SC Rewind: Years Ago – The 1980s

This week's Rewind is a review of events and personalities from the decade of the 1980s in the ongoing monthly feature "Years Ago"

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1983 - Prix d'Ete Goes To Ralph Hanover

Ralph Hanover spent a nice Sunday afternoon at Montreal's Blue Bonnets Raceway winning the coveted Prix d'Ete for a purse of $411,500. It was an especially sweet day for trainer Stew Firlotte who is a Quebec native. With co-owner Ron Waples in the bike, Ralph won the first elimination in 1:56 and came back a winner in 1:54 in the final. In both trips Cuckoo Clock and driver Fred Grant finished second. In the other elimination Pat Crowe guided Ludell Hanover to a 1:55.3 victory over Silent Al with Joule finishing third for the Beejay Stables. Ralph Hanover now has career earnings of $1,593,519 which puts him ahead of Niatross in single season's earnings set a number of years ago.

1984 - Winning Drivers At Mohawk

The following is an alphabetical listing of drivers who entered the Mohawk winner's circle between September 21 and October 2, 1984. Many were multiple winners.

John Brooks, Doug Brown, Steve Condren, Brent Davies, Barry Drury, Glen Garnsey, Reg Gassien, Dave Green, Michel Guitard, Dr. John Hayes, Carman Hie, Ken Houston, Larry Hughes, Pat Hunt, Len Hutton, Bill Keeping, Tony Kerwood, Lyle MacArthur, Paul MacDonell, Mark Mackenzie, Roger Mayotte, Richard McNeill, Don McNutt, Norm McKnight Jr., Dave Magee, Robert Mills, Gord Rayner, Trevor Ritchie, Mitch Sahely, David Smith, Harold Stead, Tom Strauss, Wm. Troy, Elden Turcotte, Larry Walker, Dave Wall, Gord Waples, Ron Waples,Wm. Wellwood, Jim Whelan.

1985 - Windsor Trainer Scores Big At Greenwood

Windsor based trainer Bruce Fulmer is not a frequent visitor to the OJC tracks but when he does make the eastward trip his entries are usually ready to compete. Such was the case on June 21 when his trainee Drury Hill won the two-year-old Canadian Juvenile Stakes in handy fashion stopping the timer in 2:00.1, finishing 7 lengths ahead of his nearest rival. The freshman event carried a purse of $35,875.

When Fulmer decided to enter the colt he called on driver Tom Strauss stating "I know he'll always give you a sensible drive.” This colt belongs to relative newcomer Larry Pollard of Harrow, Ont. who operates a trucking company that specializes in applying calcium chloride as a dust control on gravel roads. Mr. Pollard unfortunately was not in attendance at Greenwood as the family was attending their youngest son Kevin's graduation. The son of Falcon Almahurst was purchased for what looks like a bargain price of $13,000 as a yearling. He obviously has a liking for this family of horses and also owns three year old Damsel Hill a full sister who was a recent winner in 1:59 and change. Future plans call for the addition of a couple of broodmares to the Pollard operation.

(Photo above, L-R - Driver Tom Strauss, Drury Hill, groom Ken Martiniuk, trainer Bruce Fulmer receive trophy from Norm Clements of Cam Fella fame)

1986 - A Day Of Highs And Lows At Flamboro

An exciting card of racing was held here on July 17 as driver Bill Budd visited the winner's circle on a record tying five occasions. His heroics matched the Flamboro record currently held by reinsman Paul Matthews. On the same card an accident in the first race sent two drivers to the hospital with fairly serious injuries. Paceaway Dutchman, driven by Bill Megens fell heading into the first turn as he gained the lead. Bradash Happy and pilot Ray McLean were unable to avoid the fallen horse and he was catapulted into the air landing on the hub rail along side another driver, Paul Kurtz, who escaped injury. McLean sustained three fractures to his leg and Megens suffered shoulder injuries. Both drivers will be missing their driving assignments for some time. Observers stated that a short field of six starters may have limited further damage.

1987 - Fall Fair Racing Still Popular In Ontario

This year a total of 33 Ontario Towns plan to include harness racing as part of their annual fair entertainment. A number will have multiple days. The communities still staging racing are as follows (in alphabetical order) :

Ancaster, Arnprior, Beamsville, Binbrook, Brockville, Brooklin, Burford, Caledonia, Dorchester, Manitowaning, Markham, Melbourne, Norwood, Ohsweken, Orillia, Orono, Paris, Parkhill, Perth, Port Perry, Ridgetown, Rodney, Shedden, Simcoe, Smithville, South Mountain, Spencerville, Strathroy, Sutton, Tillsonburg, Wallacetown, Welland.

While this number is much smaller than it once was, racing at the fair level still attracts quite a few spectators each year as well as serving as a training ground for young horses and drivers.