Mohawk Racetrack
Mohawk Racetrack is a 7/8 mile harness racing track in Campbellville, Ontario, Canada. The track stands on a 450-acre tract of land and is a 25 minute drive west of Toronto. Harness racing is scheduled five nights per week in the Spring and Fall.
Mohawk Racetrack regularly hosts a slew of fast-paced stakes events. In the spring, events like the Youthful Pacing Series, the Mohawk Racetrack Pacing Series, and the Princess Pacing Series take the centerstage. In autumn, stakes include the Campbellville Trot, the Milton Stakes and the Harvest Stakes.
Mohawk Racetrack has hosted great harness racing champions since its opening in 1963, these include Cam Fella, Matts Scooter, Artsplace, Moni Maker, and Odies Fame.
Pacer Western Ideal became the fastest horse in Mohawk Racetrack history when he scorched a mile in 1:49 in September 2000. Glorys Comet, now the richest Canadian-bred horse in history, holds the track record of 1:53.4 for trotters, having established that mark on the new 7/8 mile track during the 1998 fall meet.
Mohawk Racetrack Facts
- Track size: 7/8 mile
- Length of homestretch: 1,095 feet
- Width of homestretch: 85 feet
- Starters behind the gate: 10
- Hubrail: No
- Racetrack Base: Crushed limestone
- Racetrack Cushion: Toprock
- Parking capacity: 4,276 cars
- Largest attendance: 14,606
- Total seating capacity: 5,000
- Barns: 10
- Stalls: 730
History of Mohawk Racetrack
Early 1960s - The Ontario Jockey Club made plans to build a new standard bred track. Wolf Von Richtoven, a prominent thoroughbred and standard bred enthusiast, pointed them in the direction of Campbellville. It had a beautiful rural setting and is within a half-hour's drive of major cities. The Club decided to build what would become Mohawk Racetrack here.
1963 - On April 26, 1963, Mohawk Racetrack opened to a crowd of 4,338. It had been built at acost of CDN $3.5 million. It had barns for 828 horses, a staff of over 200, and a parking lot equipped for 3,000 cars.
1970 - Record crowds attended on April 18. 11,470 fans came for the International Drivers Competition that brought drivers from eight different countries.
1975 - A 500-seat lounge area was built for fans to watch the race on a 9’ x 12’ screen.
1998 - The Ontario Jockey Club invested CDN $3 million to rebuild, reconfigure and enlarge the existing 5/8th track into a 7/8th mile racetrack. It re-opened on September 14 to rave reviews from fans and horsemen alike.
1999-2003 - In August 1999, the track unveiled a new slot area complete with 750 machines. The prestigious Breeders Crown was held at Mohawk Racetrack. It brings top horses from across North America to compete, along with top owners, racing officials and visitors from Canada, the United States and Europe.
