Today's Rewind, somewhat pictorial in nature, takes a "stroll" back to 50 years ago and a visit to the newly opened Mohawk Raceway.
The following item appeared in the July 22, 1964 issue of Harness Horse magazine. It inspired me to take a short "trip" back in time to revisit what was happening and who was involved 50 years ago at the then-new Mohawk Raceway.
"At the close of the Mohawk spring meeting the Carling Cup was awarded to the leading driver based on percentage. Along with the cup, a cash award of $100 went to Harold Wellwood with a leading percentage of .462. In the runner up spot was Harold McKinley with a .433 mark; he received a $75 award. Getting the show spot was 23-year-old William Wellwood on a .391 average and he received a $50 award." [Although not mentioned in the write up, the leading dash winner at this meeting was Duncan MacTavish, who just recently passed away in April 2014.]
The top 3 drivers in U.D.R.S. from Mohawk 1964 Spring Meeting. Harold Wellwood, Harold McKinley, Wm. Wellwood.
Fifty years ago back in 1964, Mohawk was just in its second season of existence having opened in the spring of 1963. It then became the O.J.C's second of three tracks as Garden City opened in the fall of 1964 .It was the second new track of the decade in Ontario, following the opening of Rideau Carleton in 1962.
The Golden Horseshoe Fact Book published a few years after this time by recently elected and future Hall of Famer Bill Galvin offered the following description of the Mohawk facility.
Mohawk Raceway is located on a 450 acre tract of land at Exit 38 on The MacDonald-Cartier Freeway, 25 miles west of Toronto. It is the Golden Horseshoe Circuit's most picturesque track. It is surrounded by woodlands of spruce, cedar and sprinkled with birches. Its backstretch was carved from the bush and houses 828 pacers and trotters, more than the other Golden Horseshoe tracks. Some of the horsemen and their families live in a unique mobile home site nestled among the trees.
Mohawk accommodates 12,000 fans. It is completely glass enclosed and air conditioned.
The 1964 spring meeting at Mohawk began on Monday, May 4th following the Greenwood session. The first race of the campaign went to the trotter Devon Babs, owned by Don Chatterson of Brighton, Ont. and driven by Earl Weeks. A two-time winner on opening night was the meet's eventual leading percentage driver Harold Wellwood. He was home first in the fourth with a young mare named Abigal Edna (owned by my late father) and was back in the winner's circle again following the ninth with the veteran pacer Shadow Stone owned by Stratford Hotel proprietor and long time partner of Harold, Wesley Litt.
The spring session was fairly short in duration, lasting just six weeks and closing night was on Saturday, June 13. Some familiar names of both horses and drivers entered the winner's circle on "getaway" night. Listed below, by race, is the outcome of the evening's nine-race card.
Race 1 - Clever Holmes - Wm Wellwood
Race 2 - Andy Counsel - Bev Kingston
Race 3 - Lusty McKinney - Ross Siddall
Race 4 - Glendale Joe - Harold Varcoe
Race 5 - Chappies Boy - Jack Gordon
Race 6 - Telegram - Ross Johnston
Race 7 - George Volo - Dr. John Findley
Race 8 - Dean Herbert - Jack Herbert
Race 9 - Uncle Spud - Dr. John Findley
Major Stakes Events of Spring Meeting -1964 at Mohawk
Event - Winner - Time - Driver
Hamilton Pacing Stake - Dean Herbert - 2:45.4 (1 5/16 miles) - Jack Herbert
Kitchener Trotting Stake - Betsy Herbert - 2:47.3 (1 5/16 miles) - Jack Herbert
Milton Pacing Stake - Fleetwood E Grattan - 2:02.2 - Keith Waples
Campbellville Trotting Stake - Peaches Atom - 2:08.3 - Dr. John Findley
Ross Curran, Dr. John Findley, Allan Waddell
Drivers Colony
Glen Anderson, Frank Alexander, Norm Bayne, Floyd Belore, Randy Boyce, Osler Burrison, Gary Campbell, Jack Campbell, Bruce Clements, Wes Coke, Mark Coliton, Don Corbett, Pat Crowe, Ross Curran, Frank Dam, Wilf Duford, Dale Dufty, Larry Eaid, Ron Feagan, Renald Filion, Dr. John Findley, Ken Galbraith, Sonny Geisel, Don Gillis, Jack Gordon, Bill Habkirk, Bill Harvey, George Hawke, John Hayes Sr., Jack Herbert, Wm. Herbert, Bill Hicks, Carman Hie, Fred Hill, Clarence Hilliard, Almer Holmes, Jimmy Holmes, Mel Hope, Wilbert Hopkins, Stan Hughes, Harry Ingles, Wm. James, Ross Johnston, Bev Kingston, Gord Kingston, Merv Kirkness, Don Larkin, Roy Lawson, Mel Lester, Clarence Lockhart, Bert Madill, Mike Marchuk, Orwell Morrissey, Mac MacRae, Duncan MacTavish, Jiggs McFadden, Jim McIntyre, Harold McKinley, Ted McLean, Don McNutt, Eric McNutt, Neil McRann, Maurice Monroe, John Murphy, Everett Norris, Allan Pacey, Doug Palmer, Gord Pullman, Paul Radley, Garfield Ritchie, Bob Sanford, Graydon Sheldon, Earl Shea, Ross Siddall, Phil Stewart, Peter Thibaudeau, Wilbur Thompson, Harold Varcoe, Allan Waddell, Allan Walker, Keith Waples, Earl Weeks, Harold Wellwood, Wm. Wellwood
Duncan MacTavish led all drivers in wins with 15 first place tallies at the 1964 Mohawk spring meeting [Harness Horse]
If anyone has memories of Mohawk's early days please feel free to share them.
I read all these articles (
I read all these articles ( SC Rewind ) I cherish and hang onto every word. They’re great memories to remind us of the guys & girls who paved the way for a great industry it is today. I entered the central Canada scene hiring on with Duncan in the fall of 67, they were times of absolute superiority above anything else those times had to offer. My belief today is that as vehemently important it is to look back we must go forward to entice young fans and participants if we are to sustain the industry. If some of the parents today knew the education available via the work ethic that comes by just mucking a stall they might be flocking to the industry's doorsteps. The spin off of this industry is also an economic force not to be denied. I would like to see more controlled, scheduled open houses (youth days) Mostly in closing I fail to comprehend the governments of the day not to recognize these benefits as they stand on these merits.
They used to feed us on race
They used to feed us on race nights in the paddock! Remember my grooming weekly pay was from $43 per week to $80 tops. This all went for adult beverages, so free food was a lifesaver! Thanks to the OJC