Governor's Cup Stakes


The Governor's Cup Stakes is an American harness racing event run annually for two-year-old standardbred pacers at a distance of one mile. First run in 1985 as a fixed event at Garden State Park, 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, Canada. Since 2013 the race has been part of the 'Fall Four' stakes and has been alternated between Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey and Woodbine Racetrack 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 victory 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

; Most wins by a driver:
; Most wins by a trainer:
; Stakes record:
Year
Winner
Driver
Trainer
Owner
Time
Purse
Track
2016DownbytheseasideDavid MillerBrian BrownCountry Club Acres Inc., Joe Sbrocco, Richard Lombardo1:51 1/5$520,000Wdb
2015Boston Red RocksTim TetrickSteve ElliotPeter Blood, Rick Berks1:50 3/5$413,000Mmx
2014ArtspeakScott ZeronTony AlagnaBrittany Farms, Marvin Katz, Joe Sbrocco, In The Gym Partners1:50 4/5$565,000Wdb
2013JK EndofaneraBrian SearsRon Burke3 Brothers Stables1:51 4/5$534,500Mmx
2011A Rocknroll DanceYannick GingrasJim MulinixJim Mulinix, Denny Miller, Jerry Silva, Theresa Silva1:51 0/0$510,000Chst
2010Big JimPhil HudonJames DeanJames Carr1:49 1/5$709,000Wdb
2009One More LaughTim TetrickRay SchnittkerRay Schnittker, Mathias Meinzinger, Jerry Silva1:49 2/5$600,000Chst
2008NebupanezzarSteve CondrenRobert McIntoshPeter Pan Stables Inc. 1:51 2/5$820,000Wdb
2007Santanna Blue ChipJody JamiesonCarl R. JamiesonC. R. Jamieson, 140545 Ontario Ltd., Jeffrey R. Gillis, George Arthur Stable1:53 1/5$731,700Wdb
2006Sutter HanoverDavid MillerMark HarderDeena Frost, Sampson Street Stable, Fox Hollow Farm, TLP Stable1:52 0/0$450,000Mmx
2005Jereme's JetPaul MacDonellThomas HarmerGenesis Racing Stable 1:53 3/5$593,032Wdb
2004Syncro's Z TamPatrick LachancePatrick LachanceMJGB Racing Stable1:53 1/5$237,400Mmx
2003I Am A FoolRonald PierceBrett PellingPerfect World Enterprises1:54 1/5$652,898Moh
2002Allamerican NativeJohn CampbellMark CaponeDavid Scharf, A&G Stables, Jerry Silva1:53 1/5$520,000Mmx
2001Western ShooterJohn CampbellRobert McIntoshRobert McIntosh, CSX Stables, Michael Koehler Walnut Hall Ltd'1:50 0/0$500,000Mmx
2000Bettor's DelightEric LedfordScott McEnenyJohn B. Grant1:52 2/5$545,300GSP
1999TyberwoodRichard SilvermanGary MachizLeon Machiz1:51 4/5$572,400GSP
1998Island FantasyMichel LachanceRobert McIntoshRobert Waxman1:52 0/0$600,000GSP
1997Sealed N DeliveredRonald PierceChristopher RyderSampson Street Stables1:52 2/5$590,600GSP
1996The Big DogJoe AndersonJoe AndersonJohn J. Leahy & Jayne Cummins1:51 3/5$612,600GSP
1995Live or DieSteve CondrenRobert McIntosh1:54 2/5$600,000GSP
1994CA ConnectionJoe AndersonKevin Thomas1:54 1/5$616,400GSP
1993Magical MikeJohn CampbellTommy HaughtonShadow Lne Farm1:54 3/5$550,000GSP
1992Life SignJohn CampbellGene RiegleGeorge Segal1:53 1/5$537,800GSP
1991Western HanoverBill FahyGene RiegleGeorge Segal1:52 1/5$584,300GSP
1990ArtsplaceJohn CampbellGene RiegleGeorge Segal, Brian Monieson1:53 0/0$655,600GSP
1989In The PocketJohn CampbellDr. Ken SeeberLPG Standardbreds Inc.1:54 2/5$681,100GSP
1988How Bout ItTommy HaughtonTommy Haughton1:54 3/5$705,100GSP
1987No Race-No RaceNo RaceNo Race0:00 0/0----
1986RedskinBill O'DonnellJerry SmithJerry Smith1:55 0/0$1,513,500GSP
1985Barberry SpurBill O'DonnellRichard StillingsRoy D. Davis & Barberry Farms1:54 1/5$1,257,500GSP