SC Rewind: Richelieu Park Memories

In this week's Rewind Robert Smith recalls the eventful decade of the 1950's when Canadian harness racing was making great strides in the Province of Quebec, especially Montreal. This edition centres on Richelieu Park, while an upcoming piece will deal with a similar growth experienced at the neighboring Blue Bonnets location. A number of great old photographs help to tell the story of these glory days.

As we reflect upon the once great racetracks in Metropolitan Montreal it is difficult to believe that little remains of those memorable spots beyond old pictures, dusty record books and the stories and memories of those who once raced there. It is grim reminder of just how quickly history is forgotten. I recently came into possession of a collage of old photos and write-ups that chronicled a small portion of those now almost forgotten glory days that people undoubtedly thought would last forever.

My intention is to assemble a few short stories, some with pictures, that recall the events, the people and the times. They are intended not so much to just capture the rich history but to piece together the way the great metropolis of racing grew and prospered year after year. At its peak, harness racing in Montreal rivalled its counterparts wherever fine racing was held.

This great photograph of a typical Sunday afternoon crowd shows the popularity that the Raceway enjoyed for many years. While the track drew large crowds throughout the week Sunday was always a banner day at Richelieu Park. (Harness Horse)

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This usually shiny white Buick starting car was a part of the first class show that went on at Richelieu night after night and on Sunday afternoons. One man who was a starter at the Montreal tracks for a long time was Harold Wilson. On muddy nights it undoubtedly got a little discoloured. (Harness Horse)

The management of Richelieu Park often staged special days to honour individuals including those from other sports or walks of life. In 1956 a Sunday was set aside to recognize the tremendous achievements of four-time Boston Marathon winner Gerard Cote. Shown in the winner's circle with that day's feature winning horse Barney Diplomat are from left: George Giguere, unknown, Mr. Cote, Mrs. Mollie Clouthier and owner Hector Clouthier Sr. Driver Keith Waples must have opted out of the photo.

Sept. 18, 1957: Diamond Hal and Joe O'Brien in the winner's circle Saturday after the combination clicked in the $13,600 third and final leg of the Canada free-for-all pace. The Hal Dale-Treasure stallion from the S. A. Camp Farm of Shafter, Cal., scored in 2:01 over Dottie's Pick by a neck to top the series, triumphing in the first 2:01 4/5 leg and second to Duane Hanover in 2:01 4/5 in the middle mile. Miss Ginette Simard, daughter of Richelieu Park's vice-president Donat Simard, presents a trophy as President Maurice Michaud, Mr. Simard and Mrs. Georges Giguere, wife of the general manager, look on. Diamond Hal held the track record of 2:00 2/5 set in 1955 for four years [Harness Horse]

In this picture U.S. horseman Elsworth Abare and his wife from California join Race Secretary Georges Giguere in the winner's circle following a victory by the good pacing mare El Dot. Richelieu Park drew participants from a wide range of locations [Harness Horse]

Around 1953 Ontario horseman Jack Gordon of Cobourg, Ont. made his first foray into Quebec starting out at Connaught Park. He soon worked his way up to Richelieu and Blue Bonnets where he ran a medium-sized stable of quality performers from both gaits. By 1961 his son Garth was driving on a regular basis. Here he is shown with Clifford "Chappy" Chapman who is paying a visit to see his horse Chappies Boy, then a part of the Gordon stable.

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1958 - In the off season many stables remained in the Montreal area to winter train. In the above photo taken at Vaudreuil south of Montreal, the White brothers are shown giving some early lessons to two hopefuls for the upcoming season. On the left is Copper Norris, driven by Eddie White, while the other pacer is Task Brewer, handled by Roger White. [Harness Horse]

One of the great young horses to debut on the Montreal scene during the mid 1950's was Mr. Baldridge. He started in the stable of Laurent Bourgon and was later sold to the powerful Miron Bros. Stable. Here he is shown in a 1957 photo with trainer-driver Phil Dussault.

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In 1958 Dr. John Findley rewrote the record books with his fine trotting filly Dalyce Blue, then a two-year-old. Here he is shown receiving a silver tray from Georges Giguere representing Richelieu Park, where she set a new track record of 2:09.4 marking the first time a two-year-old had trotted under 2:10.

​Below is a short passage from an issue of Harness Horse dated Feb. 13, 1952.

When Richelieu Park, at Montreal, opens its gates on May 4, horsemen will find many improvements have taken place. The new owners, along with race secretary, George Giguere, have moved back the grandstand, widened the stretch, and constructed 100 new stalls. Racing at Richelieu will be held on a four day a week plan, with Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights, along with Sunday afternoon being the racing days. The total purses will be approximately $250,000.

Here is a very close finish at Richelieu Park in a 1952 race. The horses and drivers are not identified (Harness Horse)

Everything was not roses as the saying goes. On October 14, 1953 a furious blaze destroyed no less than 275 stalls and a portion of the Richelieu grandstand. Losses were estimated at $800,000. Many owners were hard hit with the loss of 22 head plus an untold amount of equipment. Reconstruction began immediately including 350 new stalls and a grandstand that would accommodate over 4,000 people. Shown above is a grim picture of the devastating effects of that fire. [Harness Horse]

The following write up from the Mar. 7, 1956 Harness Horselists some of the outstanding horses in competition during the 1955 season.

The six-year-old Adios stallion, Adio Abe 3, 1:59 3/5, was the leading 2:05 pacer of 1955 in the Province of Quebec. The bay, owned by the Ste. Marie Stable of Quebec, paced six miles from 2:03 to 2:05. Five were at Quebec City (2:03, 2:04, 2:04 1/5, 2:04 2/5, 2:05) and one at Three Rivers (2:04 1/5). The eight-year-old Dean Hanover stallion, Scotch Dean 2:01, had four, all at Richelieu Park (2:02 3/5, 2:03, 2:03 1/5, 2:03 2/5). Bay State Pat 2:02 3/5h, the six-year-old Volstadt gelding which was such a sensation the past season, won at Quebec City in 2:02 3/5 and 2:04 1/5, and at Blue Bonnets in 2:03 3/5 and 2:04 2/5. Brave Scott 2:00, H. B. Chief 1:58 3/5 and Mighty Cox 2:01 2/5 each had a pair. The two fastest miles came in the same race at Richelieu Park when Diamond Hal took a heat in 2:00 2/5 for a Canadian record, with Meadow Rice topping the summary with a winning heat in 2:00 4/5. All told there were 27 trips in 2:05 or faster on the Quebec two-lappers, other horses with credits being King Pola, Gus Scot, L. E. M., Dr. Holman and Adios Harry.

Another Sunday afternoon photo following a trotting victory by Selka Song in the "Vivace Song Trot" an early year standout from the Armstrong Stable of Brampton. Driver Harold McKinley and his wife Audrey are joined in the winner's circle by George Giguere on the far left and Chas. Cote Race Secretary from Three Rivers,a guest that day on the far right. [Harness Horse]

My Thanks to Don Daniels for his great archival work that has made many of these old photos and written accounts available.