In this week's Rewind Robert Smith recalls the very popular Supertest colt stakes and some of the successful participants
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Some time ago I devoted a Rewind to the beginning of The Supertest Colt Stakes and the great role they played in providing lucrative opportunities to those who wished to race young horses. The very first Supertest Stake was held in 1944 at Leamington, Ont., and was won by a colt named Jack E Herbert, co-owned by his namesake and his father Wm. Herbert of London. The winning driver was Floyd Milton. From this point forward the program became an instant success and continued as a major goal for everyone who had a promising colt of either gait. The great history of these famous colt classics remained for many years, even after the famous Supertest orange maple leaf logo disappeared from many gas stations across the countryside.
This week I have chosen to profile a few Supertest races, the horses and people who competed and also the towns where the races were held. When the races originally started, the first year consisted of just a two-year-old pacing event. Soon there were four divisions, two- and three-year-old pacers and the same for trotters. Unlike colts stakes of today they were not separated by gender so the "girls" faced the "boys" which certainly would not happen under current rules. The following short write ups recall a few of the many Supertest contests as they may have been reported at the time.
Colts Put on Great Show at Tillsonburg - 1949
Nine well matched three-year-old pacing colts and fillies faced the starter on this warm July afternoon and a winner was not declared until the third and final heat. Dillon The Great owned and trained by George "Buck" Sherman of Rodney prevailed over his rivals after finishing second to Little Bill (Duncan Campbell) and Barry Herbert (Wm. Herbert) in the first two heats. The fastest time of 2:14 was recorded in the final heat and the owner was rewarded with the largest share of the $3,684.37 purse. One of the top catch drivers of this era Lloyd Turvey of Exeter was called upon to handle the driving chores this day replacing the colt's usual driver Will Fraser. Following the thrilling victory Mr. Sherman was presented with a silver tray and tea service and driver Turvey was the recipient of a new set of driving silks. The horse with the best standing but without a heat victory was Johnnie Lee from the barn of Gordon Lawrence from Blenheim, a man who was involved with the original start up of the Supertest Stakes.
Rowe Stable Victorious At Stratford - 1955
Graced by beautiful weather and staged in front of a large crowd, the three-year-old Supertest Trotting Stake was captured in three straight heats by Flash Riddell driven by Wm. Rowe. The purse for this year's event was a sizeable $3,400 and drew eight starters. The fastest heat was the second when the clock was stopped in 2:17.4. Phyllis Brook owned by Mrs. Margaret Sheppard of Coldwater, Ont. and handled by Keith Waples had the second best standing of the day finishing 2-3-4. Later in the season Phyllis Brook beat a number of these same colts in winning that year's Futurity at London. A representative from the Oil Co. made a trackside presentation to the winning driver and his wife Ruth. This colt was bred and raised by The Rowe family of Newton Robinson, Ont., and is another example of the many fine trotters they have turned out.
Supertest Colt Stakes Held at Strathroy - July 1, 1960
A total of 18 three-year-old pacing colts put on quite a show at this venerable racing town today. Two elimination heats were held and the top four finishers from each returned for the final which carried a purse of $4882.14. The winner of the first heat was Armbro Adanac (Canada spelled backwards) with Harold McKinley driving and the second went to Adiodale. In the final, Adiodale was the winner for owner driver Neil McRann of Lucan in a relatively slow 2:14 with the Armbro horse second. The 10 horses that did not qualify for the final raced in a consolation race for $500 and this contest went to Noral Gale reined by Fred Goudreau for Norm McIntyre of Charing Cross.
Dresden Hosts Supertest for 7th Straight Year - 1962
A crowd estimated at 4,000 watched this year's two-year-old colt stakes. In the trotting feature, the opener was taken by Miss Todd Riddell for owner-driver and longtime Supertest competitor The Hon. Earl Rowe. In the second heat this horse made a costly break and finished a distant eighth to race winner Niagara Chance driven by Almer Holmes for Brantford sportsman Maxwell Webster. Based on the best summary of 4-1 the Webster horse was declared the winner of this event which had a purse of $5,175.
In the pacing section, Dapper Grattan S. and driver Marshall Moore won one division and the other went to Oro Lee Herbert and driver Jack Herbert. It was a great day for Strathroy policeman Reg Rollason, owner of Dapper Grattan as he received the Supertest silver tray from R.S. Wilson. He eventually sold the colt to The Certified Stables of Downsview and the following year the new owners returned to again win, taking the three-year-old Supertest at London with U.S. driver Ben Webster aboard.
The Black Douglas Wins Supertest at London's WFR - 1972
Dr. John Findlay of Arnprior, Ont., long considered one of the sport's premiere trotting specialists captured one division of this year's three-year-old trot held at London's Western Fair Raceway. His homebred, The Black Douglas - a son of Hickory Pride out of his great mare Dalyce Blue - included this victory as part of a stellar sophomore season in which he won seven races and banked just under $40,000. In the second division Prince Dnalel (Leland spelled backwards) was first home for pilot Ken Carmichael and owner J.C. Cameron of Smiths Falls, thus making it an all Ottawa Valley victory evening.
I am certain that some of the older racing families and also veteran racing fans remember these races with fondness. Undoubtedly a few now tarnished silver bowls and trays remain as a reminder of those bygone days. As I read through these summaries, I can personally recall meeting and visiting with many of these people. A great deal of credit is due to the many people who worked behind the scenes as part of the W.J. Hyatt Assoc. to ensure that these popular races were kept alive for so many years.
It was very appropriate that
It was very appropriate that you highlighted a picture of Bill and Ruth Rowe on your Rewind article this week.
Nice to read of Bill and his father, the Hon W.Earl Rowe, achievements in the mid 50's and 60's and 70's at Stratford
and the Supertest Final.
Bill Rowe passed away on Sunday March 20th at Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie. The father of Jane Rees, Earl Rowe Jr. and cousin Scott Rowe will be greatly missed by all we older Standardbred owners in this industry.
Bill was a great man and I solicit everyone's help in getting Bill into the Hall of Fame under the category of Builder.
Not only did he build and manage Windsor Raceway, one of the finest tracks of its time he was instrumental in building Barrie Raceway and was a partner in one of the nicest 5/8 mile tracks and racing facilities, that being Georgian Downs.
Our thoughts are with his family at this time.
Robert, your Rewind columns
Robert, your Rewind columns always provide an enjoyable "remember when" and I thank you. I was the groom for Niagara Chance that day in Dresden and remember it well. It is interesting to recall how the colt got his name. He was a homebred by Moray (a new horse who stood at Alex Parson's farm) out of Judith Dillon, a Dillon Mc mare that my father had owned since 1956. Our homebreds were usually named with a Lynden prefix after the farm name "Lynden Hill Farm".
My father was part of the horseman's group in the area that promoted harness racing and sponsored the old Peninsula Stake. As a fund raiser he donated this colt(a real eye catcher who was given the name Niagara Chance) to the association and he was trailered to all the local race meets where tickets were sold and in the Fall he had a new owner. As it turned out the winner really didn't want a horse and Dad agreed to buy him for $1000.
Niagara Chance was certainly a well handled yearling in 1961 when Almer Holmes started to train him but he could be a project to race. Almer (who recently turned 80) did a great job with him and won several other stakes as a 2 and 3 year old. He had some soundness problems and didn't race at 4 but I won a couple of races with him in 1965 at Garden City on the pace.
All the best,
Brian Webster
I would like to thank you
I would like to thank you for your rewind articles, i really do enjoy reading all of them. Quite often you mention a few of my family members, Floyd Milton is my grandfather and Bill Herbert is my great uncle both of whom have passed away. It is great for my mother and I to relive fond memories of our loved ones. Thank you so much!
Bob, would George Sherman be
Bob, would George Sherman be any relation to our mutual past friend Ernie? Love all the memories. Keith Waples has been to visit this year in Florida and has a colt with James Dean. Dr. Findlay visits also. your pal, Al Casselman
In reply to Bob, would George Sherman be by songwriter
Hello Al : Thanks for being
Hello Al : Thanks for being in touch .No George Sherman was NOT related to Ernie Sherman but they were acquainted with each other . You have had some "special" visitors this winter and I hope you have jotted down any stories they may have told as they could come in pretty handy for upcoming REWINDS .
Also I wish to acknowledge the very thoughtful note from Amy Hardy and hope that she speaks for many in the reading audience as it is always nice to remember the many who travelled before us.