SC Rewind: Years Ago - 1970s

In his weekly feature, Robert Smith takes a look back at some people and events from harness racing in the 1970's in the SC Rewind decade flashback

, "Years Ago".

1972
Danny Raleigh, racing for the father-son combo of Murray and Greg Drew of Fletcher, Ont. (a suburb of Merlin) has had a long and productive season at several Ontario tracks this year. His season began early in January at Windsor and ended 12 months later at that same oval under the guidance of veteran driver Bert Madill. His campaign included 36 starts resulting in 14 wins, 5 seconds and 7 third place finishes. He was also driven at times by another veteran reinsman - Harold Wellwood Sr., a cousin of the Drew's. Harold piloted the five-year-old gelded son of Newport Duke to his lifetime best clocking of 2:03.1 at Mohawk on October 18th. At year's end Danny's bank account totaled just short of $30,000 on the season. Stormy Raleigh, a full brother, is being prepped as an eventual stable star.

1973
Handle With Care went 17 for 17 this season as a two-year-old and in the process rewrote virtually every record in the books. At year's end, the filly owned by Irving Liverman of Hampstead, Quebec had established a record of 2:00.2 on a 5/8 mile track and earned more money than any two-year-old pacing filly in history. Her bankroll amounted to $141,124 with the great Billy Haughton as her regular driver. The daughter of Meadow Skipper was named Canada's Harness Horse of the Year with 11 of her victories coming on Canadian soil. In the U.S. she faced somewhat stiffer competition for a similar honour which was won by Sir Dalrae, who garnered 187 votes while the Canadian owned miss collected just a single tally.

1974
On Sunday, May 21st a lot of eyes at Orangeville were focused on Popular Bennie as he made his first start of the 1974 season. Last year the veteran owned by Leonard Jackson of Elmira reeled off 15 straight victories and everyone was anxious to see if the streak of good luck could continue . With Bill Troy in the bike, he unfortunately made a break as Troy attempted to take him off the rapid pace leaving. He recovered and rallied gamely but could get no closer than second as Hilltop Red with Yvon Demers driving won the race for his fifth in a row. Billed as the feature event of the day for a purse of $2,500, the mile was clocked in 2:06.2, the final half in 1:01.2.

1976
Joe DeFrank Windsor's fine race secretary since its opening 11 years ago has announced his intentions to leave the border oval for a position at The Meadowlands Raceway in New Jersey. The ultra-modern complex is scheduled to open this fall. DeFrank, who is 41, has served in various capacities at several U.S. tracks since entering the business in 1956. While he originated many new promotional ideas during his years at Windsor he will undoubtedly be best remembered for establishing the track's signature event, The Provincial Cup. One of his final duties will be to preside over the upcoming 11th renewal of this now very popular race

"The challenge of working at a new facility like the New Jersey Complex is too great to resist," stated Mr. DeFrank, adding that he would miss his many colleagues in Windsor.

1977
The current track record for pacers at Flamboro Downs belongs to Aldershot, a four-year-old son of Tar Duke owned by Russell Baker of Barrie, Ont., and trained by Kent Baker. On August 7th of this year Aldershot and driver Charlie Lawson posted a mile in 1:59 flat, beating Saville Row and Cignetto Hanover in a division of the Can Am pace in setting the record. The only other current sub-2:00 mile record belongs to the three-year-old No Hitter who paced this oval in 1:59.4 for John Hayes Jr. on May 22nd. The fastest trotting mile belongs to Dapper Dillon who last August trotted in 2:02.2 for Terry Kerr to set the record for aged trotters.