Mohawk Million just made Campbellville the place to be
This September, the world’s best trotters will race for $1 million (U.S.) at Woodbine Mohawk Park
Woodbine Mohawk Park believes in the theory that if you build it they will come. That simplistic strategy has allowed for the creation of the Mohawk Million, which will be the richest horse race ever staged in Canada.
On Sept. 26, the world’s best twoyear-old trotters will battle for a purse of $1 million (U.S.) at the Campbellville track. If the racing game ever needed a sexy, new idea, this is it.
“Obviously, I’m prejudiced but I think this the most fantastic thing to happen to Canadian racing and the sport in years,” says Clay Horner, chair of Woodbine Entertainment Group.
He has a good case. The race is unique in its format. There were only nine slots made available for owners to purchase at a heft price tag of $110,000 each. No horse needs to be named until closer to the race and the slots can be sold, traded or leased, so it’s all a bit like buying commodity futures.
Clearly, this is not for the faint of heart. It was designed for the heavy hitters of the sport who are prepared to race for their own money. It is exactly like bellying up to a poker game with your own kitty.
An added wrinkle is a tenth slot that will be reserved for the winner of the William Wellwood Stake which is slotted two weeks earlier. This gives a less affluent owner to gain entry.
“In the month of September, we will offer the Champlain Stakes, William Wellwood and Mohawk Million for total prize money of $2 million. Nowhere else in harness racing is that duplicated,” says Horner.
The idea is a knock-off from Thoroughbred racing’s Pegasus World Cup staged at Gulfstream Park. Actually, the United States based Hambletonian Society announced it would take the concept to The Red Mile in Kentucky but for various reasons could not make it work. Enter a Woodbine.
“We said we could do it with the Wellwood wrinkle to it which some south of the border did not like. In our discussions, we felt it would be a perfect fit for us. With it oversubscribed, it has proven to be.”
There are 10 submissions for the nine slots so a draw will be held in March to see who draws the short straw.
Next week, the list of names will be released. Until then, all Horner would say is that Canadians are well represented in the group.
“This is a marquee event and the beauty of it is not a penny comes from the overnight purse pool or robbing from Peter to pay Paul in other stake races. It is all self funded from the slot purchases,” says Horner.
“I also know the announcement of the race last September had a direct impact on yearling sale prices. I had several owners tell me they spent more to try to get a horse that would develop into being good enough to be in the race.”
Even prior to this development, the stakes schedule totalled $20 million. It is a mouth-watering schedule which is sure to attract the best horses from across the continent.
There will be no tougher racing on the planet.