The Cane Pace is a harness horse race for standardbred pacers contested annually since 1955. The race was first run as the William H. Cane Futurity in 1955 at Yonkers Raceway in New York. Harness Racing in New York State: A History of Trotters, Tracks and Horsemen by Dean Hoffman published 2012 by The History Press (August 14, 2012) In 1956 the race joined with the Little Brown Jug and the Messenger Stakes to become the first leg in the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers.
The Cane Pace of 2004 resulted in the only dead heat in the race's history and one where the two horses had the same trainer and owner.
As of 2023, the Cane Pace is held at the Meadowlands Racetrack in New Jersey as part of the undercard for the Hambletonian Stakes, the first leg of the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Trotters.Daily Racing Form - October 31, 2014 Retrieved October 12, 2016
Distances 2016–present: 1 1/8 miles (1810.5 metres, 9.5 furlongs) (If 12 horses start) 1963–present : 1 mile (1609.3 metres, 8 furlongs) (If no more than 11 horses start) 1955–1962 : 1 1/16 miles (1709.9 metres, 8.5 furlongs)
Locations 1955–1997 - Yonkers Raceway 1998–2010 - Freehold Raceway 2011 - Pocono Downs (Originally scheduled for Tioga Downs but had to be moved due to flooding) 2012–2014 - Tioga Downs 2015–present - Meadowlands Racetrack
Records Most wins by a driver 5 – John Campbell (1985, 1989, 1990, 2002, 2004)
Most wins by a trainer 4 – Stanley Dancer (1970, 1971, 1973, 1976)
Stakes record 1:46 2/5. Legendary Hanover (2024)
Cane Pace winners Year Winner Driver Trainer Owner Dist. Time Purse2026Sweet Lovin LouTim TetrickDaniel LagaceLagace Stables, Edwin Buhler, Big Als Stables & Brittany Farms1 m1:47 3/5$310,7502025Captain OptimisticDexter DunnNancy Takter3 Brothers Stables, Marvin Katz and Caviart Farms1 m1:48 1/5$315,7642024Legendary HanoverJames MacDonaldAnthony BeatonEric Good, West Wins Stable and Mark Dumain1 m1:46 1/5$248,0002023ConfederateTim TetrickBrett PellingDiamond Creek Racing LLC1 m1:47 3/5$315,7502022Beach GlassYannick GingrasBrent MacGrathSchooner II Stable1 m1:49 0/0$258,3002021Rockyroad HanoverDexter DunnTony AlagnaRiverview Racing LLC, B Grant, K Jacobs, and VJ Stable1 m 1:48 1/5$276,1502020Tall Dark StrangerYannick GingrasNancy TakterCrawford Farms Racing, Marvin Katz, Caviart Farms & Howard Taylor1 m 1:47 1/5$273,1252019Captain CrunchScott ZeronNancy Johansson3 Brothers Stables, C. Takter, Rojan Stables & Caviart Farms1 m 1:48 0/5$285,3622018Stay HungryDoug McNairTony AlagnaBradley Grant & Irwin Samelman1 m 1:47 3/5$281,0002017HuntsvilleTim TetrickRay SchnittkerSchnittker, Gewertz, Arnold & Crawford Farms1 1/8 m 2:03 0/0$334,3252016 Control The Moment Brian Sears Brad Maxwell Control The Moment Stable 1 1/8 m 2:02 4/5 $320,0002015 Dealt A Winner David Miller Mark Silva Jeffrey S. Snyder 1 m 1:47 3/5 $319,4002014 Lyonssomewhere Yannick Gingras Jimmy Takter Geoffrey Lyons Mound 1 m 1:49 4/5 $437,3252013 Captaintreacherous Tim Tetrick Tony Alagna Captaintreacherous Racing Stable 1 m 1:49 2/5 $360,2112012 Dynamic Youth George Brennan Aaron Lambert J and T Silva Stables 1 m 1:48 4/5 $322 7162011 BetterthancheddarYannick GingrasCasie ColemanSteve Calhoun & West Wins Stable1 m 1:49 2/5 $342,8752010 One More Laugh Tim Tetrick Ray Schnittker Mathias Meinzinger, Jerry Silva, R. Schnittker 1 m 1:50 3/5 $300,0002009 Vintage Master Daniel Dubé Jimmy Takter Brittany Farms & Estate of Brian Monieson 1 m 1:50 4/5 $325,0002008Art OfficialRonald PierceJoe Seekman Sawgrass Farms 1 m 1:51 1/5 $392,8502007 Always A VirginBrian SearsJoe HollowayBluestone Farms, et al. 1 m 1:51 1/5 $297,5002006 Total Truth Ronald Pierce George Teague, Jr. Only Money Inc., Teague Inc. 1 m 1:51 3/5 $301,5872005 Royal Flush Shark Eric Ledford Seldon Ledford D'Elegance Stable, Royal Flush Stable, C. Iannacone, G. Giamarino 1 m 1:52 4/5 $346,0002004 (DH) Timesareachanging Ronald Pierce Brett Pelling Perfect World Enterprises 1 m 1:52 3/5 $334,975Western TerrorJohn Campbell 2003 No Pan Intended David Miller Ivan Sugg Peter Pan Stables Inc. (Robert Glazer) 1 m 1:53 3/5 $331,0002002 Art Major John Campbell Monte Gelrod Deena Frost, Thomas & Louis Pontone, Lou & Debora Domiano 1 m 1:53 1/5 $369,1882001 Four Starzzz Shark David Miller Edward Hart Four Starzzz Shark Stable (Jeff Cohen & Mike Sudaley) 1 m 1:53 3/5 $345,6942000 Powerful Toy Luc Ouellette Monte Gelrod Newman Racing, Dodge A Bullet Sable, Sampson Street Stable 1 m 1:51 4/5 $331,3501999 Blissfull Hall Ronald Pierce Benjamin Wallace Daniel Plouffe 1 m 1:51 4/5 $377,9341998 Shady Character Michel Lachance Brett Pelling Sanford & Corinne Goldfarb1 m 1:53 2/5 $379,9411997 Western Dreamer Michel Lachance William Robinson Matthew J., Patrick J. Jr. & Daniel J. Daly 1 m 1:53 2/5 $318,1411996 Scoot To Power Catello Manzi Jonas Stutzman Jim R. Miller, et al. 1 m 1:55 1/5 $326,4291995 Mattgilla Gorilla David Ingraham William Andrews Edmund & David Smith, Alan Foster 1 m 1:54 2/5 $384,3751994 Falcons Future Ken Holliday Lonnie McIntosh Elden & Mary Ann Combs 1 m 1:53 2/5 $391,7801993 Riyadh Jim Morrill, Jr. William Robinson R. Peter Heffering 1 m 1:51 2/5 $432,8001992 Western Hanover Bill Fahy Gene Riegle George Segal 1 m 1:53 3/5 $364,3501991 Silky Stallone Jack Moiseyev Brett Pelling Louis P. Guida 1 m 1:53 3/5 $523,1901990 Jake And Elwood John Campbell Ken Seeber Louis P. Guida 1 m 1:55 1/5 $486,5501989 Dancing Master John Campbell Ken Seeber Louis P. Guida 1 m 1:56 2/5 $621,2101988 Runnymede Lobell Yves Filion Yves Filion Yves Filion & Normand Mondoux 1 m 1:55 2/5 $583,7901987 Righteous Bucks Michel Lachance Richard Marine Fred Borman, et al. 1 m 1:56 0/0 $581,5401986 Barberry Spur Bill O'Donnell Richard Stillings Roy D. Davis & Barberry Farms 1 m 1:55 1/5 $542,7641985 Chairmanoftheboard John Campbell Samuel "Skip" Lewis New Concept Stable (Louis P. Guida, et al.) 1 m 1:55 1/5 $600,0001984 On The Road AgainWilliam "Buddy" GilmourHarry J. PoultonGordon & Illa Rumpel 1 m 1:56 4/5 $600,0001983 Ralph Hanover Ron Waples Stewart Firlotte Ron Waples, Pointsetta Stables, Grants Direct Stables 1 m 1:57 0/0 $559,2301982 Cam Fella Pat Crowe Pat Crowe Norman Clements & Norman Faulkner1 m 1:57 3/5 $513,3001981 Wildwood Jeb Jimmy Marohn Larry Rolla Joel Weinberg 1 m 1:58 1/5 $373,8501980 Niatross Clint Galbraith Clint Galbraith Niatross Syndicate 1 m 1:57 3/5 $321,3651979 Happy Motoring Bill Popfinger Bill Popfinger Steve Ransom, et al. 1 m 1:57 3/5 $336,4201978 Armbro Tiger Hervé Filion Louis Meittinis Louis Meittinis & Julius Weiss 1 m 1:58 1/5 $307,5941977 Jate Prince Jack Kopas Jack Kopas C. Edwin Armstrong 1 m 1:58 2/5 $286,5001976 Keystone Ore Stanley Dancer Stanley Dancer Perry, Jones, Dancer, Dancer & Hild 1 m 1:57 1/5 $200,0001975 Nero Joe O'Brien James Crane Standardbred breeding1 m 1:58 4/5 $200,0001974 Boyden Hanover William Herman Sandy Levy George Sholty, Mr. & Mrs. Frank Allecia, Mr. & Mrs. James Picciano 1 m 1:59 4/5 $121,8221973 Smog Vernon Dancer Stanley Dancer Alfred M. Cuddy 1 m 1:58 4/5 $100,0001972 Hilarious Way John F. Simpson, Jr. John F. Simpson, Sr. Gainesway Farm 1 m 2:02 2/5 $107,0971971 Albatross Stanley Dancer Stanley Dancer Amicable Stable 1 m 2:00 0/0 $106,7951970 Most Happy Fella Stanley Dancer Stanley Dancer Egyptian Acres Stable 1 m 1:58 3/5 $102,7701969 Kat Byrd Eldon G. HarnerLevi B. HarnerTed J. Zornow 1 m 2:02 2/5 $100,0001968 Rum Customer Billy Haughton Billy Haughton Louis & Connie Manucuso & Kennilworth Farm 1 m 1:59 4/5 $150,0001967 Meadow Paige Billy Haughton Billy Haughton Jack Stahl 1 m 2:03 0/0 $150,0001966 Romeo Hanover William Myer Jerry Silverman Lucky Star Stables & Morton Finder 1 m 1:59 4/5 $126,9151965 Bret Hanover Frank Ervin Frank Ervin Richard Downing 1 m 2:01 0/0 $125,2361964 Race Time Ralph N. Baldwin Ralph Baldwin Castleton Farm 1 m 2:01 4/5 $123,1911963 Meadow Skipper Earle Avery Earle Avery Norman S. Woolworth 1 m 1:58 4/5 $163,1871962 Ranger Knight Clint Hodgins Eugene Minniear Eugene Minniear & Dr. V. T. Scroggin 1 1/16 m 2:13 1/5 $117,5421961 Cold Front Clint Hodgins Clint Hodgins Stoneybrook Stable 1 1/16 m 2:08 3/5 $110,9501960 Countess Adios Delvin Miller Delvin Miller J. Elgin & Ted Armstrong & Hugh A. Grant, Sr. 1 1/16 m 2:08 0/0 $65,2451959 Adios Butler Clint Hodgins Clint Hodgins Paige West & Angelo Pellillo 1 1/16 m 2:09 0/0 $64,4571958 Raider Frost Hugh Bell Joe O'Brien S. A. Camp Farms 1 1/16 m 2:08 1/5 $60,4571957 Torpid John F. Simpson, Sr. John F. Simpson, Sr. John F. Simpson, Sr. 1 1/16 m 2:09 1/5 $66,9521956 Noble Adios John F. Simpson Sr. John F. Simpson, Sr. John F. Simpson, Sr. 1 1/16 m 2:09 2/5 $71,5701955 Quick Chief Billy Haughton Billy Haughton Farmsted Acres & John Froelich 1 1/16 m 2:11 1/5 $71,040
References