Maybe a smaller venue is better and the Gold Cup & Saucer is proof

by John Berry

Mane Attraction columns of the past have suggested that harness racing now belongs in smaller populated arenas, where the sport would mean more to the locals than cities featuring other major sports and venues.

Heck, New York and Chicago are two examples with those cities offering the best in restaurants, shows, shopping, museums, sightseeing, and just about every other thing imaginable to its citizens, and racing struggles to survive, and in the Chicago area, it hasn’t.

L.A. is another prime example with Hollywood and stars galore as part of their crowd on a regular basis.

Other large metropolis areas also have failed, like Philadelphia, which also was particularly important as a venue at Liberty Bell Park.

Detroit, too.

Saturday night just proved the point at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park, home of the Atlantic Lottery Gold Cup & Saucer.

Charlottetown is far from the major hubs of our sport but seems to have a knack for producing great horsemen and superior racing, supported by a healthy throng of devoted fans that frequent the driving park in droves.

About 70 years ago, over on Euston Street in that metropolis, a future famous horseman was “foaled” — a horseman that put me onto that great facility many years ago, and one to whom I turn in this modern era to try and find their secrets to success.

Last Saturday night, the 2026 edition of the Grade 3 Gold Cup & Saucer was captured by Fifth And Five, a 4-year-old son of Bettors Delight trained by Mark McKinnon for Pollack Racing LLC of Venetia, PA. In a track record-tying 1:49.4 over the exquisitely manicured racetrack.

While that is significant, driver Jody Jamieson put his performance on the back burner and placed the event, itself, on the front one.

Jamieson is the son of the Hall of Fame Canadian horseman Carl Jamieson, with credentials himself that are Hall of Fame worthy with over 9,000 career wins, $138 million in purses for owners, multi-year winner of the prestigious O’Brien Award, two-time world driving champion, and a winner of just about every major stakes offered in our world of harness racing and more.

Yes, Jody was in the bike this night and began his winning journey from the second tier post 9, which was a huge factor in the win.

For the record, Timeisonmyside, with Anthony MacDonald in the sulky, was a half-length away in second and a nose better than the pacesetter and favorite, Sugar Man, handled by Doug McNair, next.

Ammo finished fourth while Jordy Hill picked up the nickel in this world renowned $100,000 event.

In a post-race interview, Jody had high praise for the entire crew hosting this grand event.

“I’ve been in this industry well over 30 years and I have been fortunate enough to participate in the most prestigious races in the world… and I have to tell you, this one takes the cake,” he said.

“I got chills even during the post parade as they brought us into the spotlight and, then, to win it, well, it’s the kind of happening that leaves one numb with excitement and joy.”

Yes, the race was yet another classic event for Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at Charlottetown Driving Park as Sugar Man left with alacrity to stay out of trouble with Jordy N alongside in somewhat of a battle through the opening turn and to the first quarter in :27.2.

Jordy N had nowhere to hide on the inside as Fifth And Five kept the hole closed in the garden spot while Fifth And Five was forced to be patient for Jamieson through a half in :55.4.

The pace quickened on the backside the final time — third quarter in :26.3 — as Fifth And Five remained snug and patient until the head of the stretch.

That’s when Jamieson found room to roam on the inside, got by Sugar Man and held off the fastest closing Timeisonmyside by that half-length margin.

When asked if the draw played a big role in the win, Jamieson said, “The draw was one key factor, for sure, but, as a driver, you have to try and do the right thing, especially when the bell rings [gate opens].

“[Trainer] Mark [McKinnon] had the favorite [Sugar Man] in there and he had the inside post right in front of me and I really thought that I would have the best chance in following him closely, if I could.

“My horse is very smart and he stayed right on Sugar Man’s back and, when I asked him for his best, he gave it to me.”

As noted, trainer McKinnon had both Sugar Man and Fifth And Five in the race and, when asked about how he got the drive, Jody explained, “I handled this horse as a 2-year-old and 3-year-old.

“There was an offer to buy him and I really didn’t want to sell but, we made a deal — this was last November.

“I said, ‘If we do sell him to you, I want to drive him in the Gold Cup & Saucer next August,’ and they agreed, and that’s how I got the drive here.

“He was real good qualifying for the event the week before [third, beaten a neck] and, when the draw was over, I was thankful that we didn’t draw the seven or eight on this half-mile track.

“Kudos to Lee Drake, the track crew and everyone involved that make this the fantastic event it has become — a world class event!”

Charlottetown Driving Park had a double header that day with the Gold Cup & Saucer the 26th and last race on the double header day.

But while this Mane Attraction attempted to highlight his second-tier heroics in winning this event, Jody preferred to put the spotlight on the event, itself.

This race is one of the great traditions in Canadian harness racing and, in recent years, the world, as well.

The track, itself, has a storied history dating back to 1888 and this event has similar markings of our Little Brown Jug, as the event was conceived in 1960 by two businessmen from Charlottetown, E. Frank Acorn (affectionately known as “Duck”) and Bill Hancox, who was the publisher of the Charlottetown Evening Post — shades of the Little Brown Jug’s Joe Neville and Hank Thomson, publisher of the Delaware [Ohio] Gazette.

The objective was to revive the luster of Old Home Week and the timing was perfect after the Charlottetown grandstand was gutted by fire the year before.

The name was created by combining the names of two established event — England’s Cheltenham Gold Cup and Ontario’s Cup & Saucer Stakes.

Amazingly, the trophy, itself, eventually became as famous as the race and is considered as the “Stanley Cup” of harness racing.

Over the years, this race became the centerpiece of Old Home Week and began attracting the finest horses and horsemen from North America.

“The atmosphere,” Jody said, “is as much a tradition here as all of us are introduced under the lights with the grandstand lights dimmed.

“This was the last race on the double-header card and it’s pretty much tradition that it’s held a couple of minutes before midnight.”

In its early years, the Charlottetown half-mile oval was a slow, clay track with the first winner, Dees Boy, winning a two-heat event in going the first heat in 2:06, Newport Frisco winning the second one in 2:06.3, and Dee’s Boy in summary earning the crown.

Dee’s Boy also won again in 1962.

The accompanying Gold Cup Parade began in 1962 and, with the parade and Gold Cup & Saucer race, this event turned into one of the Island’s greatest events.

Jody reminded me to give credit due to the entire roster of heroes at Charlottetown Driving Park and Red Shores, especially Lee Drake, a veteran broadcaster who is now the manager of racing, brands, and broadcasting and Vance Cameron, the legendary announcer at that venue.

“Mr. Drake makes the wheels go around here,” said Jamieson, “and it’s his heroics and construction of a great team here at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino that keep this event one of the greatest of all events in the harness racing world.

“Vance is just a fantastic talent back of the microphone.

“He’s probably been calling races for at least a half century and his status is legendary in the industry.

“Many of his phrases have become legendary, as well, as he says, ‘Boom, just like that’ or ‘It’s showtime at Charlottetown!’

“It all adds up to one of the greatest spectacles in our sport.”

By the way, the reference to Euston Street early in this Mane Attraction belongs to Hall of Fame horseman Wally Hennessey, who said it was about an eight-minute walk from his house to the track, where he started his humble beginnings.

Hennessey said, “Look at the [Little Brown] Jug in Delaware, OH, the Hambletonian in DuQuoin, and the Gold Cup & Saucer here in Charlottetown.

“They packed ’em in year after year.”

Anderson, IN is home of the Hambletonian for the foreseeable future.

It’s not Chicago, Los Angeles, or some large metropolitan area, but it’s the next home of another of the sports premier events, and it will be packed.

May The Horse Be With You!