In this week's Rewind Robert Smith has penned the monthly edition of Years Ago. This time it's all about the now long ago 1930's.   He delves back into the archives to find some old pictures, race accounts and other hopefully interesting facts about what was going on in the world of harness racing back then.     

1933 - The Hambletonian at Goshen 

The times during the 1930s were tough,   but the famed Hambletonian survived.  That year of 1933 a mare was the winner and her name was Mary Reynolds.  With a pair of wins and a second on Hambletonian Day, she became the third filly in just eight years to take that classic.   This young trotter was named after her owner's daughter Mary.   

Mary Reynolds the horse meets Mary Reynolds the person (Photo courtesy of Hambletonian Society) 

Wm. Reynolds of Winston-Salem, North Carolina was one of the leading breeders involved in harness racing for many years and retained that title until his passing in 1951.   He was the Chairman of Reynolds Tobacco Co. He sent Mary Reynolds to trainer Ben White as a yearling who developed her into a world champion.   Her win came about as the favoured horse Brown Berry, driven by Fred Eagan, stumbled just before the wire in the final heat after finishing first and second in the earlier contests.   

She took home the lion's share of the 1933 Hambo purse which was $37,612.  Based on the economic times this was a huge amount. As the depression years went on, the purse dipped to its lowest point in 1934 when $22,994 was the prize.   

This photo was taken in the first turn of Goshen's Good Time Park in 1933. This spot was a favourite for picture takers year after year for as long as the Hambletonian was held there. Note the vintage cloche hats on some of the ladies.

1933 - Race Day Held At Truro, N.S. Track 

July 5, 1933 - The great depression which brought with it "hard times" and a scarcity of money, but it still could not deter those interested in providing harness racing.   On this date a large group of racing fans gathered at the Truro track for a spirited afternoon of racing.   

With just nine horses entered, a total of 10 heats of racing were held. Two races were staged,  the first drew a field of four while the second saw a total of five face the starter's call. Each race carried a purse of $100 and both events went a full five heats before a winner could be declared. The winner was required to win three heats.   

The above results show that both races were won by locally owned horses.   It looks as though Captain Aubrey was a pretty popular sire at that time.   Of the nine horses entered, at least five were his offspring. In a companion running race the winner was Dora Mack with Robert McCurdy up.  

1937 - Ladies At Dufferin Park 

By 1937 The Canadian Sportsman publication had already been in business for 67 years.   It did a great job of reporting on the happenings in the sport from coast to coast. It relied heavily on input from individual horse owners,  trainers and drivers and even fans who sent in results and other stories. Very few photographs appeared at this time but on occasion there were the odd ones featured. The one shown below appeared in a 1937 edition covering an upcoming special event at Dufferin Park in Toronto.  

Pictured from left is Grace Rowntree, daughter of Vic Rowntree and later the mother of Vic Gould.   On the right is Mrs. C.R. Bradley and her horse Barney Wilkes.  She was the wife of Cliff Bradley and mother of Ed Bradley.  

1938 - Dr. Meldrum Stable Wins Canadian Pacing Derby At New Hamburg 

In 1938 the Canadian Pacing Derby was in just its third year of existence. It was already the top race for older horses in Ontario and drew very large crowds from a wide area.   In the 1938 edition Dr. W.N. Meldrum, a medical doctor who resided in Norwich, Ont., won his first Derby.  The following year he became the first two-time winning owner.   In 1938 his fleet pacer Sir Esme was the winner and in 1939 Dillon Mc was a repeat winner for the good Doctor. The victory by Dillon Mc also made winning driver Floyd Milton a two-time winner as he won the inaugural Derby in 1936 behind Better Times.  

Driver Harry Fields and 1938 Can. Pacing Derby winner Sir Esme at New Hamburg, On. with owner Dr. Meldrum.   

I once heard what I found to be a humorous story concerning  Dr. Meldrum. In those days people just showed up at his office; no appointment was necessary. When the Doc noticed someone in the waiting room that he knew was there to discuss "horse" matters he frequently nodded for them to step out behind the office and he would soon join them.  

Apparently one time a horseman after quite a lengthy visit quizzed the Dr. as to whether he should be leaving his patients for so long. He replied "Oh, I don't think any of them are too seriously ill, otherwise they wouldn't be here." 

Quote For The Week: "Alimony is like buying hay for a dead horse." - Groucho Marx

1930's Trivia 

The following caption accompanied the above picture:

DRIVER NAME is in again.  The popular Maine driver, who has made it almost a habit to lead reinsmen of the State in races won, is on top of the pile for 1938  having piloted his mounts first under the wire in 77 heats. It also may be that he will also be the nation's leading driver when the figures from all sections have been compiled.  

The gentleman pictured above was the nation's winningest driver on numerous occasions in the 1930's and later. He eventually became a member of the U.S. Hall of Fame. Can you name him? As a clue his name was alliterative, meaning that his first and last name begin with the same letter or sound. Kind of like Jody Jamieson as a modern day example.  

Who Is It?  

Can you identify this popular driver in a photo from about 40 years ago?  

Who Else Is It?   

Can you identify this fellow who is dressed for cold weather?  

(The correct answers will be posted here by Robert as a comment in a few days.)