In this week's Rewind Robert Smith takes a very rare look back at events and people involved in the sport from the decade of the 1930's
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1935 - Dufferin Park Opens 1935 Season
A rather large crowd braved the winter elements on January 2 to watch the first card of harness racing for the 1935 season here at Dufferin Park in Toronto. The afternoon's racing consisted of four races, each going five heats for purses ranging from $100 to $200. The winningest owner and driver combo was James Wellwood of Merlin, Ont. and his son Harold, both regulars here for many years. In the second race they won the major share of the purse with Joe Patch, winning two heats and ending the day with a standing of 1-1-2-6-4. In the fourth race they were again the victors with Star Peter who also won two heats and ended the day with the best standing of 1-2-2-5-1.
Sarah Tide was also a two heat winner in the first for the father son team of Homer and Ralph Baldwin who hail from Lloydminster, Sask. An amazingly fast mile of 2:13 was the swiftest of the day turned in by Miss Belwins Boy owned and driven by Clint Hodgins who recently relocated his headquarters to New Hamburg, Ont.
1936 - Teddy The Tramp Touring Eastern Ontario
Race fans in Eastern Ontario have been royally entertained this year by a roan pacing gelding named Teddy The Tramp, a gelded son of Riverside Hal. He and his owner-driver Bernard Grant of Westport have "shown their heels" to a lot of competitors all season long. On Sept. 16 at Kingston "Teddy" took a new speed badge of 2:08 1/2. Tougher times may have reduced the purses but not the enthusiasm of this pair. They have raced at 19 different spots and won 37 heats, most days 3 at a time. The largest purse offered was $180 at Napanee and a few of the "slimmer" payouts occurred at Norwood ($54), Campbellford ($65), Warkworth ($75), Centreville ($80) and Stirling ($50).
1937 - Vester Bars Has Outstanding Season
Horseman Alex Belore of Mt. Elgin, Ont. has a pretty quick stepping pacer named Vester Bars sired by the great Grattan Bars. He has appeared at a number of Southern Ontario tracks this season and been returned a winner on several occasions. He has had wins at Arthur, Beamsville twice, Toronto at the CNE, Wallacetown and Woodstock. His season's record was taken on September 22 when he paced in 2:05 1/2 over the mile track at Fort Erie and took two out of three heats. A number of other fast miles were recorded that day as the 1-2 combination of Dillon Mc and Sir Esme both owned by Dr. Meldrum of Norwich, Ont. traded victories in the Free For All with Dillon Mc scoring in 2:04 flat. It is unlikely that a faster mile will be recorded in Canada this year.
1937 - Peter Chilcoot And The Hon. Earl Rowe
Whenever The Hon. W. Earl Rowe of Newton Robinson, Ont. has a day away from his political duties it is quite likely he is tending to his racing interests at some local town track. This year has been a good one for Mr. Rowe and his star Peter Chilcoot, a son of Peter Brewer. The chestnut pacer has set new track records at Orangeville, Stratford and Goderich this season. The new mark of 2:07 recorded at the Goderich oval replaced one of 2:07 1/2 that was just three days old set by Grattan Axworthy and driver Gid Litt. During the second day of the Goderich races Mr. Rowe addressed the crowd and requested a minute of silence in observance of the recent passing of Dr. J. Benson Whitely, a long time participant in the sport who hailed from this town.
P.S.- If anyone can identify the trophy presenter in the Owen Sound photo please advise.
1938 - Young Driver Seriously Injured At Leamington Fair
The three day racing program which is part of the annual Leamington Fair was marred by a serious accident on opening day, September 28. Jack Evan Herbert, a young driver from London, Ont. was involved in a spill in the third heat of the first race. Exactly what happened is unknown but Herbert driving Busy Grattan and veteran teamster Fred Wilmore behind Sandy Signal became involved and the mishap resulted in a very serious leg injury to the young Mr. Herbert.
The lack of medical care at the track resulted in a delay and eventually the injured man was taken to Hopewell Hospital a few blocks away where he is currently a patient. He had fairly recently begun driving in races and for several years now has been working with his father Bill Herbert a horseman well known throughout the sport. With limited facilities at the local hospital, it is likely he will be transferred to a more advanced facility. It is hoped he will soon be back in action.
A question and a comment.
A question and a comment. Am I reading correctly that on Jan 2, 1935 four groups of horses each went FIVE heats in one day in Toronto. That would be a twenty race card. How much time between heats? Did the times fall off drastically in later heats? Could you see this scenario today? Especially on a January day? Okay that was half a dozen questions, but all on the same idea.
In noting that Peter Chilcoot, driven by Earl Rowe set the Goderich track record at 2:07 in 1937; it's hard to believe that in 1972 Pearl W, driven by Clarence Young set a Goderich standard of 2:05:3. I don't go back far enough, but I'm assuming it would be the same track. 35 years of racing and the standard ownly lowered by 1 and two fifths seconds. Then in 1974, Derbys Gent takes over 3 seconds off the track record in one night. I'm not sure whether to look at the small drop over 35 years as an anomoly, or what.
In reply to A question and a comment. by keith nethery
Thank you Mr. Nethery for
Thank you Mr. Nethery for your astute observations .Yes it did look like 20 races were held that day. While I am not an authority on heat racing, the policy in effect at the time of the Dufferin races in question yielded a winner either after one horse had won three heats or after 5 heats the horse with the best standing .(Or maybe the horses that hadn't dropped dead yet ??)As far as the times getting slower the short answer is NO .In fact the fastest heat of the day by Miss Belwins Boy was in the 4th heat .On some occasions due to weather conditions or darkness, a race was said to be "Declared Official" before the fifth heat or a 3 time winner had been achieved . Hope I have been helpful .
The Goderich question is a good one . I have no idea if the track has always been the same ;someone locally probably knows. In 1937 they held 2 days of racing all in the same week . The times of the Free For All races were all unusually fast ranging from the slowest at 2:10 1/2 to the new record of 2:07 . Also to be totally factual, Peter Chilcoot was driven that day by Clint Hodgins to set the new and amazingly fast track record .Why it took so long to lower the times might be best described by your word "Anomoly" ....
Awesome Stuff Mr. Smith,
Awesome Stuff Mr. Smith, Thanks for the great history. Bernard Grant was the father of Jack (owned Bettors Delight etc) and Walter (drove High Acres Rudy) and Brad's grandfather.
In reply to Awesome Stuff Mr. Smith, by casselman
Bernard (my grandfather)
Bernard (my grandfather) also had a mare who beat Miss Vera Bars.He had a gift for buying lame horses and fixing them up.He is the reason why my sister Tracey,my neice Jody Howard and have been involved in the business.