State Treasurer owned by Sally MacDonald and Paul MacDonald, trained by Dr. Ian Moore and driven by Chris Christoforou/Randy Waples captured three consecutive Molson Pace victories in 2013, 2014 and 2015. One of the best open pacers to ever look through a bridle in recent years - he retired to stand stud at Seelster Farms in Lucan, Ontario in 2017.
This is the fifth of five ‘WOW Signature Race Highlights’ written by longtime Raceway fan Shawn Crawford of Woodstock, Ontario - in all likelihood he’s been one of our biggest fans of The Raceway’s signature event for decades… Enjoy!
The Foiled Again / State Treasurer Era
Foiled Again, the richest standardbred of all time and arguably one of the most durable race horses to ever set foot on the planet would become a fan favourite in London, beginning in 2010, when he’d finish second, by a nose, to stalemate Won The West for the Burke Stable.
He would go on to win the Molson Pace in 2011 and 2012 - both in identical clockings of 151.3… In 2013 the chance of a three-peat would be a realistic thought. At the time, the only horse to ever achieve this feat was the great Jambo Dancer - consecutively from 1976 to 1978.
In horse racing a little bit of racing luck goes a long way and in 2013 it would be a gallant effort by State Treasurer that would earn him top honors for driver Randy Waples. He would return in 2014 with regular pilot Chris Christoforou and after an early miscue - he would end up trailing throughout - before circling the field and then nailing Apprentice Hanover (Jody Jamieson) and Foiled Again (Yannick Gingras) in a three-way thiller for the win in 151.4.
Another three-peat possibility? In 2015 State Treasurer and Chris Christoforou teamed up again and made it happen coming from off the pace to win in 151. That was indeed quite the night, but could he do the unheard of? Many anticipated the grand-slam performance in 2016, but unfortunately traffic trouble on the backstretch took away his chances and it would be an Evenin Of Pleasure (Sylvain Filion) upset at 35-1 and a 150.3 track record to go along with it.
It may not matter who is in the race and it may not matter who wins the race, but I can tell you one thing - the racing team at Western Fair Raceway, for years, have worked hard and have done a top notch job in attracting the best aged pacers in the sport. This is the best of the best! This is the race you do not want to miss!
State Treasurer Winning The 2014 Molson Pace www.youtube.com/watch?v=NvQJGFg-R4g
Jambo Dancer (Charlie Lawson) winning in 1977 over Omahas Duke and Super Glo.
Foiled Again (Yannick Gingras).
State Treasurer (Chris Christoforou)
Evenin Of Pleasure (Sylvain Filion)
