In this week's Rewind Robert Smith takes a look back at a time when the 24th of May was the unofficial start of the harness racing season in Canada.
Years ago, the date of May 24th had special significance for several reasons; no circle was needed on the calendar, everybody just knew. It was an important date for farmers as certain crops had to be planted by that "magical" date in order to insure a bountiful harvest. Home
gardeners held off planting the most sensitive of vegetables and herbs to be sure that all fear of frost had passed. There was even another observance at this time of year as it was the unofficial time for the old time folks to shed their "long undies" or "bull woolies".
Following the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, it was officially designated as a Canadian Holiday, hence the name we know it by today. Many of us recall it also referred to as simply "Firecracker Day".
In the world of harness racing it often marked the official date of the commencement of serious racing . All of the winter blahs were long passed, the tracks were in good spring condition and it was time to "get on with the show". The talk that had taken place all winter was now replaced with action. Some horsemen advocated shorter races, like just half mile dashes, so early in the season. Many communities across the land staged their annual 24th of May race days and there were some good ones. Large crowds attended and local horsemen invariably put on
a good show.
It is important to remember that the promotion, organization and actual staging of these race days were done mainly by volunteers often called "The Turf Club" of the community. These people were energetic, hard working folks, many of whom may have had some connection with horses or at least a "love" of the sport. Their "pay" came in the form of drawing large crowds, seeing satisfied horsemen and witnessing good racing. The sport owes a debt of gratitude to these hardy souls who kept harness racing alive through a lot of tough times.
Eventually by about the late 1960's things had changed. With the advent of racing under the lights, more horses going to the U.S. to race, plus just the passage of time, the once popular tradition of the 24th of May racing faded into oblivion. Like many aspects of our sport's past, things are gone but not forgotten.
Traditionally, many towns across the land held races on the weekend of the 24th of May. Listed below are some of the places and a commentary that may have accompanied them as most often the happenings were written up in local papers as well as the racing journals. At least a few of the names have to be familiar yet today.
May 24, 1950 - Uxbridge. Ont. - Twelve heats of racing were held here with a good crowd on hand. Wanda Harvester was a two heat winner, finishing second in the third heat for owner Roy Jeffries of Waubaushene and driver Roy Lawson. Driver of the day was James Somerville of Orangeville who won four races this afternoon.
May 24, 1950 - North Sydney, N.S. - A dozen races were held here today with all heats contested at 1/2 mile. An outstanding performance was put in by Skippers Pride winning all three heats for owners Cleary and Hunt with Harley Harrison driving. Driver Mike Jabalee was the driving
ace, winning a total of 6 heats.
May 24, 1951 - New Hamburg, Ont. - Duncan Campbell of Ailsa Craig, Ont. was in mid-season form here winning a total of seven heats on today's early season race day. Dunc's two sons assist their father and both have already driven in many races over the past six or seven years;
Jack turns 20 next month. The senior Campbell won with three horses from his own stable and also drove Miss Corporal Grattan for owner Elmer Cunningham to notch two more victories. Young Ron McGee, a 16-year-old driver from Goderich, made his first ever start today behind trotter Joe Bunter finishing 3-2 in a mixed field of both gaits.
A few other locations known for races held on the May 24th holiday.
Ontario - Aylmer, Sarnia, Collingwood, Colborne, Spencerville
Quebec - Sorel, St. Leonard D' Aston
Saskatchewan - Fort Qu'Appelle, Gull Lake,
Nova Scotia - Sackville
Manitoba - Wawanesa
Alberta - High River
"The 24th of May is the
"The 24th of May is the Queen's Birthday - If you don't give us a holiday - We'll all run away" ! Yea, and my Mother sewed me into my Union Suit on Thanksgiving and cut me out on the 24th of May!!
And the holiday always used to be on the 24th of May, not some Monday close to it!!! And it usually managed to rain! Just like it does on the present holiday weekend!!
And I was sure glad to see John Downey's comment about the Kingston races on the holiday! Kingston had races at the old Fairgrounds on EVERY holiday! On May 24 1963 I was entered to race "April Magic" at Kingston in her 3 year old debut but she came up sick and it poured rain and the races were cancelled!!
But John missed mentioning some of the other driver's who either started their careers at Kingston or who raced there regularly - such as Earl Lake, Guy Larush, Charlie Gologlgy (sp), Garnie Kirkpatrick, Sam Mulholland, Sted Craig, Harry Ingles, Henry Corcoran, Osler Burrison, Roy Mitchell, Retta Herrington, Larry Zebedee, Kenny Weeks and Ross Curran for some!!! And, of course, Albert Watts, who very seldom raced anywhere else! And Bob Polk, the district CTA director and all his "MacDuff" trotters!! And a whole lot more I've forgotten!!!!
Maybe Bob Smith should do a whole series on Eastern Ontario!!!!
Phil
MaryAnn Powell Could anyone
MaryAnn Powell
Could anyone tell me at what track the picture above was taken? Also, does anyone know the names of any of the men in the picture, as well as the name of the horse? The man on the left looks an awful lot like my dad.Thanks to anyone who can enlighten me.
I spent a lot of time going to races at the small tracks as a child.
In reply to MaryAnn Powell Could anyone by M.A.
To Mary Ann Powell
To Mary Ann Powell .Unfortunately I cannot identify anyone in the accompanying picture .The only identification this old photo carries says it is from "The Sudbury Daily Star " .It came to me many years ago from an estate . I can only assume it was taken in Northern Ontario or perhaps Quebec ? Was your father involved in the organization of races ? Thanks so much for your interest .
In reply to To Mary Ann Powell by Looking Back
MaryAnn Powell Thank you for
MaryAnn Powell
Thank you for your reply. As far as I know Dad was not involved in organizing races, but he was a good friend of a man who owned and raced horses at Southern Ontario tracks and in later days at Mohawk, Greenwood & Windsor, Jimmy Grover.Jimmy and his wife Kay lived just outside the town of Glencoe, near the fairgounds.This picture looks like it could have been taken at the track there.It's definitely Dad on the left of the picture, and I think Jimmy is the man in the centre wearing a hat similar to Dad's. I have no idea whether he ever raced his horses in Northern Ontario or Quebec, but I'm guessing not.
In reply to MaryAnn Powell Thank you for by M.A.
I just saw this comment about
I just saw this comment about my grandad, Jimmy Grover of Glencoe. I will show this picture to my dad and aunt and see if they think it's Jimmy or not.
I did a little research for
I did a little research for my uncle Wanda Harvester had 47 starts Standing
of 47 11wins 1 second 7 thirds earnings of $623.00 and a mark of 2.14
Walnut Dick had 23 starts 12wins 6 seconds 1 third and a mark of 213 in 1955 for
Roy Lawson ANd Walter Grant Thanks sc Brian Marchand
ANN GRANT I am very happy to
ANN GRANT I am very happy to see Roy Lawson name has two time winner
He was one of the greatest driver in Ontario in the early fifties
He was offered the job in the early 50;s has success acres exclusive
driver and turned it down to stay with his young family.Wanda Harvester
was name after Roy Jeffries daughter Wanda who i see follow Sc.as she
has made a few comments on the 50.s Thanks Ann Grant
c
Having attended horse races
Having attended horse races in places such as Teeswater, Exeter, Forest, New Hamburg etc, in my lifetime, I think it shows a gap in our understanding of horse racing today, and it's a gap that Robert points out here. We've lost the sense of fun. When you go to fair races or once a year races, it's an event for those who understand and those who don't. The purse money wouldn't buy a new set of harness if you won the whole thing, but still people come to race, come to watch, come to enjoy. Oft times the drivers are people you don't see on the main tracks, people who have a horse or two, but because of the big money part of the game, hire a professional to try and break even or make a buck or two. I understand this is the reality of harness racing today and it seems that the focus is being centred on gambling dollars as the only means to keep the "business" afloat. But we lose something when we lose that grassroots love of the game, a love that sends Robert scouring through old programs and deep memories to find the real story behind harness racing. Some of my best loved days at the track involve miles in 2:15 and drivers having to watch for stray fair balloons as they race simply because they love it. As I watched Hypnotic Blue Chip and Foiled Again push each other to the limit in a stirring stretch drive last night at Western Fair in the Molson Pace eliminations, I remembered some names from the past with every bit as stirring stretch drives. The emotion was the same, albeit the speed was a little slower. It doesn't matter where or when such duels take place. That to me is what harness racing is all about.
This weekend was also the
This weekend was also the beginning of racing at Kingston. They raced at the fairgrounds at that time. I was young than, 11 to 15 years old but it was the day I looked forward to the most. Some of the great old drivers of that time were John Huntbach, Bernard Hunt, Hugh and Ben Wemp, John Findley, Norm Jones. All great memories.
John Downey