Cane Pace - First Leg of Pacing Triple Crown

The Cane Pace is the first race of the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers. What makes pacing different from other forms of horse racing is the gate in which the horses compete. Thoroughbreds will race at a gallop, while pacers will move at a gate called the pace. With the pace, the front and back legs one the same side of the horse will move together. For example, the right front and right back legs will move in unison and the left front and left back legs will also move in unison. Typically, pacers will have an easier time maintaining their gate than trotters.

The Cane Pace was first created in 1955. It was not until 1956 that the Cane Pace joined with the Messenger Stakes and the Little Brown Jug to form the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers. Currently, the Cane Pace is hosted by Freehold raceway in Freehold, New Jersey; however, this has not always been the host track for the first race of the Pacing Triple Crown. From 1953 until 1997, the Cane Pace was hosted by Yonkers Raceway in Yonkers, New York. In 1998, the race was move to Freehold Raceway, which is the oldest and most historical half mile racing track in the United States. It is now held at Tioga Downs in upstate New York.

There have been many different records and historical events seen during the many runnings of the Cane Pace. Two drivers have tied for the most wins at the Cane Pace. Drivers John Campbell and Stanley Dancer both tied for the most wins at four apiece. Another historical event occurred in 2004 when the first ever dead heat occurred in the Cane Pace. Timesareachanging and Western Terror both finished the pace in the exact same time and were crowned co-champions for that year. Another reason why the dead heat was so historical is that it was the first time in the history of the Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Pacers that two different horses had a chance to win the Triple Crown. The year of 1960 also proved to be very historical. This was the only year that a filly has been able to win the Cane Pace. The filly's name was Countess Adios. Each all of the individuals involved with the sport of harness racing eagerly await the results of the Cane Pace so that they will know which horse has the opportunity to become the next Triple Crown winner.



Past Winners

1955 - Quick Chief


1956 - Noble Adios

1957 - Torpid

1958 - Raider Frost

1959 - Adios Butler


1960 - Countess Adios (filly)


1961 - Cold Front

1962 - Ranger Knight

1963 - Meadow Skipper


1964 - Race Time

1965 - Bret Hanover


1966 - Romeo Hanover


1967 - Meadow Paige

1968 - Rum Customer


1969 - Kat Byrd

1970 - Most Happy Fella


1971 - Albatross


1972 - Hilarious Way

1973 - Smog



1974 - Boyden Hanover

1975 - Nero


1976 - Keystone Ore

1977 - Jade Prince


1978 - Armbro Tiger

1979 - Happy Motoring

1980 - Niatross


1981 - Wildwood Jeb

1982 - Cam Fella


1983 - Ralph Hanover


1984 - On The Road Again


1985 - Chairmanoftheboard

1986 - Barberry Spur


1987 - Righteous Buck

1988 - Runnymede Lobell

1989 - Dancing Master

1990 - Jake And Elwood

1991 - Silky Stallone

1992 - Western Hanover


1993 - Riyadh

1994 - Falcons Future

1995 - Mattgrilla Gorilla

1996 - Scoot To Power

1997 - Western Dreamer


1998 - Shady Character


1999 - Blissful Hall


2000 - Powerful Toy


2001 - Four Starzzz Shark


2002 - Art Major


2003 - No Pan Intended


2004 - Timesareachanging & Western Terror



2005 - Royal Flush Shark

2006 - Total Truth


2007 - Always A Virgin


2008 - Art Official


2009 - Vintage Master


2010 - One More Laugh


2011 - Betterthancheddar


2012 - Dynamic Youth