SC Rewind: Doc Findley Turns 9-0

In this week's Rewind Robert Smith offers up a birthday tribute to Dr. John Findley, who is turning 90 on September 2. The Hall Of Fame horseman and veterinarian has spent an entire lifetime in the sport.

For those precious few individuals who are fortunate enough to reach their 90th birthday, they are granted a special title. They are then referred to as ‘nonagenarians’, a term that is derived from the Latin word nonaginta, meaning ninety. This title is not forever though, it is just until age 99!

Next Tuesday, September 2nd, another new member will be added to this illustrious club. By virtue of being born on September 2, 1924 at Braeside, Ont., Dr. John Steele Findley will be able to respond with an "aye" when the role is called. While I am not exactly sure what the so-called "typical" 90-year-old is like, I somehow think he may not fit all of the requirements. By that I mean he exhibits a lot of attributes of someone much younger, particularly in his memory capacity and his zest for life.

"Doc" Findley is certainly no stranger to anyone who has followed the sport for the past 80 or so years. While he has forgotten very little he is not exactly sure when he first attended races, but does vividly recall being in attendance at the Ottawa Exhibition in 1930 and watching the proceedings. After all he was six years old by then. Travelling at the side of his father, he remembers the legendary Earl Rowe (later to be The Hon. Earl) competing at that fair as an owner and driver. A win in Ottawa apparently was quite a boost to any politician in those days.

Doctor Findley's interest in the sport has never waned. He follows all of the latest on the Internet (with his wife Mary Jane's coaching) and never passes up an opportunity to talk horse. His memories are vivid and unquestionably colourful. His ability to recall names, dates, and the details of a particular happening are scarily accurate. He is also very generous with passing along his recollections and believes that a good story doesn't necessarily have to be short. A close friend of his recently dared to refer to the good Doctor as loquacious....and that was a compliment!

He is still actively and officially involved in important happenings as evidenced by his role in the recent Hall Of Fame induction ceremonies earlier this month. He was the presenter of the HOF ring to his long-time friend and fellow townsman Bill Galvin. About the occasion Bill recently stated "It is most gratifying that John will present my ring on August 6th. That will mark some 70 years of friendship and participation in an industry that we both have enjoyed to the fullest. It will come full circle from start to present that day."

Dr. John was born into a horse environment and began his hands-on involvement at a very young age. Life on the family farm in the Ottawa Valley near the banks of the Madawaska River was all about horses. His first public appearance in the sulky was at his hometown Arnprior Fair in 1939 behind the family owned G G Kirke. Early in life he decided on two things on his to-do list and set about doing both. He wanted to become a veterinarian and he also wanted to race horses.

Despite the hard times and the declaration of WW II, John forged ahead with his dream to become a vet. He enrolled at Guelph and set about his studies. In 1947 he graduated despite a slight abbreviation in his attendance. When the legendary Dr. Riddell of Orangeville passed away in 1943, John and his father purchased the 20-year-old broodmare Miss Chilcoot from his estate. While the $100 purchase price along with shipping expenses to get her home may seem minuscule now, it was enough to cause the young student to take a year off. As time went on, it proved to be a wise purchase providing the Findleys with a number of fine offspring. It also returned the mare to her original home.

After a number of years of racing horses and practicing veterinary medicine around Arnprior, in 1961 Dr. Findley decided on a full-time career as a horseman. He became highly successful both as an operator of a large public stable as well as managing a sizable breeding and training operation back home. He raced and trained a combination of young and aged performers doing equally well with both gaits. He had some good back up people over the years who were deeply involved with the training and some who drove when needed.

In 1997 Dr. Findley was voted into the Horse Racing Hall Of Fame. His long career included many great horses, most of which were developed under his watchful eye. His win total of 1,300+, and career earnings in the $2.4 million range is remarkable given that much of his career was in an era of shorter racing seasons than we know today. His career embraces virtually every era of racing that saw him compete at all of the once famous but now vanished tracks that were so memorable. In 1975, at age 51, he was the leading percentage driver in North America.

From time to time I receive a call from Dr. John. Most often it means he has recalled the name of a person or a horse; the time of a race or the small town where races were once held and maybe even who lived there. His facts, figures and recollections may not be important in themselves, but they are ultra precious because of what they mean. They show the beauty and the value of the human memory. They show that life and indeed history does not occur in even and concise terms, nor is it recorded that way. He loves to visit and to recall past days and deeds. He seldom associates the past with anything negative but rather how important each step along the way paved the way for a new day.

Happy Birthday Dr. John and Thanks for being such a large and memorable part of our sport for so many years. All the best to you as you gather with a few friends to savour the day and maybe reminisce a bit.

Pictures & Captions:

Dr. Findley at age 34 is shown with his great trotting mare Dalyce Blue at Richelieu Park in Montreal. He is receiving a silver tray from Georges Giguere in recognition of her fine performance as a two-year-old in 1958. She was Findley's all-time favourite and was the first Canadian bred filly to record a sub-2:10 mile at two and sub-2:05 at age three. Dalyce Blue is a Hall of Fame member along with her owner.

Sheila Lee and driver Dr. John appear at Thorncliffe Park in Toronto during the 1951 season. This mare was part of a long chain of successful horses raised by the Findleys tracing back to their foundation mare Minnie Watts and her daughter Miss Chilcoot, the dam of Sheila Lee

Crimson Duchess a daughter of Dalyce Blue with Dr. Findley in the bike around 1970