Wakizashi Hanover, harness racer, wins big at Pepsi North America Cup

Six Nova Scotians are basking in the glow of a big win after their horse, Wakizashi Hanover, crossed the wire in first place at the world's biggest harness race on Saturday night.

One of the owners, Bruce Kennedy of Truro, said he watched the $1 million Pespi North America Cup in amazement as Wakizashi came from behind to win the richest pacing event in the world and earn $500,000.

"It was surreal. It is emotional," Kennedy said. 

"Sometimes we think we're pretty strong, and pretty tough emotionally. But, when the real event happens it brings out the real feelings."

Kennedy said he agrees that Wakizashi was the underdog, given the three-year-old gelding had only raced a few times at the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes last year. 

"We really didn't know what kind of horse he really was," Kennedy said, speaking with CBC's Maritime Noon.

"And we didn't want to invest a whole lot of money into a stakes program that our horse wasn't capable of doing. So we shut him down after the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and turned him out." 

Wakizashi's driver, Tim Tetrick, was convinced the animal had what it took to be a champion and told the owners to not give up.

"He's a super guy," says Kennedy of Tetrick. "In addition to being a super driver — arguably, one of the best in the world."

Unlikely partnership

Wakizashi Hanover is not the only big winner to come from Truro in recent years. In 2008, Somebeachsomewhere set a world record and earned $2.4 million, the highest earnings by a pacer in a single season.

"We were asked many times, 'What's the scoop on the Maritimes? How come two champions in such a short span?'" Kennedy says.

He says the journey to Saturday's win has been a flurry of unlikely situations, starting with the Wakizashi's purchase.

Two years ago, Kennedy said he and the other owners were excited at the prospect of a new venture — especially since three of the six were first-time horse owners. 

"We were hoping to go, maybe take our last hurrah at a horse ownership with a sale in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, which is usually well-attended by Maritimers," he said. 

Kennedy said because of their $15,000 budget, they kept losing bids. They were forced to increase their budget as the number of available horses dwindled from 1,118.

"Wakizashi Hanover was 1,104. So, we almost didn't get one … There were a lot of characteristics about Wakizashi that we liked, and therefore we decided to focus on him." 

As for the North American Cup itself, Kennedy said it's proudly displayed in his Truro convenience store. 

"We'll try to make good use of it, beyond my customers," Kennedy said, adding support from around the world has poured in through calls and emails.

"All the fan support, it was humongous."