This week's Rewind is another edition of Picture Parade with all of the photos having a similar theme. You look them over and if you choose to play along, then send in your best guess.
I think most people agree that the most exciting part of any and all races is the finish. After all, that's where the outcome is decided and what will be most remembered. There are a multitude of cliches and time worn sayings that people utter just after a race is completed and most people have heard them all.
"You could have thrown a blanket over the whole field". "The wire didn't get there any too soon." "If they'd have gone another ten feet my horse would have won it all." "My horse was only beat by about that much (gesturing a short distance) for all the marbles." I suspect you get the gist of it.
Today's collection of pictures were all taken at or fairly near the finish wire. The task at hand is to identify the driver or drivers depending on the content of each one. If there are any other questions they will be included as well.
As always the objective is to have a little fun.
#1 - A nice closely bunched field at the wire. If you can figure out the driver of no. 2 and perhaps the horse, let us know your answer. If you're really good, you might be able to tell what this picture was all about. (Photo by Steve Tambosso)
#2 - Home and cooled out looks to be the situation. Can you name this driver from close to 40 years ago? He hasn't driven in a long time but he is still around.
#3 - This gentleman made a lot of trips to the winner's circle and it looks like he's headed there again. Can you put a name on him?
#4 - This pair looks to be pretty close to the wire. Who do we have driving here and maybe name the horses as they were well known for sure? (The Standardbred)
#5 - I am not overly sure that this is the actual finish of a race but it is a good photo of a one time well known horse and driver. Let's just imagine there's a huge field of horses just out of sight. Can you figure out who it is?
#6 - Can you identify this driver as he glides toward the finish line a sure winner? (Abahazy photo collection)
#7 - Looks like a little urging going on here. Who is the man piloting no. 5? If you recognize the driver, maybe you can identify the horse too.
#8 - This was a track record-equalling effort at Flamboro. Name the winning driver if you can. (Gerald Millar photo)
#9 - Looks like 7 for the win and 10 maybe second. Can you name the drivers of each horse? If you're so sure of the first two maybe you can take a crack at the other two. I think I can get at least one of them. (Abahazy collection)
#10 - This one should appeal to the "oldies" in the audience. The man winning the race is a legendary figure and has lots of family still involved in the sport. Nice cars in the infield and SRO (standing room only) in the judge's stand. (London Free Press - D.B. Weldon Library collection)
Quote For The Week: Once again almost a short story...In his later years Yogi Berra's wife decided to discuss "final arrangements" with him. She asked if he wanted a traditional funeral, a private service, cremation or burial, and so on. Yogi thought for a moment and answered "Just Surprise Me!"
Good For A Laugh
If anyone has a disabled automobile that they thought was no longer useful there may be help on the way. It seems that we still always need horsepower.
Who Is It?
Even Robert gets a chance to guess this week! In a change to the usual offering, this week's Who Is It comes as a guest submission from SC's Jeff Porchak. Here's a photo of a future O'Brien Award winner taking his first trip around the racetrack at the age of five. Can you name him?
My Who Is It photo featured a
My Who Is It photo featured a five-year-old Austin Sorrie, winner of the Future Star Award at the 2020 O'Briens. Austin was just a few weeks shy of his 6th birthday in this photo, taken by his mom Lisa Woodgate. The horse was Race On Scooter, and the photo was taken at the farm of Bert & Diane Honkoop in Montague, PEI. Thanks to Lisa for sending it in!
This week's group of pictures
This week's group of pictures drew quite a few answers and as usual all were solved. The correct answers are as follows:
1 - Legal Notice and John Hayes Jr. defeating Walton Hanover (Sonny Dancer) in the first ever N.A. Cup
2 - Don Lawrence driving Split Image at Wolverine 1983 (Thanks Chuck)
3 - Bud Fritz at Hanover with Popular Ben
4- Allwin Steady (O'Donnell) on the inside beats Ralph Hanover (Ron Waples) in a heat of the 1983 Cane
5 - Derby Dan with owner Ron Ellerker of Forest in the sulky (see below *)
6 - Rick Moffat and Merrywood Deana at Wolverine
7 - Bill Stirton driving Aunt Penny
8 - Shanes Mint and Jim Ritchie at Flamboro
9 - Richard Carroll (7) with Sickles First and Bill Gale second. In the other two, one I think is Mike Novick.
10 - Duncan Campbell driving Argyel Margaret at the Tillsonburg fairgrounds. Second place finisher is Keith Feagan
* - I can't thank every commenter individually but do appreciate all of your input. A special thanks for the rather humorous note from Peter Otten and the account of his trip to the races. I love this type of story.
I'll offer a clue on the Who
I'll offer a clue on the Who Is It photo. John Barrington's observation of the Crocs should help establish a timeframe for the photo, and in the phrase 'future O'Brien Award winner' I'm putting the emphasis on future.
Chuck Lawrence sent the
Chuck Lawrence sent the following note received Sunday at 9:10 a.m.
Robert-I guess the father of that young driver in picture # 2 should recognize him. It is my son Donald Lawrence with Split Image, one of our better ones. Donald and Split went on in the following year where he became an Invitational contender.
Always read your columns -Thanks Chuck.
#3, Maybe Fred Sadler?
#3, Maybe Fred Sadler?
Another great picture parade
Another great picture parade Robert. I was around the McNair stable when Doug McNair was a teenager and keen to drive. Greg entered a few horses in the Dundalk Fall Fair with Doug down to drive as he was too young to be licensed at pari mutuel tracks. I am sure he won every start. Who Is It has to be Doug.
I’ll take a shot at #2, the
I’ll take a shot at #2, the horse looks like Mystery Skipper, so...... Doug Arthur.
Also guess Jim Ritchie driving Young Coal, and Rick Moffat driving Doug’s Duke.
1. John Hayes 2. 3. Bud
1. John Hayes
2.
3. Bud Fritz
4. Bill O’Donnell, Ron Waples
5. Ron Ellerker, Derby Dan
6. Rick Moffat
7. Bill Stirton
8. Jim Ritchie
9. Richard Carroll, Bill Gale
10. Duncan Campbell
11. Doug McNair
#5 is definitely Derby Dan
#5 is definitely Derby Dan and Ron Ellerker. Spent many day's out at the Sleeker farm. My dad Bud Otten and Ron were great friends. I remember when theybwere just getting him ready for the races and dad said he was going to be a good one. I can remember the first time he raced I think it was in London and beat one of Jack Kopas's star pupils at the time but I can't remember that horses name. Old Dan paid huge and dad and Ron filled their pockets. Wayne Ellerker, Ted Ellerker, Peter Otten my brother were there. After the races they took us to the Kentucky Fried Chicken then went uptown to the Brass Rail and left us in the car while they had a few. I can remember my mom being mad as hell because we were so late. She didn't mind the big pile of cash dad popped on the table though. Jack Lester's Terrific Atom and Derby Dan battled it out in the old Belvedere Stakes which Dan won the final in Hanover.
I’m going to guess on who is
I’m going to guess on who is it and say Doug McNair. Crocks were not invented when Jody and I were kids!
I think #7 is Bill Stirton
I think #7 is Bill Stirton and Aunt Penny
drawing a blank on some
drawing a blank on some pictures but a few I think I know:
#3 is Bud Fritz #4 the driver closest to the rail is Bill O'Donnell
#5 looks like Derbys Gent
#6 is Rick Moffat
#7 is Bill Stirton and Aunt Penny
#9 is Richard Carroll the winner and Bill Gale second and,
#10 Dunc Campbell
#1 Legal Notice (DR John
#1 Legal Notice (DR John Hayes Jr) beating Walton Hanover (Sonny Dancer). # 4 Allwin Steady (Bill O'Donnell) beating Ralph Hanover (Ron Waples). # 8 Jim Ritchie.
#7 Bill Stirton and Crystal
#7 Bill Stirton and Crystal Lens, #8 Shane’s Mint-Jim Ritchie
1-John Hayes Jr, Jerry
1-John Hayes Jr, Jerry Bookmyer,
2-
3-Neil Mccran
4-Bill O'Donnell, Carmine Abatiello
5-Durby Dan, Ron Aligar
6-Rick Moffatt
7-Aunt Penny, William Sturtan
8-Randy Rutlidge
9-Richard Carroll, Bill Gale, Mike Nolvac, Dan Dingell
10-Levi McFadden
Doug McNair is the bottom kid
Little did I realize how
Little did I realize how stressful this can be for you people each week. LOL. It looks like I'll be carrying my bat back to the dugout having struck out in my first try. I have no idea but I am going to take a guess at saying it is Jody Jamieson. I thought about using a "phone a friend" but decided not to. This is hard! Thanks for the opportunity and can't wait until next week.
1)Sonny Dancer with Walton
1)Sonny Dancer with Walton Hanover, finishing second to Legal Notice and John Hayes in N A Cup one
4) Bill O'Donnell and..Boothill Shooter and John Flanagan?
8) Shane's Mint and Jim Ritchie
Frank Omara, Bill Gale, Mickey McNichol and Jim Doherty
5. Ron Ellerker with Derby
5. Ron Ellerker with Derby Dan. He was a top open pacer in Ont. back in the day. I actually drove him once in Batavia for Gary Payne and he won. It was like driving a cadillac.
6. Rick Moffatt
9. Bill Gale, Richard Carroll, Mickey Mcnichol, Mike Novick