Taylor claims 2024 Coville Cup

Driver Jeff Taylor secured the 2024 Coville Cup title with a standout performance at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday, September 1. Taylor hit the board in three of his four drives, accumulating enough points to take home the championship.

The Coville Cup, established in 2007, is a prestigious event for drivers with fewer than 100 career victories, offering them a platform to showcase their talent. Previous winners include Travis Henry and Shawn Steacy, who claimed the inaugural title. In this year’s edition, nine drivers competed across five races on an 11-race card, with Taylor cruising to victory by accumulating 87 points in his four drives.

Taylor started the night strong, winning the first leg in the second race aboard Hes Got A Vendetta for trainer John MacMillan. Reflecting on the victory, Taylor said, "The biggest takeaway from tonight is winning with John's horse in the first leg. He’s put in so much work, and crossing the line with his horse felt great—it was a lot of fun."

Starting from post seven, Taylor guided Hes Got A Vendetta to a strategic position in sixth early on, while Philip Reid led the field to the quarter in :28 aboard Montysgonemarble. Josh Miller and Howies Man took command at the half in :56.2, with Taylor moving up from sixth. As Montysgonemarble challenged Howies Man at three-quarters in 1:26, Taylor positioned Hes Got A Vendetta perfectly, waiting to strike. In the stretch, Hes Got A Vendetta found his stride, surging past Montysgonemarble to win by a nose in 1:56.2. Reid and Montysgonemarble finished second, with The Colt and Sebastien Turenne taking third.

"I noticed many drivers were pushing hard early, so I decided to move up a bit after the quarter and try to catch some cover—it worked out well," Taylor said. "The horse kicked home brilliantly, and it was a pleasure to drive him."

In the second race of the series, Taylor didn’t have a drive, as Josh Miller claimed victory aboard Wellworththewait in 1:55.3 for trainer Brian Scott.

Back in action for leg three, Taylor finished third with Lucky Leonard for trainer Karol Ann Malo-Tetreault, adding 12 more points to his tally. Lucky Leonard secured a pocket trip but was outpaced in the stretch by Realrubies At Play and driver Michel Lagace, who won in 1:54.1, while Nosportpunintended and Michael Armstrong took second.

In the fourth leg, Taylor and Getyourlicenseliam came close to victory in a tight race. Getyourlicenseliam made a late charge up the passing lane but was narrowly beaten by Irresistible and driver Sebastien Turenne, who swept the field to win in 1:55.1 for trainer Mandy Archer.

Despite encountering broken equipment in the fifth and final race, Taylor managed to guide Giddy Up Max to a sixth-place finish, while Claude Larose led gate to wire in 1:56 aboard the Mandy Archer-trained Beef N Cheddar.

Reflecting on the final leg, Taylor said, "I knew it would be tough going into the last race; the finishes were close all night. Unfortunately, I ran into a broken equipment issue, but luckily, my earlier points were enough to secure the title."

With 87 points accumulated before the final race, Taylor clinched the Coville Cup title. Josh Miller finished second with 68 points, while Claude Larose’s leg-five win earned him third place with 63 points.

"I’ve watched the Coville Cup from the sidelines for years, and it’s always exciting to see drivers who don’t get as many opportunities showcase their abilities," Taylor added. "John, Gordan, Julie, and everyone at NCRHHA did a fantastic job."

Also featured on the Sunday card was a $10,000 Preferred Pace, where The Light Speed returned to the winner’s circle with a front-running performance. Driven by Guy Gagnon, The Light Speed took the field through a :27 quarter, briefly relinquishing the lead to last week’s winner Early Action (Ryan Guy) before regaining command at the half in :55.3. Revolt (Pascal Berube) challenged first-over at three-quarters in a swift 1:23.2, but The Light Speed held strong, winning by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:52. Revolt finished second, with Early Action taking third.

Gagnon, who also trains The Light Speed, notched his 11th win of the season for owner Michel Nolette. The six-year-old gelded son of Moon Beam-Jayma, who has earned $74,160 this year, pushed his career earnings beyond $400,000 with the victory. Gagnon secured two wins as both driver and trainer that evening.