William R. Haughton Memorial Pace
| Location | Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment East Rutherford, New Jersey |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1977 |
| Race type | Standardbred (Pace) |
| Website | playmeadowlands |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1+1⁄8 miles (9 furlongs) |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Track | Left-handed |
| Qualification | 4-year-olds |
| Purse | $500,000 (2022) |
The William R. Haughton Memorial Pace (formerly known as the Governor Alfred E. Driscoll Pace) is a mile and one-eighth race for Standardbred Free-For-All pacers age four and older run annually at Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey.[1]
Currently, the race is held on the same card at the Meadowlands every third Saturday in July, alongside Stanley Dancer Memorial, Mistletoe Shalee, Dorothy Houghton Memorial, Hambletonian Maturity and Miss Versatility, as well as one of the racetrack's most signature events, the Meadowlands Pace.
Historical race events
First run in 1977, the race was known as the Governor Alfred E. Driscoll Pace in honor of Governor of New Jersey, Alfred E. Driscoll. In 1999 it was renamed in honor of legendary driver/trainer William Robert "Billy" Haughton.[2]
From inception through 2015 the race was set at a distance of one mile.[3]
On July 16, 2022, Bulldog Hanover made harness racing history by clocking in the fastest pace mile ever, winning the 2022 race with a time of 1:45 4/5.[4]
Records
- Most wins by a driver
- 6 – Michel Lachance (1989, 1990, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2004)
- Most wins by a trainer
- 3 – Joe Holloway (1984, 1985, 1986) & Virgil Morgan, Jr. (2007, 2008, 2013)
- Stakes record at 1 1/8 miles
- 2:01 1/5 – Always B Miki (2016; world record)
- Stakes record at 1 mile
- 1:45 4/5 – Bulldog Hanover (2022; fastest mile in harness racing history)[4]
William R. Haughton Memorial winners
| Year |
Winner |
Age |
Driver |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
Purse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Bulldog Hanover[4] | 4 | Dexter Dunn | Noel M. Daley | Jack Darling Stables Ltd., Bradley Grant | 1:45 4/5 | $500,000 |
| 2021 | Allywag Hanover | 4 | Tood McCarthy | Brett Pelling | Diamond Creek Racing | 1:47 1/5 | $265,400 |
| 2020[Note 1] | Dancin Lou | 4 | Brian Sears | Tah Camilleri | David C. Kryway | 1:47 2/5 | $391,300 |
| 2019 | Lather Up | 4 | Montrell Teague | Clyde Francis | Gary Iles, Barbara Iles | 2:01 1/5 | $423,000 |
| 2018 | Mcwicked | 7 | Brian Sears | Casie Coleman | S S G Stables | 2:02 2/5 | $471,100 |
| 2017 | Mach It So | 7 | David Miller | Jeffery Bammond, Jr. | Bamond Racing LLC | 2:00 4/5 | $427,400 |
| 2016 | Always B Miki | 5 | David Miller | Jimmy Takter | Bluewood Stable, Roll The Dice Stable, Christina E. Takter | 2:01 1/5 | $471,800 |
| 2015 | Mach It So | 5 | Tim Tetrick | Jeffrey Bamond, Jr. | Bamond Racing | 1:48 1/5 | $430,600 |
| 2014 | Sweet Lou | 5 | Ronald Pierce | Ron Burke | Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Larry Karr, Phil Collura | 1:47 1/5 | $463,000 |
| 2013 | Pet Rock | 4 | David Miller | Virgil Morgan, Jr. | Frank & Joe Bellino | 1:47 0/0 | $471,800 |
| 2012 | Golden Receiver | 7 | Andy Miller | Mark Harder | Stable 45, Richard Taylor, Stephen Springer, Nina Simmonds | 1:48 2/5 | $431,400 |
| 2011 | Alexie Mattosie | 5 | George Brennan | Nikolas Drennan | Donald Lindsey, Paul Kleinpaste, Dennis Mavrin, William Alempijevic | 1:48 1/5 | $523,000 |
| 2010 | Shark Gesture | 7 | George Brennan | Larry & Ray Remmen | Norman Smiley, Gerald Smiley, TLP Stable | 1:48 2/5 | $702,500 |
| 2009 | Shark Gesture | 6 | Tim Tetrick | Larry & Ray Remmen | Norman Smiley, Gerald Smiley, TLP Stable | 1:48 2/5 | $688,000 |
| 2008 | Mister Big | 5 | Brian Sears | Virgil Morgan, Jr. | Joseph Muscara, Sr. | 1:49 0/0 | $600,000 |
| 2007 | Mister Big | 4 | David Miller | Virgil Morgan, Jr. | Joseph Muscara, Sr. | 1:48 2/5 | $650,000 |
| 2006 | Leading X Ample | 4 | David Miller | William Elliott | Leading X Ample Stable | 1:48 2/5 | $650,000 |
| 2005 | Dr No | 4 | Catello Manzi | William Elliott | Brian Legge, Dr. David Legge, Robert Stewart | 1:50 1/5 | $700,000 |
| 2004 | Four Starzzz Shark | 6 | Michel Lachance | David Sabatelli | Four Starzzz Shark Stable (J. Cohen & M. Sudaley) | 1:48 1/5 | $700,000 |
| 2003 | McArdle | 4 | Michel Lachance | Christopher J. Ryder | TLP Stable | 1:50 0/0 | $650,000 |
| 2002 | Four Starzzz Shark | 4 | Jim Morrill, Jr. | Edward Hart | Four Starzzz Shark Stable (J. Cohen & M. Sudaley) | 1:49 3/5 | $650,000 |
| 2001 | Armbro Positive | 7 | Howard Parker | David Macneill | Perfect World Enterprises | 1:49 1/5 | $618,000 |
| 2000 | Western Ideal | 5 | Michel Lachance | Brett Pelling | Brittany Farms | 1:48 3/5 | $615,000 |
| 1999 | Red Bow Tie | 5 | Luc Ouellette | Monte Gelrod | Clifford Siegel, David Scharf, TLP Stable, D'Elegance Stable IX | 1:48 2/5 | $600,000 |
| 1998 | Pacific Fella | 5 | Catello Manzi | Edward Lohmeyer | Joseph Alborano | 1:49 3/5 | $250,000 |
| 1997 | Armbro Operative | 4 | Michel Lachance | Noel Daley | Thomas Walsh, Jr. & David McDuffee | 1:50 0/0 | $250,000 |
| 1996 | Jenna's Beach Boy | 4 | Bill Fahy | Joe Holloway | Leon P. DeVisser | 1:47 3/5 | $200,000 |
| 1995 | Village Jiffy | 5 | Paul MacDonnell | William Wellwood | Wellwood Stables Inc., Charles Armstrong | 1:50 4/5 | $200,000 |
| 1994 | Under Orders | 4 | Peter Wrenn | William Robinson | Anthony & Joseph Spadafora | 1:50 4/5 | $200,000 |
| 1993 | Staying Together | 4 | Bill O'Donnell | Robert McIntosh | Robert Hamather | 1:49 2/5 | $205,000 |
| 1992 | Artsplace | 4 | John Campbell | Robert McIntosh | Brittany Farms | 1:50 3/5 | $192,000 |
| 1991 | Prince Ebony | 8 | Ronald Pierce | George Patlias | Marinos Bouras | 1:50 3/5 | $210,000 |
| 1990 | TK's Skipper | 4 | Michel Lachance | Nick Sodano | Jerebel Stables (Jerry Dubiner) | 1:51 3/5 | $211,000 |
| 1989 | Matt's Scooter | 4 | Michel Lachance | Harry J. Poulton | Gordon & Illa Rumpel, Charles Juravinski | 1:50 1/5 | $196,000 |
| 1988 | Jaguar Spur | 4 | Richard Stillings | Richard Stillings | Roy Davis & Barberry Farm | 1:50 3/5 | $200,000 |
| 1987 | Governors Choice | 7 | Jim Doherty | Jim Doherty | 1:51 3/5 | $178,000 | |
| 1986 | Forrest Skipper | 4 | Lucien Fontaine | Marc Fontaine | Forrest Bartlett | 1:51 3/5 | $180,000 |
| 1985 | Tuff Choice | 4 | John Campbell | Joe Holloway | Shady Stable partnership (Milton Rovine) | 1:53 0/0 | $174,000 |
| 1984 | Glen Almahurst | 4 | Eddie Davis | Joe Holloway | Shady Stable partnership (Milton Rovine) | 1:52 1/5 | $203,000 |
| 1983 | Cam Fella | 4 | Pat Crowe | Pat Crowe | Norman Clements & Norman Faulkner, JEF's Stable | 1:53 2/5 | $183,000 |
| 1982 | Genghis Khan | 6 | Bill O'Donnell | Eddie Cobb | Eddie Cobb, Nevacal Stable, Jet Star Farms | 1:53 4/5 | $164,000 |
| 1981 | Royce | 4 | John Campbell | James Crane | A. & C. Skolnick, J. & P. Crane | 1:53 4/5 | $193,000 |
| 1980 | Tijuana Taxi | 4 | Jim Miller | Jim Miller | Barr M Stable | 1:54 3/5 | $167,000 |
| 1979 | Dream Maker | 6 | Ron Waples | William Robinson | Antonio Chiaravalle | 1:54 3/5 | $171,000 |
| 1978 | Whata Baron | 6 | Lewis D. Williams | Lewis D. Williams | Ed Freeburg | 1:54 4/5 | $152,000 |
| 1977 | Rambling Willie | 7 | Robert Farrington | Robert Farrington | Vivian Farrington & Paul Seibert | 1:55 1/5 | $186,000 |
- 1.↑ 2020: Raced to full completion amid low attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
References
- ^ Meadowlands 2015-2016 Media Guide Retrieved September 23, 2016
- ^ United States Trotting Association - July 6, 2004 Retrieved October 19, 2016
- ^ The Harness Edge - July 16, 2016 Retrieved September 24, 2016
- ^ a b c "Bulldog Hanover becomes outright fastest pacer ever". July 16, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022