SC Rewind: Fun At The Fair

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Published: September 15, 2018 09:57 am EDT

In this week's 'Rewind' column, Robert Smith recalls the timeless joy of attending a fall fair. Fairs which traditionally included harness racing, date back to colonial times but still contain traces of their original format which centres on family fun and the enjoyment of getting together. His piece includes a number of great old photos all taken during a fair at various spots around the country.


An old time fair scene taken at Victoria Park in Owen Sound, Ont. (Reprinted with permission from The Grey Roots Archival Collection)

With a hint of fall in the air and the month of September showing on the calendar, it's hard not to think a bit about fall fair time. I know this is not a new topic on 'Rewind' but it has always been a favourite of mine and one I enjoy revisiting from time to time. It is amazing with all of the changes that we have seen, particularly in recent years, that fairs continue to be a popular pastime for young and old alike. Unfortunately virtually all of them no longer feature harness racing as they once did but we can still reminisce.

Fairs and fall festivals tend to recall a slower and simpler time when more people lived on farms and in rural communities. They were originally intended as a sort of celebration at harvest time when people exhibited their best farm produce and showed the finest of their livestock. It was combined with the sharing of food and served as a time for families and friends to gather together relax a bit and enjoy the season. It is surprising that most fairs to this day rely mainly on volunteers to keep them going.

I can recall as a very young child (and that was a while ago) that when fair time came to our small town of Harrow, Ont., it was the highlight of the year for many. Although it changed its timing to Labour Day weekend in later years, it was originally held in October. Each year on Thursday of fair week which was opening day, each of the schools in the community assembled shortly after noon and we marched into the fairgrounds. If memory serves me correctly there were about 14 schools in total, most of the old one-room variety. A judging was held for the best dressed and most orderly school group and I suppose a ribbon or a small trophy was presented. We practiced for several hours during the weeks before the big day and were told that our best behaviour was very important if we planned to succeed. Funny but I don't recall winning many marching prizes!

Once the parade was completed we were granted our freedom; each happy child headed for the midway or wherever their interests led them. For many it was one of the few days of the year spent in the town and away from their small rural community. In those days, a dime or a quarter went a long way. It was also a time to look at farm machinery, watch the heavy horses in action and stroll through the livestock and poultry barns. The aroma of fried onions and hot dogs invited 'starving' fair goers to satisfy their hunger, washed down with a bottle of pop. I can vaguely remember seeing the traditional taffy pull on Saturday evening and how entertaining it was. If you don't remember it I doubt that I can properly explain it. I do know the taffy sticks were a treat and many people took a batch home to enjoy at a later time. The fair visit wasn't official until you had some cotton candy!

While our fair at one time included harness racing it was discontinued long before my time. I heard tales from oldtimers and saw where the track once was and also remember the location of the old backstretch stable. I did get to ride around the old very narrow track with my father's trainer, Benny Larocque when he often used a cutter during snowy days. Most fairs of any size featured harness racing. The small fairs had it just for one day while the larger spots may have presented it on as many as three afternoons. It was not unusual back then for the same horse to race each day, and go several heats!


Above is an old silver cup awarded to the winner of a harness racing event at the Harrow Fair dated 1937. This oldie was given to me many years ago by members of the Harold Wellwood family. It was won by one of their early horses when fair racing was very popular. According to old records from The Harrow Fair which just recently held their 164th annual event, harness racing was indeed once a very popular attraction. Around 1902 a new track was constructed and involved the help of many volunteers. Once completed it was considered one of the best in the area. I can recall my father talking about how ahead of its time it was as the track record was around the 2:00 mark. Thankfully he did usually include the disclaimer that the track was somewhat short of a half-mile.

Fair racing was not without its stories and I will share one that I heard many years ago. Reportedly a man from Eastern Ontario arrived at a fair well out of his home area; perhaps at Owen Sound. He brought several more horses than he planned to race but had hopes of selling a few. One trotter caught the eye of a local so he began to ask this man a few questions. The answer given was that the youngster was indeed for sale but had not been sufficiently trained to go a "fast" mile. As a compromise he said that he would go a short distance, say a fast quarter and he could make up his mind.

That evening after everyone had vacated the fairgrounds the man from Eastern Ontario went out in the dark of night, dug up the quarter pole and moved it up the track several feet. Just how the training exhibition went and whether a sale followed I do not know. As my late father used to say when asked for details beyond those provided he used to simply say, "The story didn't tell...."

Agricultural based fairs have been around for a very long time and thankfully they appear to still have a meaningful place in our modern day world. If you have happy memories of going to a fair you are not alone.

Shown below are a number of old fair scenes, each with a short commentary.


Garfield Case and Ralph Snelgrove report live on radio station CFOS in Owen Sound. Flanked by a full grandstand three unidentified youngsters proudly display their prizes won at the Owen Sound Fair. The young boy on the left holding the radio looks pretty happy and the gal in the middle got a pretty nice bike. (Reprinted with permission from The Grey Roots Archival Collection)

A scene from London's Western Fair as exhibitors show a large group of heavy horses on the racetrack. This photo was taken around 1920 at a time when nearly everyone was still farming with heavy horses.

Quebec's oldest fair is held annually at LaChute. It was once the scene of many race days which drew entrants from both Quebec and neighbouring Ontario.

This old photo was taken at a fair in Maine but it looks a lot like fair racing that took place across the land at one time. (Lost Trotting Parks Heritage Center)

Chariot races have often been held at fall fairs such as the scene above taken some 40 years ago at the Norfolk County Fair in Simcoe, Ont. I have witnessed chariot racing first hand and it looked pretty dangerous to me. Those fellows have to be beyond brave.

The above photo from 1968 shows a fair parade at the Town of Orono. For many years harness racing was a major attraction at this quaint location. A number of well known horse people originated in this area located east of Toronto (Courtesy of Orono Weekly)

Who Is It?


?

Can you identify this driver? The photo was taken during a rather muddy race day showing a typical fair background. (D.M. Smith)

Bonus Photo - Where Is It?


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Can you identify the location of this photograph which involved fair racing for many years? Looks a little muddy. (D.M. Smith)

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Comments

This week's picture was driver Donna Degrow taken about 35 years ago at the Norfolk County Fair in Simcoe, Ont. A number of people in her family (The Field family) have been involved in harness racing over the years.
The other photo showing the start of a race was also taken at Simcoe during the Norfolk County Fair as the Belore starting gate sends a field on its way. I had the opportunity to attend their fair for several years and was treated royally by Mr. Hank Fess and later Bob Kowalsky the race organizers.
Thanks to all who participated in this week's photo quiz.

I think the location is the Norfolk Fair in Simcoe.The driver would be Donna Degrow.

The following note was received from Mac Sewers a regular reader of Rewind :

Hi Robert
Thanks for all the memories .
From about 75 years ago I stood right against the fence alongside the race track at Teeswater fall fair,
I said every year for a lot of times "when I grow up I am going to win a race at the fair."
A lot of years later I did with a mare named Judy Mather. That was the big one I still remember, even though
I won some after that.
All the best to you -------- Mac

My dad Fred used to drive my grandfathers team in the chariot races at the fairs. Very exciting to watch with the chariots rumbling and drivers screaming and using the lines as whips. Very dangerous also as it was an all out battle with lines blowing in the wind and on more than one occasion there were mishaps.

I remember finding a big tree to watch from for my own safety because if there was a mishap there was mayhem with a chariot dragging behind the spooked horses. I also remember my brother Larry driving in a chuck wagon race at the fair, this was probably more dangerous than the chariot racing, probably not as dangerous as the time my dads line broke during the race and he jumped from the bike onto the horses back and steered it with his fingers in the bit.

My guess for the bonus photo is Simcoe fairgrounds.

Oh how I remember the chariot races from my days of calling the races for more than 35 years. Chariots also raced at Binbrook & Caledonia that had the tightest first turn you could imagine.

The fair racing is not Paris for sure a track where Jody Jamieson won his first ever race. I believe it is Norfolk because of the tree in the infield as well as the trailer where the race secretary operated from.

The driver I believe is Donna Degrow the first female to race at the fairs and daughter of well known horseman Richard Fields.

In reply to by paul moynagh

I remember that first turn at Caledonia very well as I didn't quite make it one time with a horse called Dynast Soar, who had a habit of running off the track anyway, but I ended up in the barn outside the first turn! There was a water pipe with a tap that leaned out into the track from the inside fence on that turn that got hit very often too! Brooklyn and Orono both had first turns that were just about as tight too. I don't know if Donna was the first lady driver at the fairs and she may well have been but Retta Herrington was racing at the Eastern Ontario Fairs in the early 1950s.

Sunderland

I believe this the Paris, Ontario fairgrounds from at least 30 years ago. I remember that judges stand. I used to live right next door to the fairgrounds.

I am taking a wild stab at the bottom photo. I have three choices: Orono Fair, Oshawa Fair or Lindsay Fair. I will take photos of my programs I have from Lindsay Fairs from the 1920s.

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