San Pail literally rocked the house in capturing a historic third Maple Leaf Trot at Mohawk Racetrack this past Saturday night.

The plan came together nicely for the team of hard-working trainer and co-owner Rod Hughes, along with father Jerry, breeder and co-owner Glenn Van Camp and driver Randy Waples.

The plan came together as well for the team behind the recently-launched “I Love Canadian Harness Racing Fan Club”. They’d been touting San Pail all week and urging everyone to be there to cheer him on.

WEG’s publicity efforts had assembled an extraordinary crowd of all ages and the purple-clad Fan Club crew simply added to the highly-charged atmosphere. Even 500 San Pail promotional buttons weren’t nearly enough. And Fan Club team members kept the crowd pumped by tossing promotional shirts and hats into anxious hands on the tarmac all night long.

Purple Rules

Kathy Wade Vlaar, Standardbred Canada’s Industry Marketing Manager, says  the idea of asking fans to wear the colour Purple to match the San Pail’s number Nine saddlepad sprung from Sue Hughes (Rod’s mother), who last year suggested supporters  wear Green when San Pail had the Four hole.

Vlaar is an industry veteran who has been trackside for many big events, but even she was struck by the intensity of the Mohawk spectators that night.

“It was so awesome to hear the crowd roar when San Pail stepped onto the track in the post parade,” she said. “A collective cheer went up during the race when Randy took him to the front…and it just didn’t stop.

“And then there was the applause when he came back to the winner’s circle.

“Horses like San Pail have amazing star power. And the energy and atmosphere at the track was super exciting because of it.”

Making Connections

Part of the mandate of the Harness Racing Fan Club is to make a connection between racegoers and the horses and the people involved.  San Pail was the first horse to be added to the Faces of Racing stable on the Club’s website.

“We wanted a horse primarily racing in Canada, with Canadian connections, of course, so that we could build an event and a following around a horse,” Vlaar said.

“San Pail already had an established following, and it seemed to make perfect sense, with him going for three Maple Leaf Trots. Add to that the fact that all his connections are super enthusiastic about him, and you’ve got a great combination.”

Membership is Free

The free Fan Club membership offers sign-ups a weekly e-newsletter, monthly handicapping contests and draws for such packages as a Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame package, an O’Brien Awards package, a VIP night, A Day with a Trainer, a Breeding Farm tour, etc.

Coming up quickly is the Fan Club-organized bus tour to New Jersey August 4-7 to back Jody Jamieson in the final two legs of the World Driving Championship at the Meadowlands and Yonkers. It includes as well a visit to the Hambletonian on August 6th. Other tours and events are in the works.

Vlaar says there’s been a huge response from racetracks in helping to promote the Club. “And the people we’ve asked to be Faces of Racing are all very willing and excited.”

The Fan Club will also be showcased at non-racing events and festivals, including a day at the Canadian National Exhibition.

And just in case you thought the Fan Club was only for those on the other side of the fence. Think again. It’s for everybody who loves racing. And it’s snowballing as an ideal means of celebrating and growing the sport.

How can you help?

Just get everyone you know to sign up here: www.ilovecanadianharnessracing.com