| Class | Grade 1 |
|---|---|
| Location | North America |
| Inaugurated | 1985 |
| Race type | Harness race for Standardbred pacers |
| Website | |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 1 mile (1,609 metres or 8 furlongs) |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Qualification | 4-year-olds-and-up |
| Purse | $600,000 (2025) |
The Breeders Crown Open Pace is a Grade 1 harness racing event for Standardbred pacers. It is one part of the Breeders Crown annual series of twelve races for both Standardbred pacers and trotters. The Open Pace for horses age four and older was first run in 1985. It is contested over a distance of one mile. Race organizers have awarded the event to various racetracks across North America. [1]
At the Meadowlands Racetrack in 2009, Won The West set the Open Pace record time of 1:47 flat which was the fastest pacing mile in the entire Breeders Crown series until 2023. [2]
Bulldog Hanover, who had broken the record for the fastest ever mile time for a Standardbred previously in the season, broke the Breeders Crown record in the 2023 edition of the race. He went on to be the first unanimous Horse of the Year.
In 2025, Ervin Hanover set the stakes record while pacing the fastest mile in Canadian history.
| Year | Winner | Age | Driver | Trainer | Owner | Time | Purse | Track |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Ervin Hanover | 5 | Dexter Dunn | Dave Menary | Pollack Racing | 1:46 2/5 | $600,000 | Moh |
| 2024 | Coach Stefanos | 4 | James MacDonald | Erv Miller | Ken Duffy, D&M Trading II, John Stefanos | 1:48 3/5 | $600,000 | Mxx |
| 2023 | Bythemissal | 4 | Yannick Gingras | Ron Burke | Burke Racing Stable, Eric Good, Rich Lombardo Racing, Weaver Bruscemi | 1:48 0/0 | $600,000 | HoP |
| 2022 | Bulldog Hanover | 4 | Dexter Dunn | Jack Darling | Jack Darling Stables, Brad Grant | 1:46 4/5 | $600,000 | Moh |
| 2021 | Ocean Rock | 4 | Dan Noble | Christi Noble | Sandra S. Burnett | 1:48 3/5 | $600,000 | Mxx |
| 2020 | Century Farroh | 4 | David Miller | Dr. Ian Moore | Century Springs Farms | 1:49 0/0 | $500,000 | HoP |
| 2019 | American History | 5 | Joe Bongiorno | Tony Alagna | Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz, American History Racing | 1:48 1/3 | $500,000 | Wdb |
| 2018 | McWicked | 4 | Brian Sears | Casie Coleman | S S G Stable | 1:49 1/3 | $530,000 | Pcd |
| 2017 | Split The House | 5 | Brett Miller | Chris Oakes | Crawford Farms Racing | 1:48 1/1 | $421,000 | HoP |
| 2016 | Always B Miki | 5 | David Miller | Jimmy Takter | Bluewood Stable, Roll The Dice Stable, Christina Takter | 1:49 0/0 | $500,000 | Mxx |
| 2015 | Always B Miki | 4 | David Miller | Jimmy Takter | Bluewood Stable, Roll The Dice Stable, Christina Takter | 1:49 3/5 | $518,960 | Wdb |
| 2014 | Thinking Out Loud | 5 | John Campbell | Robert McIntosh | R McIntosh Stables, CSX Stables, Al McIntosh Holdings | 1:48 3/5 | $400,000 | Mxx |
| 2013 | Foiled Again | 9 | Yannick Gingras | Ron Burke | Burke Racing Stable,JJK Stable, Wever-Bruscemi | 1:49 2/5 | $500,000 | Pcd |
| 2012 | Bettor Sweet | 8 | David Miller | Thomas Cancelliere | John Cancelliere | 1:49 1/5 | $500,000 | Wdb |
| 2011 | Bettor Sweet | 7 | John Campbell | Thomas Cancelliere | John Cancelliere | 1:48 4/5 | $501,950 | Wdb |
| 2010 | Won The West | 6 | Jim Morrill Jr. | Ron Burke | Strollin Stable, William Robinson, James Koehler | 1:49 0/0 | $500,000 | Pcd |
| 2009 | Won The West | 5 | Jim Morrill Jr. | Ron Burke | Strollin Stable, William Robinson, James Koehler | 1:47 0/0 | $500,000 | Mxx |
| 2008 | Mister Big | 5 | Brian Sears | Virgil Morgan, Jr. | Joseph Muscara, Sr. | 1:50 0/0 | $532,150 | Moh |
| 2007 | Artistic Fella | 4 | Tim Tetrick | Steve Elliott | Joseph Alborano | 1:49 2/5 | $540,000 | Mxx |
| 2006 | Lis Mara | 4 | Brian Sears | Ervin Miller | MJG RAcing Stables & Louis Willinger | 1:47 3/5 | $500,000 | Mxx |
| 2005 | Boulder Creek | 5 | Brian Sears | Mark Silva | Clifford D. Siegel, Lee S. Wasserman, John A. Fodera | 1:49 1/5 | $605,000 | Moh |
| 2004 | Boulder Creek | 4 | Ronald Pierce | Mark Silva | Clifford D. Siegel, Lee S. Wasserman, John A. Fodera | 1:48 1/5 | $552,500 | Mxx |
| 2003 | Art Major | 4 | John Campbell | William Robinson | (Lessee) Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc., James Simpson, Art Major Stable | 1:49 4/5 | $729,730 | Wdb |
| 2002 | Real Desire | 4 | John Campbell | Blair Burgess | Brittany Farms, R. Burgess, K. Olsson Burgess, Perretti Farms | 1:48 3/5 | $500,000 | Mxx |
| 2001 | Goliath Bayama | 5 | Sylvain Filion | Yves Filion | Ecuries NDG | 1:48 4/5 | $500,000 | Mxx |
| 2000 | Western Ideal | 5 | Michel Lachance | Bret Pelling | Brittany Farms | 1:48 0/0 | $440,000 | Mxx |
| 1999 | Red Bow Tie | 5 | Luc Ouellette | Monte Gelrod | Cliff Siegel of TLP Stables, et al. | 1:50 0/0 | $380,000 | Mxx |
| 1998 | Red Bow Tie | 4 | Luc Ouellette | Monte Gelrod | Cliff Siegel of TLP Stables, et al. | 1:50 1/5 | $340,000 | Mxx |
| 1997 | Armbro Operative | 4 | Michel Lachance | Brett Pelling | David McDuffee & Tom Walsh | 1:50 3/5 | $300,000 | Mxx |
| 1996 | Jennas Beach Boy | 4 | William Fahy | Joe Holloway | L & L DeVisser Partnership | 1:48 4/5 | $300,000 | Mxx |
| 1995 | Thatll Be Me | 4 | Roger Mayotte | Robert Young | Robert Young | 1:52 4/5 | $300,000 | Nfl |
| 1994 | Village Jiffy | 4 | Paul MacDonell | William Wellwood | W. Wellwood, H. Charles Armstrong, AFJ Stable, Fred Brunner | 1:52 2/5 | $334,000 | Fhl |
| 1993 | Staying Together | 4 | Bill O'Donnell | Robert McIntosh | Robert Hamather | 1:51 1/5 | $396,810 | Moh |
| 1992 | Artsplace | 4 | John Campbell | Robert McIntosh | George Segal & Brian Monieson | 1:52 0/0 | $368,100 | Moh |
| 1991 | Camluck | 4 | Michel Lachance | Robert McIntosh | New Destiny & Al McIntosh | 1:52 1/5 | $463,000 | Mea |
| 1990 | Bays Fella | 5 | Paul MacDonell | Mike DeMenno | Par-Birdie Stable | 1:52 1/5 | $273,458 | Ppk |
| 1989 | Matts Scooter | 4 | Michel Lachance | Harry J. Poulton | Gordon & Illa Rumpel, Charles Juravinski | 1:53 2/5 | $278,238 | Fhl |
| 1988 | Call For Rain | 4 | Clint Galbraith | Clint Galbraith | Clint & Barbara Galbraith | 1:53 2/5 | $316,256 | Scd |
| 1987 | Armbro Emerson | 4 | Walter Whelan | Brian Burton | Ed Weisz, Light/Heavyweight Stable | 1:54 1/5 | $359,794 | Rr |
| 1986 | Forrest Skipper | 4 | Lucien Fontaine | Lucien Fontaine | Forrest Bartlett | 1:53 4/5 | $301,350 | Lrc |
| 1985 | Division Street | 4 | Michel Lachance | Vinnie Aurigemma | Lachance, Denim, M.E.K. Stable, KLR Stable | 1:52 3/5 | $309,553 | Fsr |