SC Rewind: Charlie Lawson

In this week's edition of Rewind Robert Smith remembers the long and rather unique career of horseman Charlie Lawson of Orangeville. Lawson was a highly successful driver during an era when nearly everyone also trained or owned horses; he did neither.

To my way of thinking the best stories in harness racing are not always the "Big Stories" but more often the little tales that tend to capture our fascination and remain in our memories forever. The sport's past is laced with great human interest stories about a lot of so called 'bit players' who have played their part in some special way; each just a little different than any other.

In days gone by it was quite unusual, believe it or not, for a person to be a good driver and not train their own string of horses. It did happen, but not all that often. One notable exception was the case of Orangeville native Charlie Lawson. Born May 17, 1933 into a racing family and setting, he was the son of a noted yesteryear horseman Wm. "Billy" Lawson of Orangeville, who at one time worked as a trainer for the legendary local veterinarian and life-long horse fancier Dr. W.H. Riddell. At a very young age Charlie took up his fascination with racing and began driving at many of the local Fairs and one day race meetings along with his Dad and brother Borden.

At this time much of the racing season took place at all of the smalltown venues in the Bruce Peninsula; most were not too far from Charlie's roots in Orangeville. When he showed up at a track, he had already many scheduled drives for those who knew and appreciated his driving talents. As soon as other owners spotted a 'blank' in his driving schedule, they flocked to ask him to handle their horses as well. He virtually always obliged and more often than not he proved their decision to be a wise choice.

Many places that are no longer on the racing map were once hotbeds of harness racing; Charlie (pictured at right around the age of 40) touched down on them all and provided a lot of entertainment and excitement to the throngs that attended race days way back then. Towns such as Beeton, Orangeville, Wasaga Beach, Owen Sound, Elmvale, Shelburne, Tara, Dundalk, and Listowel were just a few of the stops along the way.

Charlie's rise in popularity was slow but steady. In 1963 his statistics began to show up when he recorded a universal driving average of. 385. In 1966 from just 78 drives he returned to the winner's enclosure an amazing 29 times. In 1970 he caught the eye of the harness fraternity when he finished fifth in the North American universal driver ratings with a. 396 average. From just 595 drives he posted 138 victories, 116 seconds and 99 third place finishes. He was obviously not getting just the horses that nobody else wanted to drive.

As an adult he apparently reasoned that earning a living working solely as a horseman was not his path and accepted a job with the D.H.O., the letters which stood for Department of Highways Ontario. (I was asked as a small child to guess what those letters that appeared on snow fences across the country meant? and was told the answer was "Don't Hop Over"!)

For many years, Charlie combined a life of driving a large road grader in the warmer months and during the winter storms a snow plow, with his favourite pastime. He drove horses by day (and sometimes during the evening before his shift began) and plowed or graded at night. His rather unusual combination as an occupation was often mentioned in harness racing summaries as many journalists were aware of his pattern. It indeed was unique. While Charlie did a lot of driving near his home area of Barrie and Orangeville, he was no stranger to most tracks throughout Ontario. He certainly knew all of the smalltown tracks in Central Ontario and could have probably made his way around them with his eyes closed!

When the O.S.S. program was introduced in 1974, it came along at an opportune time for the then 40-year-old Lawson. He had already displayed his talents at handling young horses and as the stakes program became popular, Charlie soon established himself as a 'go-to guy' and was called upon to drive more and more. When the year-end statistics were released each season, he was invariably included in several categories. This was the beginning of the era of the non-driving trainer and the rise of the role played by catch drivers. What better time for a man like Charlie?

By 1983, the year Charlie turned 50, he was officially credited with over 2,000 career victories. That is quite an accomplishment given his 'part-time' status through so many years of his involvement. In 1983 the outstanding two-year old-pacing sensation Shanes Mint was the top money winning O.S.S. performer in his category. He led all freshman pacing colts with total season's earnings of $117,329. The son of Alert Bret out of Key To Mint by Goodnuff was bred by Carl Medwid and owned and trained by John Medwid of Shelburne, Ont. His driver was Charlie Lawson, who drove him to a season's best of 1:58.4.

One of the season's highlights took place on Labour Day weekend when Charlie piloted this outstanding colt to an all-age track equalling record of 2:01.1 at Quinte Raceway in Belleville, quite a way from his usual stomping ground. During that highly successful year they also racked up O.S.S. victories at Mohawk, Dresden, Clinton, Kingston and Greenwood where he took his record of 1:58.4. Other stops at London and Windsor added to their extensive travel.

Driver Charlie Lawson is shown in this 1983 photo behind the two-year-old pacer Shanes Mint owned by John Medwid of Shelburne, Ont. A standout in that season's O.S.S. program, he was the season's leading two-year-old pacer with earnings in excess of $117,000.

One of Lawson's earlier accomplishments that drew a more national awareness in the sport came about when he was called upon to handle the driving duties behind a horse who was then considered one of the tops in the sport. Jambo Dancer was at his peak during the early years of The Labatts Pace, the signature race held annually at London's Western Fair Raceway beginning in 1972. This race is still staged, but is now The Molson Pace. Another era, another beer.

In 1976 Jambo Dancer won his first of three straight Labatt's Cup races with Charlie in the bike for trainer Kent Baker in 2:01.4 taking home the lion's share of the $16,000 purse. One year later the pair scored again, this time in 2:01.1 for a purse of $20,000, quite a sum in those days. The following year Jambo Dancer became the only three-time winner of The Labatt's Pace but was driven that year by Ronnie Feagan for owner John Grant of Hornby.

Wherever Charlie Lawson performed he was well-respected and was always regarded as never out of any race. In a career that spanned many decades he drove the winners of over 2,300 races. He was equally at home behind a horse of either gait. I can recall the first time I saw him drive and it was something I have not forgotten, occurring at the Elmira Fair in the fall of 1967. Charlie was driving the lone trotter in a field of pacers, a sight not now often seen. If memory serves me correctly he won the race which would come as no surprise.

​Grand Nader (2) reaches the wire a winner in 1985 to give driver Charlie Lawson one of his many victories in O.S.S. action. Odd Bowl at the rail is the second place finisher at Mohawk.

When Charlie Lawson passed away on May 25, 2010 at the age of 77, the sport of harness racing lost a dear friend and a long-time colourful performer. He was an honest hard-working man who always loved what he was doing and also enjoyed being around the many friends and fellow horsemen and horsewomen he had toiled with over those many years. Left to mourn his passing were his wife Mary and children Kim, Sandra, Tanya and Bill as well as six grandchildren and four sisters. He was predeceased by his younger brother Borden who was mentioned above.

Records, statistics, driving titles and races won or lost are soon forgotten in the sands of time but the pleasant memories left behind endure forever. Charlie added a lot to the memory banks of those who watched him drive, raced against him and were fortunate enough to call him 'friend'. One of the many written condolences offered at the time of his passing called him "Lucky Chuck" and termed him "a gentleman's gentleman." A pretty special tribute.

Charlie Lawson will forever be recalled as one of the 'Good Guys' of our sport.