Veteran standardbred owner Grant purchases slot in inaugural Mohawk Million

Grant, a long-time standardbred owner, has certainly done his share of winning, having led all Woodbine owners in victories since 2016. He has also owned ’18 Hambletonian victor Atlanta and Breeders’ Crown champion Stay Hungry.

Grant was the 2018 recipient of the United States Harness Writers Association’s Humanitarian Award for using the earnings of one of his horses to raise funds for the Humboldt Broncos’ bus crash victims. The horse, a pacer ironically named Humboldt, provided $15,000 for the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League Assistance Program, which was created to solicit funds for those affected by the tragic accident.

“John Campbell tried to get a $1-million race off the ground in the U.S. the last couple of years and it just hasn’t taken to fruition,” Grant said. “So you’ve got to give Jessica Buckley (vice-president of standardbred and thoroughbred racing) and the Woodbine Mohawk Park team a lot of credit for stepping up and saying, ‘Hey, we’ll take a run at it and see how it goes.'”

Campbell, of Ailsa Craig, Ont., has served as the chief executive officer of the Hambletonian Society since retiring as a driver in 2017. The 64-year-old is harness racing’s all-time leader in wins (10,667) and a member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, U.S. Harness Racing Hall of Fame, Little Brown Jug Hall of Fame and Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame.

Grant isn’t the only prominent Canadian to pay the US$110,000 race-entry fee. The others include Serge Godin (Determination Stable), Jim Bullock (Glengate Farms) and breeder/owner John Fielding.

Also purchasing slots were Sweden’s Courant Inc., and American-based Diamond Creek Racing, Dreamland Farms, Fashion Farms and owner Jeffrey Snyder.

“Reading the list of players, they’re all dedicated to the industry,” Grant said. “When people like that believe in it, I definitely think we’re going in the right direction.”

The final Mohawk Million spot will go to the winner of the $610,000 William Wellwood Memorial on Sept. 12 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Each slot can be sold, traded or leased. The purchaser doesn’t have to declare a horse for the race until time of entry.

“As a racetrack operator and industry leader, we can create the opportunity, but without the investment and commitment from leading owners, this exciting event wouldn’t be possible,” Lawson said.

Grant said his intention remains to have a horse in the race. But he added having flexibility with the slot is an attractive incentive.

“It’s a lot of money to put down at this time of year for something that’s going to happen in September, especially with two-year-olds,” Grant said. “But with the option of being able to sell it if something were to happen, that’s good too.”

The Mohawk Million will highlight an impressive racing card. Also scheduled that night will be the $850,000 Metro Pace for two-year-old pacers and $550,000 Shes A Great Lady for two-year-old pacing fillies.

The card’s total purse will exceed $2.7 million.

“It’s going to be a tremendous night of racing, absolutely,” Grant said. “You don’t get too many opportunities to see the kind of racing you’re going to see that night.

“The best of the best in each division should be there. You’ll get the best horses, the best drivers and hopefully the biggest crowds.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 5, 2020.

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Veteran standardbred owner Grant purchases slot in inaugural Mohawk Million

More Local News