In this week's edition of Rewind Robert Smith takes a "stroll" back in time as he presents his monthly "Years Ago" feature and this time around it is all about the decade of the 1950's. This was truly an exciting period in the history of harness racing and one well worth remembering. Many of today's participants were busily working back then to provide "a better tomorrow."
1953 - Standardbred Racing Comes To Connaught Park
Ad from Harness Horse
Seventy years ago harness racing made its debut at Connaught Park located in Hull, Quebec. While this form of racing was new, the track had been in existence as a thoroughbred venue for many years. A number of upgrades and special features recently completed were sure to please the future racetrack patrons. Perhaps most notable was the cream-coloured Cadillac starting gate, operated by Seward Potter. A short list of upgrades would also include a new lighting system, new concessions and the relocated steward's stand atop the grandstand. Races were to start precisely at 8:30 p.m., with 20 minute intervals between races.
Starter Seward Potter shows off the nearly new Cadillac starting gate used at Connaught Park (Ottawa Citizen archives)
Opening night feature was The Dominion Day Trot that carried a purse of $1,000 and attracted a field of just five starters with three late scratches. The first heat winner was Cheerful Lad for owner Colborne Hess of Morrisburg with Percy Robillard in the sulky. The second heat went to Glendale Ace for co-owner and driver Sted Craig and partner W.J. McNab of Smith Falls. A number of still familiar names were present at the inaugural Connaught gathering including John Zeron, Edmond Filion, Bernard Grant, Dr. John Findley, and Clair and Joe Smith of Ottawa, to name just a few.
Connaught Park existed as a racing facility for almost 100 years, the last half century plus the scene of many exciting harness races. This long and enduring record places it among the most memorable of all Canadian Race Courses.
1954 - Ben Boy A Trotting Sensation
Ben Boy appears in the Richelieu Park winner's circle with trainer and driver Keith Waples. That's Georges Giguere at the horse's head. I am not certain about the lady next to Keith. (Wray family archives)
Ben Boy entered the aged trotter ranks in 1954 when he turned four. Following outstanding campaigns as both a two and three-year-old, the son of Van Riddell was handling the transition with ease. After setting records during his freshman and sophomore seasons Ben Boy and driver Keith Waples were racing with the top class trotters at Richelieu Park and Blue Bonnets in Montreal.
Midway in the season Ben Boy was shipped to Toronto to race in the Province's top trotting event, The Maple Leaf Cup. It was being held for the first time at the newly opened harness racing site known as Old Woodbine. After four years of summer racing at Thorncliffe Park, the trotters and pacers moved to the historic Woodbine location which had hosted only thoroughbred action for parts of two centuries.
Ben Boy was a convincing winner in the Maple Leaf Trot and is shown above as his owner receives a silver tray. From left: Hugh Proudfoot, C.T.A. President; Hal B. Watson, Turf writer; owner Mrs. Ruth Wray and trainer driver Keith Waples (Wray family archives)
1955 - Captain Wright Wins Three-Year-Old Supertest
Owner Richard Scott of Toronto holds Captain Wright following a victory in the 1955 Supertest Three-Year-Old Pace at Tillsonburg. The driver is Ken MacDonald. This horse was bred by Mr. Dave Pinkney hotel owner from Stratford, Ont. The gents in the judge's stand are all tuned in (Author's collection - Photo courtesy of D.B. Weldon Library / University of Western Ontario)
July 13, 1955 - Race fans at the Tillsonburg fairgrounds track were once again treated to a fine afternoon of harness racing hosted by the local Turf Club. For a number of years this track hosted a division of the popular Supertest Stakes series which began back in 1944. The series which was sponsored for many years by the Supertest Oil Co. of London provided rather lucrative purses for those who wished to race two and three-year-olds of both gaits.
This year, the three-year-old pacing event was awarded to Tillsonburg. A field of 15 were kept paid up and entered for the event which carried a purse of $4,400 that year. Eliminations were held and a field of eight faced starter Art Whitesell in the final. Art, who hailed from this town, was one of the first people to operate a starting gate dating back to 1947, the year it was introduced in Ontario. The winning entry was Captain Wright driven by Ken MacDonald for owner Richard Scott of Toronto. Finishing second in the final was Heather C Scott driven by Keith Waples.
Shortly after this day Mr. Scott, the winning owner, passed away and the horse was eventually sold to the Armstrong Bros. of Brampton. Captain Wright raced successfully for several seasons, often competing at the Invitational level at several U.S. and Canadian tracks. When the 21st and last Canadian Pacing Derby was held at the Town of New Hamburg Ontario in 1957, he was the winner, driven by veteran horseman Vic Rowntree.
Note: See below for a Trivia Question related to this item.
1956 - Guy Riggs Dies At Age 28
The passing of one of the great horses involved in harness racing in western Canada has been announced. On Jan. 10th Guy Riggs died at the farm of Jack and Ella Tutt in Roleau, Sask. The grand old performer was 28 years old at the time and had been in the stud there since 1940. He took a race record of 2:09 at the age of four, considered pretty good back then. He had been raced by Pete Craske, who purchased him as a yearling, and also by Jim Kealey.
During the four years that a Canadian Horse of the Year has been selected, the Horse of the Year named from Western Canada has been a son, two grandsons, and a great grandson of Guy Riggs. Dale Riggs p, 2:10h was the son to gain the honour. The grandsons were Sailor Hal p, 2:06 4/5h by Guy Hal and Eddie Riggs p, 2:07h by Tommy Riggs, and the great grandson was Dr. Brady Riggs p, 3, 2:11 2/5h. In addition he was the sire of the good performers Eva Riggs p, 2:06h, Guy Hal p, 2:06 1/2h, Mac Riggs 2:10 3/5h and many others.
Ad courtesy of The Canadian Sportsman. Stud fee and board and pasture rates seem reasonable.
Quote For The Week: "I love bananas because they have appeal."
TRIVIA QUESTION: In the 1955 Supertest Stake race described above I have found a fairly good reason to pose this trivia question.
Question: - One of the contestants in this race (and a heat winner) I believe was named after a 1952 U.S. Presidential candidate's well known nickname. This horse would be an ideal candidate (based on his name) to be a member of today's stable of Wilma and James MacKenzie who have a special knack in naming their horses. This horse was bred and owned by a noted Ontario colt developer of yesteryears and had a very long racing career, changing stables a few times. What was this horse's name?
Who Is It?
Can you identify the above driver who was a race winner on opening night at the newly opened Connaught Park back in 1953.
Who Else Is It?
Can you identify the driver above? Also can you name his grandson who shared his first name? The grandson served the sport for many years in a number of non-driving roles (in Ontario) and passed away quite a few years ago.
Blast From The Past - "Racing At The Driving Park"
Our friends from the U.S. just observed Independence Day, their 4th of July holiday. Traditionally they had lots of harness racing at their celebrations. Shown above is a very old scene from a gathering at Dayton, Iowa. It looks pretty rustic.
Note To Fred Campbell
Thanks to Mr. Campbell for such an interesting comment . Listening to the stories of those who lived in an earlier era of time is fast becoming a lost art . These people have so many great old tales stored away in their memories . I have spent a lifetime listening to time treasured stories and enjoy every one of them .
Hi Robert,In the fall of…
Hi Robert,
In the fall of 1954 after all crops were in at home, I went to work for Orangeville Bill Harvey at the New Hamburg fairgrounds. We had the top barn. On the driveway down to the track, below the barn Mr. Harvey had, was an outdoor shed row. Mr. Scott had stalls there as did Mr. Bill Gillespie. Mr. Scott was like everyone's Grandfather. Day and night from Mr. Harvey. Mr. Scott had a fellow about my age from Deseronto working for him. I spent a lot of evenings chatting with Mr. Gillespie. He was a smart older man, I'm guessing about the age as Mr. Scott.
We started jogging the roads in the spring of 55, because the track was unusable. It took a long time for the ice from the river that flooded the complete track during the thaw to disappear. Once it did, we were able to jog and Mr. Harvey started doing training miles. But because of the lateness of being able to use the track, the horses were not tight enough. Mr. Harvey decided that we would ship to Connaught to get some more training and some starts in to be ready before heading to Blue Bonnets.
I rode in the back of Ehrlichs transport with the horses. Mr. Harvey said as soon as you get there, get the horses into their stalls. We pulled into Connaught and the truck was stopped by who I assumed were trainers and drivers at the entrance to the track. They asked me whose horses they were, I told them and they said do not unload them.
About an hour later, Mr. Harvey pulled in and was upset with me for not having the horses unloaded. The Erhlich driver told him what had happened. Mr. Harvey went to talk to the ones that told me not to unload. After some heated discussion, we went on to Blue Bonnets. All Mr. Harvey would tell me was he was not going to play their game.
This week's pictures were ....
The Who Is It? photo was correctly identified by our panel of experts as the late Dr. John Findley a native of Arnprior who raced at the 1953 opening of Connaught Park and often returned in the years that followed. The Who Else? photo was correctly identified by Garth as Vic Rowntree, a well known horseman from an earlier era. The second part of the question was about his namesake and grandson. That too was handled by GG as he identified him as Vic Gould who was a starter, judge and race secretary at times during his long career.
The Trivia Question was correctly answered and the horse in question was a three year old gelding named simply IKE. I am thinking of writing a bit more about this sometime soon. Once again thanks to everyone that sends in their answers.
Who else is it is Vic…
Who else is it is Vic Rowntree. His grandson is Vic Gould. He was a judge for the Ontario Racing Commission. He was an Associate Judge December 13 1980. The day Niatross won at Greenwood Raceway.
Lots of great memories of…
Lots of great memories of Sunday afternoons spent at Connaught Park aka Coconut Grove. I saw Handle with Care race there as a 2yo and Albatross [I think] First time I laid eyes on Billy and Stanley live.
Anybody remember Dalyce Blue, Earlylakes John, Canny Choice, Honey Rainbow, Yankee Mirage, Ezra Deen, Bert Cameron's Dnalel horses, Scott Burchell's Tay View horses, and so many more?
It wasn't fancy, but lots of good racing and some pretty talented horsemen over the years.
This place was a big part of my adolescence - I got hooked on our sport, and I still am!
Re; picture - I thought it looked like John, but, if so, it is a picture I have never seen, and I have seen a lot of them.
Note for Eric Warren
Eric you revived a name from the dim and distant past when you mentioned Art Balcomb from Tillsonburg, Ont. I recall meeting him many "moons" ago at Batavia while he was working as a caretaker. Art had a horse at one time that had "Lee" in his name, maybe even The Lee and I heard a few stories about his exploits with him. Seems like there were always lots of good story tellers around a racetrack! Thanks as always for your comments.
Who is the lady beside Keith
The lady beside my father is my Mother, Eileen
who is it
Doc Findley. Years ago, maybe 70/71 I worked with a guy from Tillsonberg, Art Balcomb, really great guy spent alot of time talking about Connaught Park. Great stories.
Both Who is………….
Dr John Findley
Mr Claire Smith
Who Is It?
Dr John Findley.
1955 Supertest Horse Name
My guess is IKE as the MacKenzies use 3 letter names.