The Mohawk Million is one of the big events on the Ontario calendar for standardbred racing, the richest race for two-year-old trotters.
So this week’s announcement by Woodbine Entertainment on slot owners for the fourth edition of the big event generated a lot of buzz.
To compete in the $1 million Mohawk Million, scheduled this year for Sept. 23 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, an owner must purchase a slot at a cost of $100,000 or have a horse win the William Wellwood Memorial on Aug. 26. A total of 10 two-year-old trotters will line up behind the gate for the race.
The deadline to purchase a slot passed on Feb. 15 and all nine slots were sold.
The slow owners include Anthony Lombardi, Courant Inc., Determination (two slots), Ecurie CSL, Gino Toscani (two slots), Greg Luther, and Hunterton Farms and Partners.
The slot owners don’t have to declare a two-year-old trotter for the race until entry time. The slot is an entity; it may be sold or traded, subject to lease. Each owner had to submit $50,000 by Feb. 15; the balance is owed by June 1.
The Mohawk Million is one of harness racing’s richest cards of the year. More than $3.3 million in purses will be up for grabs on the card, with the $850,000 Metro Pace, $600,000 Canadian Trotting Classic, $540,000 Shes A Great Lady and $375,000 Elegantimage also scheduled for Sept. 23.
