SC Rewind: 50 Years Of Golden Memories, Part 2

In this week's Rewind, Robert Smith recalls the advent of night racing in Ontario at London's Western Fair Raceway 50 years ago

. This is the second in a series commemorating this special Golden Anniversary Year.

On May 17, 1961, opening night at London's Western Fair Raceway just under 3,000 fans were on hand to welcome night harness racing to Ontario. They pushed $46,626 through the windows as fans and mutuel clerks adjusted to the new system. The four-race, eight-heat card attracted a total of just 29 starters and everything went off basically "without a hitch". Apparently the paddock judge had a bit of a problem getting the horses out on time and in order but that was rectified by veteran starter Art Whitesell who soon took charge. A number of dignitaries were on hand including Mr. Hugh Proudfoot of Fort Coulonge Quebec, the current President of the C.T A. It was reported that fans from as far away as 200 miles made the journey to become part of an important piece of history.

The opening night feature, a C1 Pace for a purse of $700 went to Brother Hy owned by Alex Hyatt of Petrolia and driven by Ken Bogart. This amazing little horse went on to be a real fan favourite in the years that followed as he piled up many of his 85 lifetime victories at this track. After winning the first heat in 2:11.3 he finished second to Baron Atom in the second stanza.

Baron Atom driven by Almer Holmes for M. J. Webster recorded the evening's fastest mile of 2:09.2. In all, eight different drivers visited the winner's circle that night with no double heat winners. Other winning drivers were Harvey Fleet, Garfield Ritchie, Wm. Herbert, Don McNutt, Hugh McLean and Neil McRann.

The following is a brief week by week summary of the Featured events and a few other highlights along with purse amounts and winning times.

• The week # 1 Feature for a purse of $1,000 went to Argyel Sam, owned and driven by Duncan Campbell. Others in the field were Penny Johnston, Tami Herbert, Hal's Bomb, Governor Baldwin, Major Henley and Marjean Chief. The two heat times were 2:07.2 ; 2:06.4. Pacers ruled with just three races for trotters carded the first week and the fastest heat turned in by R Merrie Miller for "Red Fred" Roloson in 2:13.2.
   
• The Week # 2 Feature for a purse of $800 went to Success Top owned by The Waples Stable and driven by Murray Waples. Two heat times were 2:10; 2:08.3. On May 25th, the 13 year old Argyel Grattan once again showed his winning form for owner driver Duncan Campbell in 2:14.4. This horse's racing career began over a decade ago in 1950 and eventually escalated to several "Horse Of The Year" awards.
   
• The Week # 3 Feature for a purse of $750 saw two winners. The McNabb owned by Wilfred McNabb of Maple, Ont. and driven by Neil McRann took the first heat in 2:08. 3. The second heat went to Peter Humes owned by Robert & James Livesey of Woodstock and driven to victory by Ron Feagan in 2:11. With the meeting only in its third week, Peter Humes became the first four-time winner. Young Mr. Feagan of Goderich, who just turned 19 in March of this year, is holding his own against mainly older drivers.
   
• The Week # 4 Feature for a purse of $1,000 was won in straight heats by Argyel Duke for owner driver Duncan Campbell edging out Lady's Lad and Bill Harvey. Times were 2:08.2 and 2:06.2. Sufficient horses were now available resulting in mainly single heat races on each card.
   
• The Week # 5 Feature for $1,000 was a split between two previous winners The McNab in 2:05.2 with Neil McRann and Argyel Sam for Dunc Campbell in 2:06 even. On June 8, a special Three-Year-Old Invitational Pace was featured, the details of which will be covered in a later edition. Current leading drivers are Duncan Campbell, Ron Feagan and Neil McRann. Several races now going just a single heat carry a purse of $250.
   
• The Week # 6 Feature was Carded as an Invitational FFA for the meeting's largest purse of $2,000 on closing night. It produced two winners with Success Top taking the first in 2:06.2 for Murray Waples and the second went to Penny Johnston, the property of Niagara Farms of St. Catherines and driven by Gary Campbell. The four-year-old chestnut mare by Irish Chief turned in the fastest mile of the meeting covering the half miler in 2:05. Heather Boy, a trotter with all local connections won 2 races during the final week both in identical times of 2:10 for owners Lloyd Elgie and Gordon Foster with Londoner Bill James at the controls. Stan Williams, another local driver who became a perennial star here picked off two wins to take the closing night Daily Double on getaway night.
   
• Racing ended on June 24th with Levi "Jiggs" McFadden winning the final race with Dancer in a C3 pace. The fall meeting resumed September 13th.

The following is a list of winning drivers who competed during the six-week Spring meet from May 17 thru June 24. Due to a lack of data I know there were several more who drove in races, but did not win therefore may not be listed. This list contains drivers who won at least one race during the inaugural. I have added a few names who I know were early year participants but were statistically excluded. If anyone wishes to add a name please do so as I would not like to see anyone excluded. The names are listed in alphabetical order.

Johnny Atmore, Dunc Barnes, Norm Bayne, Floyd Belore, Andy Bell, Geo. Bennett, Ross Blackman, Ken Bogart, Lyle Bogart, Don Campbell, Duncan Campbell, Gary Campbell, Jack Campbell, Ray Campbell, Cecil Coke, Wes Coke, Allan Colquhoun, Don Corbett, Elmer Cunningham, Ellis Dell, Dale Dufty, Keith Feagan, Ron Feagan, Harvey Fleet, Wick Fraser, Ray Freer, Bud Fritz, Elmer Fritz, Dr. Gordon Gilbertson, Henry Gorski, Fred Goudreau, Wilf Guise, Bill Habkirk, Irwin Hamilton, Wm. (Ancaster Bill) Harvey, Jack Herbert, Wm. Herbert, Wm. Hicks, Fred Hill, Clint Hodgins, Almer Holmes, Dr. Houze, Stan Hughes, Ted Hughes, Wm. James, Gerry Johnston, Lorne Johnston, Ross Johnston, Tom Keck, Ken Kerr, Scotty Kerr, Gordon Kingston, Gord Kitchen, Jack Kopas, Don Larkin, Gordon Lawrence, Wm. Lawrence, John Lester, Marcel L'Heureux, Clarence Lockhart, Cecil Loney, Vic Lutman, S. MacMillan, Bert Madill, Wm. Madill, Mike Marchuk, Cecil McCallum, Jiggs McFadden, Hugh McLean, Don McNutt, Neil McRann, Jack Mehlenbacher, Marshall Moore, Harold North, Neil Pringle, Jack Reid, John Redpath, Garfield Ritchie, Fred Roloson, Bob Sanford, Stew Simpson, Allan Tait, Glen Tiffen, Jack Turner, Lloyd Turvey, Murray Waples, Stan Williams, Les Wright, Tom Yearly, Clarence Young, Herb Young.

The following is a list of racing officials as listed for the opening season.

WFR General Manager - Evan McGugan
WFR President - H. W. Donohue
Judges - Allison Grillo, Tal Woolley, Chas. Lamb
Racing Secretary - Clifford Chapman Jr.
Announcer - Wm. McDonnell
Starter - Arthur Whitesell
Track Vets - Dr. Geo. Elliott, Dr. Jas. Bovaird
Timer - Robert Hales Jr.
Photographer - Harry Holme
Clerk of the Course - Mrs. Ruth Lawton
Program Director - Mrs. Kathryn Allison

The next story covering some special happenings from the early years at WFR will appear in a future Rewind.