Driver Jody Jamieson and his horse Fifth and Five won the 67th Gold Cup and Saucer race on Saturday night in Charlottetown.
"I can't even believe it. This is a dream come true," Jamieson said. "I've won bigger races as far as money, but never a big race as prestigious as this. This, to me, is absolutely amazing."
The Gold Cup and Saucer race carries a purse of $100,000. It brings trainers, owners and drivers from across North America to the Red Shores Racetrack and Casino every year.
Jamieson said he's watched the race "since I was old enough to watch races." His favourite win was the 11-to-1 longshot Banner Yankee in 2006, driven by his father, Carl. That is, until now.
"Now, it's actually Fifth and Five with me winning the Gold Cup and Saucer. It's my favourite race in the history of races, and I just can't believe I got it done."
20 years after his father's win, Jody Jamieson claims Gold Cup and Saucer
Jamieson said he knew about halfway down the stretch that he could cross the finish line first, though he knew it would be close. He stuck to his strategy of following the horse and driver in the first post position, the starting spot closest to the inside rail.
"The only thing I wanted to do was follow the one horse all the way through," he said. "Never does a plan ever go to fruition. You always have to go to plan B or C, or sometimes even D and E and F. But it was plan A all the way to follow him."
Jamieson said Fifth and Five checked all the right boxes.
"Perfect sized horse for this track, perfect gaited, perfect manners," he said. "Just an absolute sweetheart."
As Jamieson and his team celebrated in the winners circle following the race, he said the win has been "absolutely a dream come true."
"You can't even imagine what I'm feeling right now. I don't know if I'm ever going to come down from this, and I don't care if I ever do."
Gwyneth Egan is a reporter with CBC Prince Edward Island. She has a master's degree in journalism from Carleton University. You can reach her at gwyneth.egan1@cbc.ca
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