quarters of a length over Mystician and Prodigal Seelster. The other elimination winner, Keystone Velocity (Dan Dube), finished fourth and Townslight Hanover (Randy Waples) was fifth.

"I’ve never had too many horses flip a palate in the first heat and come back to race that good in the second heat,” said Moiseyev of Bestofbest Hanover following the victory. “If you can save him until the head of the stretch, he’ll give you all he’s got.

“It feels good," added the veteran reinsman, who also won an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Final with Daylon Magician during the card. "I was in it [the Confederation Cup] a few times, but this is my first win.”

Bestofbest Hanover paid $12.60 to win as the 5-1 fourth choice. The bay colt has won five of his 12 starts this year including his Somebeachsomewhere Stakes division and the North America Cup Consolation. His biggest stakes win today in the Confederation Cup was also his owner's biggest thrill.

“I’ve had horses for 40 years and I won my first stake in the Somebeachsomewhere at Mohawk,” noted owner Jean Roch Perron of L Ecurie Triple P Inc.

Purchased for $27,000 at the Harrisburg Sale as a yearling, Bestofbest Hanover has won eight races in 17 career starts and now boasts a bankroll of $319,890.

Perron indicated that his colt will be shut down for the rest of the year and return to the track for his four-year-old season in 2012.

For a video replay , click here.