Can Mohawk Be This Full?

Look at this photo. That's from Sunday's Queen's Plate at Woodbine. The grandstand was packed. WEG staff told me they haven't seen it that full since the Breeders Cup in 1996. CBC pegged the crowd at 25,000 strong

.

I think that we, the standardbred fans, can do better.

Let's show the world what a packed harness racing grandstand looks like and that, in 2009, it can still happen. I think we can fill up Mohawk on Saturday for Canada's richest race - standardbred or thoroughbred - the $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup.

If the Cup final was ever a competitive field lending itself to what promises to be a thrilling finish to a classic horse race, this would be it. Toni Rose doesn't think Well Said should be 2-1. Brenda Teague doesn't think Mr Wiggles should be 15-1. These trainers see this group of horses consistently and know them better than me. If they think it's going to be close, I'm in no position to argue.

Even look at horses like the Ontario-sired contingent of OK Boromir and Millionaire Cam. The former is a Burlington winner and finished a hard-closing second in his elim; the latter finally showed the signs of brilliance that had him pegged as the favourite in the Upper Canada Cup.

Upstart Keep It Real. Homebred Dial Or Nodial. World record holder If I Can Dream. Ultra-consistent Art Colony. Early season sensation Chasin Racin. Upset-minded Annieswesterncard.

The experts are divided. Clearly this edition of the 'Cup' will not be conceded to any contender.

Last year's shots of the crowd when Somebeachsomewhere powered to victory in Cup 25 showed a packed tarmac and a near-capacity grandstand. When I reflect on the 2009 Cup final next year, I'd like to remove that word 'near' and hear that people from WEG were elated with the turnout for Canada's richest horse race - the Pepsi North America Cup.