This week Robert Smith's SC Rewind goes back to the beginning of Western Fair Raceway's signature event, then called The Labatt's Pace

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Back in 1972, Western Fair Raceway was settling comfortably into its second decade as Ontario's first racetrack to feature night time racing. From its opening in May of 1961, the track had seen a steady growth in all areas; the horsemen liked racing there and the fan base was growing nicely. One thing was still missing though and that was a Signature event, a special annual race that would help to identify and add to the Raceway's status. The resolution to the latter requirement was about to change.

Labatt's Breweries, a Company that began way back in 1847 when John Kinder Labatt first set up shop on Simcoe Street, decided to team up with the folks at Western Fair in a sponsorship role. Brewery executives including President Peter Hardy met with Western Fair manager Evan McGugan and others as well as Race Secretary Brian Middleton to lay the plan. The race would be an Invitational Pace with no restrictions on age or gender. The purse was to be significantly higher than anything currently on the harness racing calendar and intended to draw the "cream of the crop".

The first ever "Labatt's Blue Invitational Pace" took place on the evening of Friday, October 27, 1972. It drew just five starters, but the talent was among the best available in late season as the entrants boasted combined season's earnings of nearly $300,000. The purse for the first of many Labatt's Invitationals was $7,500. An attendance of 5,614 fans were on hand and wagered a total of $168,806 on that rather cool fall evening.

The inaugural winner was Key Ones Uno, a four-year-old son of Adios Express owned, trained and driven to victory by Jack Kopas of London, Ont. It was somehow a "hometown" type of event as four of the five entrants were either from London or very close by, with the only so called out of towner being Canny Choice from the far Eastern Ontario town of Arnprior. Kopas gained victory by a clever drive which saw him slip up along the rail in the final strides as the pacesetting Canny Choice drifted out a bit from the rail position. The winner paid a hefty $25.70 and was apparently overlooked by much of the betting public as Springfield ruled the favourite. For Key Ones Uno it was his 17th win in 34 starts bumping his season's bankroll to a very respectable $61,457.

Immediately following the race, both Raceway and sponsoring parties were extremely pleased with the outcome and expressed an interest in continuing this race and having it as the highlight of the racing calendar. This indeed happened and for the next 19 years the Labatt's Pace continued to grow and prosper. The second edition went to an owner who finished third in the inaugural as J R Skipper scored for Dutton, Ont. owner Russell Miller and driver Ron Waples. The purses gradually increased and reached a high of $35,000 by 1983 and remained at that level for the next nine years.

Over a 20 year span, many highlights were recorded as this race grew in stature and steadily drew more interest within the racing community. In its 20 year existence, drivers Dave Wall and Doug Brown led all reinsmen with four total victories each. Chas. Lawson and Ron Waples Sr. were both two time winners. Jambo Dancer had an amazing record in this classic, winning the event three times in consecutive years, 1976 through 1978, driven in the first two by Chas. Lawson and the third by Ron Feagan. Wm. Robinson was the only three race winning trainer during the Labatt's era and took the 1991 edition with Cross Country as the Labatt's sponsorship came to an end. In 1975 a relatively unknown trainer-driver captured the fourth renewal in track record time of 2:00 flat with a horse called Derbys Gent. That young 20-year-old was a fellow named John Duncan Campbell.

In 1992 came a name change as Molson's Breweries became the new sponsor and immediately the purse rose to $45,000, and of course has steadily increased with each passing decade. Last year a pot of $283,000 was up for grabs, quite a far cry from what was considered a very lucrative purse almost 40 years ago.

Results of Inaugural Labatt's Blue Invitational Pace - Purse $7,500
Held at Western Fair Raceway Friday, October 27, 1972

Order of finish :
1 - Key Ones Uno
Owned & driven by Jack Kopas, London, Ont.
2 - Canny Choice
Owned by Consolidated Stables, Arnprior, Ont., driver Dr. John Findlay
3 - Hava Good
Owned by Jean & Russell Miller, Dutton, Ont., driver Greg Wright
4 - Springfield
Owned by Dr. Geo. Boyce, London, Ont., driver Ron Feagan
5 - Mr Peter Ray
Owned by Harrison & McLean, London, Ont. driver Ray McLean

Time - 30.1, 1:03, 1:34, 2:04.3