The Governor's Cup 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. In 2013, the race became part of the 'Fall Four' stakes and alternated between Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey and Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario.Woodbine Entertainment Group January 11, 2016 article titled "WEG announces 2016 $14 million-plus stakes schedule" Retrieved August 28, 2016 Since 2017, it has been held at Meadowlands Racetrack.

Historical race events In a 2011 Hambletonian Society article on trainer Ray Schnittker, in referring to the 2009 Governor's Cup winner One More Laugh, author Jay Bergman wrote: "His [One More Laugh] 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."The Hambletonian Society, Inc. - October 22, 2011 article titled "Schnittker Still Has Plenty to Laugh About" Retrieved November 4, 2016

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.Guelph Mercury Tribune December 21, 2011 article titled "Big Jim blazed a brilliant, but short, pacing path" Retrieved November 5, 2016Meadowlands Racetrack article on Big Jim Retrieved November 4, 2016 Through 2015 his time is still the Governor's Cup stakes record.

Locations Garden State Park Racetrack (GSP) (1985–2000) Meadowlands Racetrack (Mmx) (2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2013, 2015, 2017–2023) Mohawk Raceway (Moh) (2003) Woodbine Racetrack (Wdb) (2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2014, 2016) Harrah's Chester Racetrack (Chst) (2009, 2011)

Records Most wins by a driver 6 – John Campbell (1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 2001, 2002)

Most wins by a trainer 4 – Robert McIntosh (1995, 1998, 2001, 2008)

Stakes record 1:49 1/5 – Big Jim (2010) (Wdb) 1:49 2/5 – El Rey (2022) (Mmx) 1:52 1/5 – Western Hanover (1991) (GSP)

Winners of the Governor's Cup Stakes Hambletonian.org Governors Cup History Retrieved October 22, 2016

Year Winner Driver Trainer Owner Time Purse Track2023Captain LukeTodd McCarthyTony AlagnaRobert LeBlanc, Pryde Stables Inc., Brad Grant, Steven Head1:51 0/0$454,000Mmx2022El ReyScott ZeronTony AlagnaBrittany Farms LLC, El Rey Racing1:49 2/5$430,000Mmx2021Early ActionBrian SearsJoe HollowayVal D'Or Farms, Ted Gewertz1:50 0/0$386,000Mmx2020Always A MikiDexter DunnNancy TakterChristina Takter, Goran Anderberg, Herb Liverman, Rojan Stables1:50 2/5$371,900Mmx2019Papi Rob HanoverDavid MillerBrett PellingDavid McDuffee1:51 1/5$401,850Mmx2018Captain CrunchScott ZeronNancy Johnasson3 Brothers Stable, Christina Takter, Rojan Stables, Caviart Farms1:50 3/5$469,300Mmx2017Lost In TimeScott ZeronJimmy TakterA Rocknroll Dance Racing, Denny Miller, William Rufenacht, Team S Racing Stable1:50 1/5$411,000Mmx2016DownbytheseasideDavid MillerBrian BrownCountry Club Acres Inc., Joe Sbrocco, Richard Lombardo1:51 1/5$520,000Wdb2015Boston Red RocksTim TetrickSteve ElliotPeter Blood, Rick Berks1:50 3/5$413,000Mmx2014ArtspeakScott ZeronTony AlagnaBrittany Farms, Marvin Katz, Joe Sbrocco, In The Gym Partners 1:50 4/5$565,000Wdb2013JK EndofaneraBrian SearsRon Burke3 Brothers Stables1:51 4/5$534,500Mmx2011A Rocknroll DanceYannick GingrasJim MulinixJim Mulinix, Denny Miller, Jerry Silva, Theresa Silva1:51 0/0$510,000Chst2010Big JimPhil HudonJames DeanJames Carr 1:49 1/5$709,000Wdb2009One More LaughTim TetrickRay SchnittkerRay Schnittker, Mathias Meinzinger, Jerry Silva1:49 2/5$600,000Chst2008NebupanezzarSteve CondrenRobert McIntosh Peter Pan Stables Inc. (Robert Glazer) 1:51 2/5$820,000Wdb2007Santanna Blue ChipJody JamiesonCarl R. JamiesonC. R. Jamieson, 140545 Ontario Ltd., Jeffrey R. Gillis, George Arthur Stable1:53 1/5$731,700Wdb2006Sutter HanoverDavid MillerMark HarderDeena Frost, Sampson Street Stable, Fox Hollow Farm, TLP Stable1:52 0/0$450,000Mmx2005Jereme's JetPaul MacDonellThomas HarmerGenesis Racing Stable (Jolene Leahy )1:53 3/5$593,032Wdb2004Syncro's Z TamPatrick LachancePatrick LachanceMJGB Racing Stable1:53 1/5$237,400Mmx2003I Am A FoolRonald Pierce Brett PellingPerfect World Enterprises1:54 1/5$652,898Moh2002Allamerican NativeJohn CampbellMark CaponeDavid Scharf, A&G Stables, Jerry Silva1:53 1/5$520,000Mmx2001Western ShooterJohn CampbellRobert McIntoshRobert McIntosh, CSX Stables, Michael Koehler Walnut Hall Ltd'1:50 0/0$500,000Mmx2000Bettor's DelightEric LedfordScott McEnenyJohn B. Grant1:52 2/5$545,300GSP1999TyberwoodRichard SilvermanGary MachizLeon Machiz1:51 4/5$572,400GSP1998Island FantasyMichel LachanceRobert McIntoshRobert Waxman1:52 0/0$600,000GSP1997Sealed N DeliveredRonald PierceChristopher RyderSampson Street Stables1:52 2/5$590,600GSP1996The Big DogJoe AndersonJoe AndersonJohn J. Leahy & Jayne Cummins1:51 3/5$612,600GSP1995Live or DieSteve CondrenRobert McIntosh1:54 2/5$600,000GSP1994CA ConnectionJoe AndersonKevin Thomas1:54 1/5$616,400GSP1993Magical MikeJohn CampbellTommy HaughtonShadow Lne Farm1:54 3/5$550,000GSP1992Life SignJohn CampbellGene RiegleGeorge Segal1:53 1/5$537,800GSP1991Western HanoverBill FahyGene RiegleGeorge Segal1:52 1/5$584,300GSP1990ArtsplaceJohn CampbellGene RiegleGeorge Segal, Brian Monieson1:53 0/0$655,600GSP1989In The PocketJohn CampbellDr. Ken SeeberLPG Standardbreds Inc.1:54 2/5$681,100GSP1988How Bout ItTommy HaughtonTommy Haughton1:54 3/5$705,100GSP1987 No Race - No Race No Race No Race0:00 0/0----1986RedskinBill O'DonnellJerry SmithJerry Smith1:55 0/0$1,513,500GSP1985Barberry SpurBill O'DonnellRichard StillingsRoy D. Davis & Barberry Farms1:54 1/5$1,257,500GSP

External links YouTube video of Big Jim winning the 2010 Governor's Cup in World Record time

References