Lower-priced slots drew record interest thanks to a $500,000 commitment to the purse from WEG and the horsepeople, but that meant some owners — including long-time supporters of the race — were shut out.

by Melissa Keith

When the $1 million guaranteed Mohawk Million goes behind the gate Sept. 21 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, some of the 2-year-old trotters will likely have owners new to the slot game. A record 21 individuals, farms, and partnerships entered into Wednesday’s (March 20) draw for the 10 spots in the 2024 Mohawk Million.

Bill McLinchey of Woodbine Entertainment told HRU that the $50,000 cost of each slot was reduced from the previous $100,000 to attract new participants while retaining existing supporters. In 2021, the price was lowered from $110,000 (U.S.) to $100,000 (Cdn) for the nine available slots; a 10th had traditionally been held in reserve for the winner of the William Wellwood Memorial.

“We knew after last year it was going to be tough to go back to the same people again, and we knew we had to make a change,” said Woodbine’s vice-president of standardbred racing. “We threw a couple of different format ideas out, and lowering the price was what we thought would get more interest in the slots, so that’s where we landed.”

The winners of the 10 slots for the 2024 Mohawk Million are: 

Blair Corbeil

Brad Grant

Coyote Wynd Farms

Diamond Creek

Gino Toscani

Hunterton Farms

Noel Daley

Pryde Stables Inc.

Rankin & Venneri

Tara Hills Stud

Each has already paid a $25,000 deposit to hold their slot, with the remaining $25,000 due on June 3.

Others entered but did not end up with a slot. Al Libfeld, Bertrand and Gilhespy Stable, Bill Pollack, Courant Inc., Daniel Plouffe, Determination, Glengate Farms, Hudson Standardbred, Mark Weaver, Santo Vena, and Steve Held all missed their first chance to secure a place in the big race.

The previous-high number of applicants for slots was nine.

“It was quite a change, so the new price definitely sparked interest,” said McLinchey. “A couple [of horse owners] have mentioned that, ‘Well, if we have one good enough, we’ll have to do some wheeling and dealing to make sure we get in the race.’ I’m quite sure there were some who were disappointed they didn’t get in the race.”

Determination (Serge Godin) of Montreal, QC has been a loyal supporter of the Mohawk Million since its inception, purchasing slots annually since 2020. While not yet winning the race, the stable has sent out runner-up Donna Soprano and Wellwood-winning show finisher On A Streak in 2020, Star Power Hanover (ninth placed eighth) and Mischevious Rose (10th) in 2021, 42-1 place-finisher Silly Me Hanover in 2022, and Emoji Hanover (ninth) and Drawn Impression (10th) in 2023.

Luc Blais, the 2021 O’Brien Award of Horsemanship winner who trains for Determination, said he did not want to comment on this year’s Mohawk Million draw, which he was unable to attend.

McLinchey acknowledged how lower-priced slots seemed to put this year’s Mohawk Million on the radar of more owners, breeders and trainers, leading to some not getting in for the first time.

“I think we were more nervous going into this draw, just because you want to see everybody get in, but you knew that wasn’t going to be possible, and you knew that would leave some people feeling disappointed,” McLinchey said. “Everyone had to make a down payment of $25,000, and if you were out-drawn this week, you’re going to get your money back. It doesn’t mean you’re not going to be in the Mohawk Million. You just might have to get creative on how you get in there.”

The format is still a rarity in North American harness racing, although Truro Raceway introduced a slot race in 2023, the $50,000 Diamond Classic for Maritime-sired 2-year-old filly pacers. Slot races are gaining attention in Australia and New Zealand, with three in 2023, including the “World’s Richest Harness Race” the $2.1-million TAB Eureka for 3- and 4-year-old Australian-bred pacers. The second edition is slated for Menangle on Sept. 7, 2024. Slots cost $100,000 per year, and must be purchased for three-year terms.

McLinchey said the Mohawk Million’s slot format came from a thoroughbred race, yet works well for 2-year-old trotters.

“We took the idea and downsized it from the Pegasus at Gulfstream,” McLinchey said. “What makes it unique is not having to name the horse who’s using your slot until, really, the week of the race.”

While this year’s lowered slot price was intended to grow participation and help ensure a strong future for the race, McLinchey said it was not necessarily a change that would continue in 2025. He confirmed that the added money for the Mohawk Million purse is now $500,000, up from $100,000 in 2023, which comes from the Woodbine Mohawk Park purse account.

“We wanted to make sure we kept it going and kept the buy-in format, and we wanted to just get more people in,” he said. “Even if we had kept it at $100,000 and didn’t change anything, we might have been able to sell it out again this year, but I would rather be a year early making a change than a year late.”

It’s more than just a race, added McLinchey. Selling slots and conducting the draw “actually create buzz two or three times throughout the year. Handle-wise, he estimated it was, “probably in our top two or three races bet last year.” (According to SC information, $425,559 was wagered on the 2024 edition won by T C I).

“As soon as you have a million-dollar purse on a race, that garners a lot of attention for both fans and horseplayers, and horsemen,” McLinchey said. “It’s definitely an event we want to carry on. We certainly think it’s worthy of continuing… There may be tweaks along the way for future editions.”

Introduced in Sept. 2020, the inaugural Mohawk Million was won by Dan Patch 2-Year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year Venerate (5, 1:50.1m; $1,119,667) and driver Andrew McCarthy. The colt’s owners (Pinske Stables and Andy Miller Stable) negotiated a private deal to use the slot originally purchased by Brad Grant.

And that’s the consolation for anyone shut out of a slot in the 2024 Mohawk Million, according to McLinchey.

“I’m pretty sure if someone has a talented 2-year-old trotter and that’s the race they want to be in, they’ll find a way to get in,” he said.