In this week's Rewind Robert Smith remembers a number of events, personalities and little stories from the decade of the 1940s as part of the ongoing Years Ago feature which appears each month.
1942 - Circus Animals Used To Rebuild Kentucky Track
With certain wartime restrictions in place including the rationing of gasoline, the operators of Fairgrounds Speedway (later Miles Park) in Louisville opted to utilize some local 'labour' in the rebuilding of their racecourse. During the winter of 1941-42 The Cole Bros. Circus were wintering their animals at the Kentucky State Fairgrounds and it was decided to use several among them to recondition and rework the track. It was expected that the racing surface would be in tip top condition for the Grand Circuit trotting meeting scheduled Sept. 5, 1942. This track was noted as already being a fast strip and this would make it even speedier.
Yaks owned by Cole Brothers Circus wintering at Ky. State Fair Grounds are being ungeared after pulling a cutting harrow on the track.[Harness Horse]
J. C. Wehrley, Superintendent of Kentucky State Fair Buildings and Grounds is using "Blanche", a five-ton elephant belonging to Cole Brothers Circus, who are wintering at the Kentucky State Fairgrounds, and four Zebras, ably driven by Guy Coghill, Trackman at the Kentucky State Fairgrounds to work the track [Harness Horse]
1946 - Maywood Park Opening Set For June 6, 1946
An announcement for the opening of Maywood Park in 1946. Harness racing began to become quite popular at this time as racing under the lights was being introduced. An interesting aspect of the announcement states "DAYLIGHT RACING AT NIGHT."
The sport's newest showplace is set to open June 6 on the outskirts of Chicago some 17 miles from the City centre. A recent strike by the railway has slowed the arrival of several stables, but officials at the track are certain that the opening will proceed as planned. In addition to the liberal purse structure already announced, the Raceway's General Manager Sam Wiedrick has announced a special incentive for competing drivers. A total of $1,500 will be awarded to the top drivers with the highest amount of $750 going to the leading reinsman at the conclusion of the 33-night gathering. Additionally each winning groom will receive $5.00.
Among the horses already on the grounds is the world famous Greyhound, now retired, who will parade on opening night to celebrate the track's opening. He made a similar appearance at the recently-concluded meeting in California. The park's stall capacity of 493 is expected to be full well before opening night. All horsemen planning to race at this meeting are cautioned to seek permission before shipping as nearly all stalls have been allocated.
Dr. J.S. Ferguson, a Chatham, Ont. Doctor, pays a visit to the newly opened Maywood Park to check on his outstanding mare Merry England, one of the new track's most successful performers. Proof of the stable's recent good fortune is evident by the display of trophies. On the left is Wilbur Apthorpe, the mare's trainer and driver. They had been on the road for quite some time as they started out the 1946 season racing in California at another newly-opened track, Hollywood Park. [Harness Horse]
1946 - $2,500 Match Race Held At Sorel Quebec Won By Guy H
The program advertising the big Match Race for $2,500 to be held at the Royale Track in Sorel, Quebec
Sunday, August 25, 1946: A huge crowd estimated to be between 6-7,000 fans gathered at the Sorel track to witness a match race featuring two of the top horses currently competing in North America. The big match up pitted the reigning Quebec champion Guy H, owned by Elzear Cournyea of Sorel and driven by Honorat Larochelle, against the sport's current top money winning performer Blue Again. R.W. Leatherdale, owner of Blue Again was arguably the richest and proudest man on the Continent as his classy pacer had recently won two huge races; one in the U.S. where he took the top prize in a $50,000 event in California, the other The Canadian Pacing Derby at New Hamburg, Ont. His driver was Harold Wellwood and trainer was Wm. Fraser of Ridgetown, both veterans of the racing game.
The winner, much to the delight of the highly partisan crowd, was Guy H as he took two heats in convincing fashion, thus eliminating the need for a third. In both trips Guy H was much the superior horse and was in complete control in each contest. Some observers believed that Blue Again was not at his best, while Guy H -- who had recovered from a bout of lameness earlier in the season -- was more than equal to the task. Just exactly how the purse money was paid out was not fully disclosed but sources close to the scene remarked that Blue Again's connections left town satisfied that they had been well treated.
Note - My thanks to veteran horseman Denis Larochelle for his excellent recap of this event held over 70 years ago. He recalls it as a great day in Quebec racing at that time as Quebecers loved match races. It was his father who was the winning driver. Finding eye witnesses to events of 70+ years ago is not an easy feat.
Guy H parades for driver Honorat Larochelle shown here at the St. Jerome track. He was the winner of a famous 1946 match race at Sorel as he defeated Blue Again (Harold Wellwood).
1948 - Canadian Horse Dr. Stanton Among Tops In The Sport
The 1948 season was a great one for the Canadian-owned free-for-all pacer Dr. Stanton. Racing exclusively on U.S. tracks under the care of the father and son team of Lindley and "Wick" Fraser of Forest, Ont., the seven-year-old gelding scored 16 victories that season. His year-end bankroll totalled $50,550 (*$535,885) which raised his lifetime earnings to $70,800 (*$751,300.00). He consistently raced against and defeated the very best horses then in competition. In his first start of the season he took a lifetime mark of 2:00 1/5 over the Santa Anita mile track. The season's earnings total led the entire sport on the pacing gait in 1948.
(*) - Bracketed numbers are 2016 dollar values based on Bank of Canada Inflation Stats
Dr. Stanton is shown with one of his greatest admirers "Tiny", Miss Lois Fraser, daughter of the owner and driver. She later married N.H.L. star and Hall of Famer "Blackjack" Stewart who became a racing judge after retiring from his hockey career [Harness Horse]
This horse was originally purchased for $500 after being unraced as a youngster, but blossomed into the top aged pacer on the Continent. Many of his starts were at longer distances at which he excelled. One of the highlights of this season was a win in the $10,000 Benjamin Downing Memorial Pace at Roosevelt Raceway in mid August, defeating a field of 10, pacing home in 3:11 3/5 for the mile-and-one-half distance. This established a world record at that time.
Driver Lindley Fraser and the amazing Dr. Stanton are greeted in the winner's circle at Fairmount Park by a bevy of well wishers. From left: Mrs. W.L. (Pearl) Fraser, Mrs. John Carter and Miss Lois Fraser holding Dr Stanton after his victory in the Fairmount Pacing Derby [Harness Horse]
1949 - Amber Grattan II Wins Five Races At London's Western Fair
Owner and driver Tom Yearley of Crediton, Ont. guides his star pacer Amber Grattan II to victory during the 1949 Western Fair at London, Ont. The typically large crowds that the annual races days attracted can be seen in the background.
The year 1949 was a magical season for a horse named Amber Grattan II and his owner, trainer and sometime driver Thomas Yearley. That season provided a lot of thrills around the small town circuit and yielded an amazing 49 trips to the winner's circle. On the opening day of the Western Fair this horse logged three victories. On the final day of the four-day meeting, the Free For All was carded and Fair officials asked Yearly if he would enter his horse again, which he did. On that day he notched two more wins giving him five in just three days to add to his impressive total. That year he won 29 of his last 30 trips behind the gate.
Many times that season Exeter horseman Lloyd Turvey did the driving. Sadly this was his last season at the races as a stable fire at the Exeter Community Park on April 3, 1950 claimed the lives of six horses including Amber Grattan II. Mr. Turvey was injured attempting to save the horse but his efforts failed.
The following note was
The following note was received from Chuck Lawrence of Blenheim, Ont:
Robert I sure enjoyed your article on the late 1940`s. I was pretty young but old enough to know many of the people and their horses. Amber Grattan was one of my favourites and Tom Yearly along with Lloyd Turvey. When we would truck into Ridgetown to train a 2 yr. old, Dad always trained out of Will Fraser's barn.
Will Fraser was a top trainer and I had the opportunity to have a long session with him; a three or four hour ride to New Hamburg in the back of George Sherman`s stake truck. Will had Sherman's horse Corporal Bill in to go and Dad had a colt in a 3 yr old pace. We had been to the Civic Holiday races in Stratford shortly before that so I got the treat to learn a lot from Will Fraser.
Regards Chuck
Thank you Robert, for the
Thank you Robert, for the write up on the match race between my Grandpa's horse Guy H, and Blue Again. I know my Dad Denis really enjoyed your chat!