In today's Rewind Robert Smith travels back to the decade of the 1960s in the ongoing monthly feature Years Ago. Old pictures and accounts of the times recall the people and happenings of that period in time.
1961 - New Crop Of Drivers At Richelieu Park
The camera man caught a set of fresh young faces in the Richelieu Park paddock when this photo taken in the spring of 1961. Front row, from left: (showing father's name in brackets) is Warren Robillard (Percy), Garth Gordon (Jack), Lesley Turcotte (Theo.). In the back row, from left Del MacTavish Jr. (Del Sr.) and Bob Habkirk (Bill).
A quick check of the backstretch at Richelieu Park these days will reveal a new crop of up and coming young drivers. While their first names may be unfamiliar to racing fans, their last names are all very well known. It is fairly common knowledge that most people inherit their interest in the business of harness racing from their families. These young gentlemen all come from prominent racing families, all involved for many years. There is an old saying in politics that when someone follows in their parent's footsteps they inherit half of their friends and all of their enemies. I'm not sure if this applies to the sport of harness racing or not.
1963 - Rowe Trotters Lucky On Friday the 13th
Red Riddell (1A) with Wm. Rowe driving scores his first lifetime win edging out stablemate Flemington's Betty to take the 1963 C.S.H.S. Futurity for two-year-old trotters.
Fri. Sept. 13, 1963 - When a field of 10 two-year-old trotters lined up for this year's C.S.H.S. Futurity at Mohawk, some in the group may have been superstitious but the ominous date apparently did not affect the first two finishers. As the youngsters approached the finish wire Red Riddell with Wm. Rowe in the sulky scooted ahead of stablemate Flemington's Betty and driver Jack Reid to take first money of $2,263 for a combined total of $3,270 for the Rowe account. This was Red's first victory in just his fourth lifetime try. Heavily favoured Sis Herbert, who won this year's Supertest held at Hanover, Ont., came into the event with a nifty $11,000 in the bank but unfortunately made a break leaving for driver Wm. Herbert and was never a factor.
While freshman trotters tend to be erratic, this field saw seven finishers all together at the wire. Johnny Laird, a 22-1 shot for owner-driver Clure Archdekin, managed a third place finish after leading much of the way.
This meeting marked the first fall season of the newly-opened Mohawk and the crowds were somewhat smaller than anticipated, particularly on cool evenings. Patrons were apparently complaining about the lack of seating under the stands and also the absence of protection from the elements. Meanwhile, the clubhouse was getting rave reviews with many guests using the betting 'runners' that place your bet while allowing the guest to enjoy the races and the excellent food.
1964 - Brother Hy Takes Lifetime Record at Rideau
On September 19, 1964 what has to be considered a racing rarity if nothing else occurred at Rideau Carleton Raceway. In the ninth race feature, an Invitation Handicap Pace, the eight-year-old Brother Hy was the winner for driver Stan Williams. In winning, he took a new lifetime mark of 2:05.1. So far nothing too rare but the oddity creeps in when you realize this was the 65th win of his lengthy career. "Brother" was owned for his entire lifetime by Alex Hyatt of Petrolia, Ont. and at this time was racing out of the Stan Williams stable. Much of his career he was handled by Earl Hyatt the son of owner Alex Hyatt.
Brother Hy was one of the winningest horses of his era as he posted a huge 85 visits to the winner's circle over a lengthy racing career that spanned 10 racing seasons. During the years 1959 through 1968, he faced the starter a total of 237 times but earned just over $18,000; a sign of the low purse structure in that time of Canadian racing.
Brother Hy and driver Stan Williams following a lifetime mile of 2:05.1 at Rideau Carleton in 1964
Horses like Brother Hy brought much joy to their owners and also had a great fan following. The gelded chestnut son of Brother Harmony started his racing career at age three in 1959 racing for Ken Bogart. He was part of the opening night program when London's Western fair Raceway started night racing in 1961 winning one heat of the inaugural night's feature race. When Earl Hyatt passed away on June 14, 2015, a day short of his 84th birthday, our sport lost a very dedicated and colourful competitor.
Brother Hy in rein to Earl Hyatt is home first at London. They are later joined in the winner's circle by Earl's wife Elsie.
1965 - 12-Year-Old Trotter Improving With Age
When an older trotter improves with age, the time honoured adage of being like a fine wine has often been applied. This certainly could have been true back in 1965 when Legal Prince trotted home a winner 16 times in 30 season's starts, good for earnings of $6,931. Racing under the guidance of trainer and driver Peter Thibaudeau of Markdale for owners Wilbert Sinclair and John Clement of Collingwood, the then 12-year-old son of Legal Hanover notched all of his victories on the three Golden Horseshoe tracks. Several of his wins came with Allan Walker driving as well. His season started on March 15th at Greenwood and ended with a win on October 29 at Mohawk. He raced throughout the season in mainly $2,000 - $2,500 claimers and needless to say faced a lot of the same faces week after week. Some of his regular foes included Brown Wolf, Island Song, Bush Pilot, Darn Tooting, Chuckmor, Lemac, Yonder and Hava Julep to name just a few.
This venerable old trotter first appeared in action back in 1956 racing briefly for his original owner Jack Bannerman of Stratford. He took his lifetime record of 2:06.3 in 1961 at the age of eight while racing at Richelieu Park. Bothered by quarter cracks through much of his career, he did manage to keep racing and winning. This horse was quite a performer back in the day and I am sure is recalled by more than a few in the reading audience. Perhaps the pinnacle of his career occurred in 1960 when he was a third place finisher in that year's Maple Leaf Trot which was won by Selka Song. Peter was in the bike for both the MLT and also when Prince took his lifetime mark.
After only six starts at age 14 in 1967, he retired with just over $36,000 lifetime. It was a long journey from winning just $24 for the season at age three while taking a mark of 2:29 and change at Wasaga Beach with Allan Walker up.
1968 - A Pacing Star
Veteran horseman David Guest of Mt. Brydges, a small community just west of London, is having a lot of fun and doing it close to home. The 69-year-old owner of one of the area's top pacers, Middlesex Star, still does all of his own work including the driving. He likes to limit his travel to the nearby Western Fair track in London and Dresden Raceway during the summer meeting. So far this year his mare has made 14 starts and been in the money nearly every start, earning a respectable $2,883 in the process. At Dresden he has started in the feature race on all six Saturday nights so far and has made a return trip to the winner's circle an amazing five times.
The success story has created a bit of a problem for Dresden's Race Secretary George Deacon as he is having difficulty finding suitable competition for the now seven-year-old mare. Deacon was quoted recently as saying "There are lots of horses capable of beating this mare but they're not too interested in coming here and racing for our smaller purses." The genial pipe-smoking Mr. Guest had a great season last year at Dresden and at the meeting's conclusion he received a silver tray and a cash award from Molson's Brewery for his many wins including several behind his stable favourite.
Dresden Raceway, one of the oldest tracks in Ontario began racing under the lights in 1966 and became an immediate success with area fans. Back then an old wooden grandstand located across from the one erected in later years served the needs of the early year's race goers.