Standardbred Canada hails the
’Pail as Harness Horse of the Year
by Heather McCrae/The Scugog Standard

San Pail reined in all the votes. And, now he reigns as Canada’s 2011 Harness Horse of the Year.
_And here’s one more tidbit of information: the esteemed trotter owned by Glenn Van Camp of Port Perry and Rod Hughes of Dunsford, also won an O’Brien Award for top Older Trotter ... for the third consecutive year!
_These prestigious awards and more were given out at a lavish black-tie affair at the Delta Meadowvale Convention Centre on Saturday, Jan. 28, put on by Standardbred Canada.
_The O’Brien Awards celebrate the absolute best in harness racing and are the highest honour the sport bestows upon its heroes in this country. You can equate it to an actor receiving an Oscar.
_San Pail started out on his journey as a horse that no one wanted. Owned by Glenn, it was a large calcification on the horse’s hock that thwarted any chances of being sold in 2006. The injury was likely due to a kick in the pasture.
_Fate intervened one day when standardbred horse trainer Rod Hughes entered Brooks Feeds in Port Perry, owned by Robert Van Camp, Glenn’s son. Robert offered Rod a three-quarter ownership share of the horse. If the trainer couldn’t get the horse to trot, he could sell San Pail to the Amish as a buggy horse and keep the money in lieu of any training bills.
_Rod’s patience as a trainer paid off when San Pail’s skills on the racetrack began to show in 2007. Since then, the colt has been a powerhouse on the track and has commanded a following like none other.
_San Pail’s record shows 49 career wins in Canada and the U.S. and just under three million dollars in earnings to his credit.
_San Pail’s achievements last year included his third consecutive win in the Maple Leaf Trot and a stunning win the Breeders Crown last fall against highly-touted European invaders Rapide Lebel and Commander Crowe.
_In the US, he claimed the winning title at the Nat Ray Invitational at the Meadowlands, NJ, and went on to more decisive victories in the Credit Winner at Vernon Downs, NY, and the Allerage Farm Trot at The Red Mile in Kentucky.
_San Pail also holds the distinction of being one of the world’s best trotters.
_Not bad for a horse that no one wanted.
_“Winning the Horse of the Year Award is a wonderful tribute and I want to thank Standardbred Canada for putting on this awards night,” said Glenn. “I also give a lot of thanks to Rod and his father, Jerry, for their training and care.”
_Glen went on to say that driver Randy Waples and San Pail make a terrific team.
_“This Horse of the Year award tonight solidifies what San Pail is all about,” said Rod, after the presentations. “I’m proud to have him in my barn.”
_San Pail, now eight years old, will continue to race this year, pretty much sticking to the same schedule as last year.
_“He’s sharp and healthy. We hope to have him ready for March and have him compete in the Glorys Comet at Woodbine,” said Rod. “He won that race last year.”
_This horse commands an adoring audience wherever he goes. His racing fans, dubbed ‘the San Pail posse’ by the racing media, will undoubtedly be out in full force again this year.
_The horse will also be earning some new awards south of the border on Feb. 12. That’s when the Van Camps and the Hughes will be travelling to Orlando, Florida, to attend the US Harness Racing Writers Association Dan Patch Awards dinner.
_They already know San Pail will be earning the Dan Patch Award for Aged Trotter of the Year and he’s been nominated for US Horse of the Year, too.
_“We won’t know the outcome for US Horse of the Year until the presentations are made,” said Glenn.
_Stay turned to the Standard for updates on this magnificent trotter.