Standardbred › Drivers & Trainers

Jack Kopas has been involved in the sport for over forty-three years. The native of Lumsden, Saskatchewan decided very early in life he wanted to be a horseman. In fact, he celebrated his sixteenth birthday as a groom on the backstretch of New York's Roosevelt Raceway. Like most of the greats, Jack has spent his share of time apprenticing, not the least and perhaps most influential is the time he spent with the legendary Hall of Famer, Clint Hodgins.

In 1958, Kopas and his wife, Alice, set up shop on their own. They moved their operation to Trois Rivieres, Quebec where they operated a public stable.

The first horse to make the Kopas name a household word was Super Wave, the free-for-all pacer he campaigned for the late Dr. George Boyce. Kopas soon gained the reputation as the developer of outstanding horses. A listing of Kopas trained horses reads like a page from the all time performances of the racing elite. In the 1966-67 season, Jack toured North America with the triple threat trio of Jade Prince, Super Clint and Nat Lobell. Other stars such as Springfield, Roses Are Red, Areba Areba and Savilla Lobell are just to name a few that were developed by Kopas.

Jack is a two-time Canadian Horseman Of The Year, taking home the honors in both 1969 and 1976. While he has cut back his driving commitments in recent years in deference to his son, John, he by no means is going a "slow quarter." This year, the Kopas stable which also includes son, Roger, who is developing into a top ranked trainer in his own right, campaigned the world champion two-year-old filly Keystone Wallis.

The future of the familiar green and while colours of the Kopas stable are well in hand with sons John and Roger skillfully assisting their father. However, Jack, with the capable backing of his wife Alice, will continue to be in the forefront of racing for many years to come.

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