2011 Equine Canada Canadian Bred Horse of the Year: San Pail

Equine Canada has named San Pail as the winner of the inaugural 2011 Equine Canada Canadian Bred Horse of the Year award.

It is pretty hard to believe that a horse that has won over $2,900,000 in lifetime earnings, posted a winning time of 1:50.4 and won 49 of his 107 starts, started out as a youngster that nobody really wanted.

Foaled in 2004, San Pail was bred by veteran Standardbred owner and breeder Glenn Van Camp of Port Perry, Ontario. With some behavioural issues and a blemish that was the result of a kick he received as a youngster, San Pail was not such a hot commodity as a two-year-old.

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Ron Hughes of Dunsford, Ontario, heard that the gelding needed a home and a trainer and Van Camp offered him three-quarters ownership if Hughes paid all of San Pails expenses. The rest, as they say, is history.

After a year of growing, Hughes put the young gelding to work and thought that he would be a would be a good horse, but never could Hughes or Van Camp imagine that the gelding would turn out to be the best trotter in the world in 2011.
In 2011, San Pail dominated Canadian harness racing by winning every stakes event he was entered in. At Woodbine, his victories include the Glorys Comet Stake and a third consecutive win in the Maple Leaf Trot Championship. A trip to the United States saw San Pail claim top spot in the Nat Ray Invitational, the Credit Winner Stake and the Allerage Farm Trot. He returned home to win the Breeders’ Crown Open Trot at Woodbine, which included two of Europe’s best trotters brought to Canada to challenge his reign.

Throughout his busy 2011 season of breaking track records and winning the hearts of racing fans across Canada, San Pail’s hope that 2012 will be the gelding’s best yet.

“We would like to thank Equine Canada for this award honouring San Pail,” said breeder Glenn Van Camp. “He has won so many important awards, and they are all very special to us.”

“We just love San Pail and Canadian harness racing,” added Donna Van Camp.

Less than a week ago, San Pail also took home O’Brien Award as Canada’s Horse of the Year and Older Trotting Horse of the Year.

The Canadian Bred Horse of the Year Award is to be awarded to a Canadian bred horse, which by virtue of an outstanding national or international performance or competition record has enhanced the reputation and visibility of Canadian bred horses. Recipients must be foaled in Canada and be registered with any of the breed associations that are a member of Equine Canada, including those whose registry is not maintained in Canada.

At the 2012 Equine Canada Annual Awards Gala, on Friday, February 3 in St. John’s, Newfoundland, the breeders of San Pail, Glenn and Donna Van Camp, were honoured with the 2011 Equine Canada Canadian Bred Horse of the Year award.