I was saddened but not surprised to hear that Phil Pines passed away today. We all knew he'd been in failing health for quite some time and, in fact, I don't recall seeing him for several years.
For many years---no, make that many decades---Phil Pines was the Harness Racing Museum. He was a virtual one-man show there. Phil was the museum and the museum was Phil.
He was a lifelong resident of Goshen, aka "Trot Town USA", so it's no surprise that he gravitated toward a career in harness racing. Phil had many talents, but few people realized what a talented artist he was and I know that of his works are on display at the museum that he did so much to build.
Phil was certainly one of the few people around who had seen Greyhound win the '35 Hambo at the former kite track in Goshen. Phil not only knew history, but had lived a lot of it right there in Goshen.
A man whose work will live on for many years has passed from the scene. Rest easy, Phil.
Don: Thanks for your
Don:
Thanks for your comment, but, as you well know, the Internet is open to everyone around the world and I know that we have readers of the SC blogs from the US and from other countries around the world. I certainly don't try to limit my comments to Canadian content. I'm one of those guys who doesn't really see a border in harness racing. Canada has good horses, good tracks, and good horsemen and the US has the same.Canadians can take pride in Beach because of all his connections but remember that Beach was foaled, raised, and sold in the US.
The Internet allows us to communicate with the world.
Dean, I've been
Dean,
I've been reluctant to reply to the passing of Mr. Pines.
I think of these SC Blogs as an extension of SC's Patrons and although Phil was certainly focused on world-wide issues in harness racing, IMO, his name is something few Canadian's today recognize (likely presumptious on my part).
Mr. Pine's book; "The Complete Book of Harness Racing" printed in multiple editions certainly offers a unique and very structured outline, which perhaps someday another scribe will visit, and in the process, both expanding upon and adding more current information.
The outline, however is the key.
Mr. Pines outline in place at the Harness Museum in Goshen (http://www.harnessmuseum.com/) continues to remain effective.
RIP.
Here's a 1977 Hoof Beats article by Joe Goldstein on Phil Pines.
http://www.mi-harness.com/publct/phlpnes.html