The Pace of the Century was a match race between two of the greatest ever standardbred harness horses: Bret Hanover and Cardigan Bay.
Harness racing legend Stanley Dancer recalled for two appearances with Cardigan Bay, and his import from New Zealand later became the sport's first horse to top $1 million in career earnings.
[1] In the so-called "Revenge Pace" also set up by Yonkers, driver Frank Ervin's Bret Hanover beat Dancer and Cardigan Bay in a track record 1:58 3/5.
The Downs put up a $25,000 purse, and fans were expecting to watch history made with a victory by Cardigan Bay to top the $1 million mark.
But Hervé Filion drove Good Time Boy to an upset victory as Cardigan Bay faded to fourth.