Writer Robert Smith recalls a bit of what harness racing was like 55 years ago and also offers our readers a major Geography lesson
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Imagine what everyday life was like 55 years ago. Many households did not yet have their first television; others were without a phone or perhaps even a few without indoor plumbing. Certainly not even the wealthiest and privileged had home air conditioning. Fast food was when your mother warmed up the previous night's leftovers.
The sport of harness racing too remained in an earlier age, not too much had changed in decades. Racing for the most part was held in small town Canada. If a town had a half mile track, and most did, they probably had at least one day of racing a year and it was a big happening!
The following is a list of towns, by Province, across the land that held racing during 1954. Can you find your favourite town or even your hometown? Shown in brackets is the number of towns and remember some had two or three days of racing, often connected with their Fall Fair.
I am sure this story could be made a lot more interesting if some of you readers sent in your memories of these bygone days at so many quaint little tracks. There are over 200 to choose from.
Ontario (124) - Alfred, Alvinston, Ancaster, Apsley, Arnprior, Arthur, Avonmore, Aylmer, Azilda, Barrie, Beamsville, Beaverton, Belleville, Binbrook, Blackstock, Bothwell, Brampton, Brighton, Brooklin, Brussels, Burford, Burks Falls, Caledon, Caledonia, Campbellford, Cardinal, Centreville, Clinton, Cobourg, Coe Hill, Coldwater, Collingwood, Curran, Delta, Desoronto, Drayton, Dresden, Dundalk, Dungannon, Durham, Elmira, Emo, Exeter, Fergus, Gananoque, Goderich, Gore Bay, Grand Valley, Ilderton, Ingersoll, Kemptville, Kincardine, Kingston, Lakefield, Lansdowne, Leamington, Lindsay, Listowel, London, Madoc, Manitowaning, Markdale, Markham, Meaford, Melbourne, Merrickville, Milton, Milverton, Mitchell, Napanee, New Hamburg, Newington, Norwood, Ohsweken, Oneida, Orangeville, Oro, Orono, Orr Lake, Oshawa, Owen Sound, Palmerston, Paris, Parkhill, Penetang, Perth, Peterborough, Petrolia, Picton, Port Perry, Renfrew, Richmond, Ridgetown, Rodney, Roseneath, St.Marys, Sault Ste.Marie, Schomberg, Seaforth, Shannonville, Shedden, Shelburne, Simcoe, Smithville, South Mountain, Spencerville, Stirling, Stratford, Strathroy, Sunderland, Sutton, Tara, Teeswater, Thorndale, Tillsonburg, Tiverton, Tweed, Uxbridge, Wallacetown, Warkworth, Wasaga Beach, Winchester, Woodbridge, Woodstock.
Quebec (24) - Ayers Cliff, Brome, Coaticook, Cookshire, Gatineau Pointe, Granby, Hull, Huntington, Jonquiere, Lachute, Malartic, Maniwaki, Quebec City, Richmond, Rigaud, Rimouski, St.Hyacinthe, St.Jerome, St.Rose, Shawville, Sherbrooke, Three Rivers, Valleyfield, Waterloo.
Manitoba (13) - Brandon, Carberry, Carman, Dauphin, Deloraine, Glenboro, Holland, McCreary, Minnedosa, Portage La Prairie, Russell, Swan River, Virden.
Saskatchewan (21) - Beechy, Gravelbourg, Humboldt, Indian Head, Kerrobert, Kindersley, Lloydminster, Lombardy, Melfort, Nipawin, Nokomis, North Battleford, Prince Albert, Regina, Semans, Spiritwood, Stoughton, Swift Current, Wilkie, Wolseley, Yorkton.
Nova Scotia (7) - Bridgewater, Inverness, Middleton, North Sydney, Sydney, Truro, Windsor.
New Brunswick (8) - Buctouche, Chatham, Dieppe, Fredericton, Port Elgin, St Anthony, Saint.John, Woodstock
P.E.I. (5) - Charlottetown, Covehead, Montague, Summerside, Vernon.
Alberta (3) - Hanna, High River, Lethbridge,
British Columbia (1) - Ladner
Newfoundland - No official racing reported.
Thanks for sharing your
Thanks for sharing your special recollections ;these small tracks are where it all began .
Due to the enormity of the task I had to choose just one year to survey which explains why certain tracks were omitted,strictly by chance . I am certainly aware that my list in no way included EVERY small town track .Even at that I had to design a special new "program" to gather this information . It is called PAP+MT (pencil and paper plus much time).Maybe some day I will try to make a more inclusive list .
Mr. Stewart how precious is your connection to such a wonderful lady as Mildred Williams ........
In reply to Thanks for sharing your by Looking Back
Thanks: And to add to
Thanks:
And to add to this, I met Mildred Williams when I raced "April Magic" who was the first foal of "Mildred Chips", at Connaught Park in 1963 in the Ottawa Valley Futurity. Mildred was driving there, for Frank Church, and I had a stall at the other end of his barn with Bill Faulkner. When she first saw April she said "You don't have to tell me who her mother is!!!"
Great little article but
Great little article but there are at least 3 towns missing in the list for Ontario!
Marmora, Odessa and Port Hope all had races.
I made my first lifetime drive at Port Hope in 1957 with "Mildred Chips" who I bought from Alex Williams and who was named after the late Mildred Williams - Yes THAT Mildred Williams!
And Bill Faulkner, Clarke and Buck Newton and myself went, from Belleville, to Odessa to watch John and Ken Week's horse, "John De Kuyper" race at that Fair!
And I spent many a Sunday afternoon watching, and wagering on, the races at Marmora, on the old Ontario "C" circuit!!!
Phil Stewart
In reply to Great little article but by ppsphil
Hey Phil, Fancy
Hey Phil,
Fancy meeting you here ;)
There is/was recently on eBay a photo of Marmora from 19-ot something. Last bid I saw was 55 and change.
At one time and prior to the
At one time and prior to the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway (1959), there six tracks located within ten miles of Morrisburg (the old Morrisburg was flooded with the St. Lawrence).
You have Winchester listed.
The others were; Binston, Chesterville, Iroquis, Morrisburg and Williamsburg.
I've no idea, however if they existed in 1954. (my references are from 1927-32).
"British Columbia (1) -
"British Columbia (1) - Ladner"
I spent some time in an attempt to gather some information on Paterson Park in Ladner, although I'm not all that sure whether the correct spelling is/was Patterson of Paterson?
Cloverdale/Fraser, replaced the Ladner racetrack, whether it's the same location or another location is unknown.
At one time there was a Canadian-US Northwest Circuit that began in the Spring at Northern Canada and wound down in Northern California. I've a little information (even a few photo's), however not enough.