“Infinite Patience,” a seven-year-old racehorse co-owned by Edmonton Oilers forward Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, won the $50,000 B.C. Cup Distaff in Vancouver on Monday to make her 20th career trip to the winner’s circle.
Nugent-Hopkins’ horse, which he co-owns with breeder William DeCoursey, comfortably won her race on Monday at Hastings Racecourse, which is located directly adjacent to the old Pacific Coliseum and the Ironworkers Bridge on the east side of Vancouver.
Now 20 for 26 in her racing career, Infinite Patience has won more than $600,000 across the racing circuit. She was recently named the “Horse of the Year” for 2023 at the B.C. Racing Awards, earning that distinction for the fourth time in her career.
Infinite Patience is one of a handful of racehorses owned by Nugent-Hopkins under his “R.N.H. Stable” banner, which he launched back in 2014. Nugent-Hopkins’ grandfather was a horse breeder in B.C., and both his parents have ties to the racing scene.
While his racehorses have brought him a pretty significant windfall off the ice, Nugent-Hopkins’ career on the ice has proven to be even more lucrative. The 31-year-old forward is under contract with the Oilers through 2029 at a $5.125 million cap hit; according to PuckPedia, his estimated career earnings total more than $67.5 million.
The Oilers originally selected Nugent-Hopkins with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NHL Draft. The 6’1, 192-pound forward started his NHL career in 2011-12 at his natural centre position but has settled in more recently as a the left wing on the Oilers’ top line with Connor McDavid.
Through 881 career NHL games over his 13-year tenure with the Oilers, Nugent-Hopkins has collected 251 goals and 699 points. He’s added 17 goals and 61 points in 74 career playoff contests; however, unlike Infinite Patience, he remains in search of his first championship.
Nugent-Hopkins scored a career-high 37 goals and 104 points in 82 games with the Oilers in the 2022-23 season. The Burnaby, B.C. product followed it up with 67 points in 80 games this past season, adding seven goals and 22 points in 25 games during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
