SC Rewind: Years Ago - 1960s

In this week's Rewind, Robert Smith takes a look back at some of the events and people in the sport during the decade of the 1960's in the ongoing monthly feature Years Ago.

I would like to extend a very Happy Easter to everyone in the Rewind reading audience. This is a wonderful time of year as we shed the bonds of winter and watch the awakening of the landscape. I am sure that we are all looking forward to the trees regaining their leaves and the greening of the grass.

Down through the years many horses were registered with 'Easter' in their names, undoubtedly because they were foaled on or near Easter Sunday. A quick check of my memory recalls Easter Sunday Bars, Billy Easter, Easter Filly, Easter Parade, Easter Marie, Easterbrooke and yes even Easter Bunny. The list could go on forever.

1961 - Young Driver Scores First Lifetime Win

Oct. 9, 1961 - A young aspiring horseman from Brantford had the once-in-a-lifetime thrill of winning his first ever race on this date. Brian Webster, just 17 years of age, scored his maiden victory at the Beamsville Fair behind the 10-year-old trotter Glendale Fred, covering the mile in a swift 2:22. This venerable old performer has campaigned at both gaits and seems to be the perfect 'starter' horse for young Mr. Webster, who is the son of horse owners Maxwell and Fay Webster of Brantford.

This horse, who carried a mark of 2:18.4 on the trot and 2:13 on the pace coming into this season, was purchased from horseman Norman Myke of Ohsweken, Ont. His purchase price of $400 seems to have been a wise investment as at the conclusion of 1961 season he had added another $660 to his lifetime account. This old horse and young driver were among the first group of competitors to race under the lights at London's inaugural arc light meeting during 1961.

Glendale Fred and a happy first time winning owner-driver Brian Webster appear in the Beamsville winner's circle. He shared heat victories with a pacer Pretty Byrd owned by Glen and Muriel Shapely of Dunnville.

1963 - Fan Club Honours Bay State Pat at Blue Bonnets

November 14, 1963 - Now that the racing career of the great side-wheeler Bay State Pat has ended, his fan club has decided to honour his retirement. The 14-year-old veteran finished second in his last lifetime start a week previous to this, capping off a very successful final season. The club, headed by Montreal businessman Maurice Marchand, has arranged for a special ceremony for Sunday afternoon. Marchand and his associates will present a handsome trophy which includes a Golden Horse and a clock and will bear the inscription "The Golden Horse". It was not immediately known if the horse could tell time.

Bay State Pat was claimed by his current owner and driver Albert Hanna in May for $1500 from Jacques Beaudoin. He went on to win nine of his 18 starts, finishing in the money 16 times and banking $5,000. Hanna will parade the horse in front of the stands and be presented with the trophy during Sunday's 10 race program.

One of the greatest pacers to ever grace the Montreal scene, the son of Volstadt won a total of $ 156,000 in his racing career and took a lifetime mark of 2:01.4 at age seven. He was a true Cinderella horse who started his career as a trotter and once sold for $250. He was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 1983.

1964 - Garden City Holds Inaugural Meeting

Dec. 5, 1964 - The Ontario Jockey Club's newest facility has now completed its first ever race meeting and the Executives regard it as a huge success. Located in the heart of the Niagara Peninsula near St. Catharines on a former vineyard, this fine facility is expected to draw fans from much of the Ontario region as well as from neighbouring New York State. Opening night for the $3.5 million facility was on Monday, October 26 and saw the first race won by the 11-year-old trotter Chuckmor driven by Clarence Hilliard. A crowd of 4,687 were on hand and wagered $160,000. The inaugural meeting consisted of 36 cards of action.

Soon after the opening, a series of Stakes events highlighted the racing calendar. Winners of the first two early closers were both members of the talent-laden Wm. Herbert & Son Stable from London with Jack Herbert in the bike. On the trotting side, Betsy Herbert captured the lion's share of the $4,080 purse in winning the Joseph Brant Stake, defeating Danny Song A. In the first big test for pacers, Dean Herbert survived a claim of foul by Harold McKinley, driver of second place finisher Good Flyer, to take top honours in the Upper Canada which carried a purse of $4,150. Finishing a rousing third in this race was George Volo handled by Dr. John Findley, in what was described as "one of the hottest stretch drives seen in several months." Interesting to note is the fact that Betsy and Dean Herbert were full brother and sister, despite being of the opposite gait.

On the afternoon of December 5th, the meeting closed with a ten-race card that included driving doubles from 21-year-old Wes Coke and Harold McKinley. The driving star of the inaugural meet was 24-year-old William Wellwood, then of Stratford. He was the meeting's leading teamster with a U.D.R.S. of. 561, the highest ever recorded on this circuit to this point. The young trainer and driver compiled his stats driving a modest stable under his training guidance as well as through a number of winning catch drives. He made a total of 41 starts, winning 17, finishing second nine times to go along with three thirds. His win total was just two short of the leading 19 racked up by another young driver, 22-year-old Ron Feagan.

A view of the brand new Garden City facility

1967 - Alberta Horsemen Take a Profitable Trip to Ontario

The father and son duo of Lyman and Merlyn Baird of Forestburg, Alberta recently decided to take a little vacation. They found a rather novel way to defray some of their expenses by taking along a couple of their horses. After a successful summer on their home turf at Regina and Moose Jaw, they deiced to head East and at the last moment hooked on a trailer and loaded their two best horses.

The horses were two full brothers, Bairds Adios and Pops Adios by Adios Pick. Their destination was Windsor Raceway and the trip became an immediate success when Bairds Adios won his first two starts in late November. His 2:06 clocking turned some heads and quickly a number of offers have been made. Noted horseman Billy Haughton flew in from New York to Windsor to look at some potential racing stock and drove Bairds Adios in a qualifying race. Reportedly he liked what he saw and it is possible the Bairds may be heading home with an empty trailer.

The Bairds have plenty to keep them busy as they have a six-quarter wheat farm in Alberta and also operate a school bus service in their home county. The senior Mr. Baird at age 73 and his wife were planning to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary in 1968.

Bairds Adios with Ed Tracey driving is an easy winner at Windsor Raceway on November 24, 1967.

1969 - Jerry Duford Records His First Daily Double Victory

September 29, 1969 - On this date young Jerry Duford, just 20 years of age, scored his first ever back-to-back wins to capture the Daily Double at Western Fair Raceway. His win in the opening race was behind Centennial Joe, owned by Fred Leo Bird of Wallaceburg. In the second race he was home first again with Duds Pride from the estate of George Dudley of Inwood. Both of these horses were two-year-olds and had made only a few starts. Although Jerry had already scored victories in other first and second races, this marked the first time he had annexed both ends of the double on the same card. Jerry is the son of veteran horseman Wilf Duford, who now calls Bothwell home. The Duford family originated in Northern Saskatchewan and in recent years moved permanently to Ontario.

In the opener Centennial Joe paid only $3.50 to win as he paced home a winner in 2:13.2. Duds Pride paid a slightly higher price of $4.80, stopping the clock in 2:11.2. With both ends of the double going to odds on favourites, the payoff was only $9.40 on the combination of 4 and 1. In winning, both horses established new lifetime records.

Driver Jerry Duford is shown in the London winner's circle after capturing the first race with Centennial Joe. Joining him are owner Fred Leo Bird (second from right) and on the far right are brother and sister Lori (later McKelvie) and John Tiffin of Dresden with their mother Marlene.