This week's Rewind is the monthly edition of 'Years Ago', a regular feature. Robert Smith has found some old short stories and pictures, and this time around it's all based on people, events and anything to do with the decade of the 1990s. That means 35+ years ago; not so long ago for many of us.

1990 - Darling And Wallis Off To A Good Start at Pompano

The "young" driver pictured was Jack Darling, taken at Florida's Pompano Park following a win with Reymur Lorne in January 1989. He was not only the driver but also the trainer and owner of this trotter. Also in the picture were Jack's wife, Ann, and their two children, as well as Jim Houlihan and Gramma Houlihan. Greg West was holding Reymur Lorne.

A couple of Canadian "boys" got off to a good start in 1990, and they were doing it in rather nice surroundings. Both Jack Darling, then a recently converted non-driving trainer, and Kevin Wallis, a busy driver, were quite at home in southern Florida. After many years as mainstays at Windsor Raceway, they were certainly enjoying the sunny southern climes.

On February 3rd, the pair teamed up with a Darling standout named Touchdown Pass to score a very big victory. With Wallis driving the horse with a football-themed name, they recorded a winning mile in the $13,000 Invitational, stopping the timer in 1:53.2. This was just a fifth of a second off the track record for aged geldings, co-held by Peter Cottontail and Summer Class.

The victory was just one of five in the Pompano Invitational ranks that season. For Wallis, a former Windsor driving ace, it was the 15th time in just two years that he had driven a horse to a mile in 1:55 or faster at Pompano. That was a record by far for a driver at the Florida oval.

1991 - Lloyd Chisholm Inducted In Hall Of Fame

Lloyd Chisholm, one of the original promoters of the OSS, stands in front of his iconic red barn bearing the name "Arawana Farms", located not far from Mohawk, just north of Highway 401. He was originally involved in raising Guernsey cattle but later turned his attention to Standardbreds.

In the late 1960s, breeders like Lloyd Chisholm, Wib White and Ed Boland became convinced that the future success of Standardbred breeding in Ontario hinged on the creation of a Sires Stakes program similar to the one in New York State. The trio worked tirelessly for half a decade, with many others, before the OSS came to fruition in 1973. The existence of the new program resulted in the average yearling price at that fall's sales more than doubling. Better days were just ahead.

A very prestigious award bearing Mr. Chisholm's name is given in his honour annually by the Standardbred Breeders Assoc. He was inducted into the Canadian Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 1991. Mr. Chisholm passed away in 1992 at the age of 80.

1991 - Late Season Action At Northlands Park

Max The First was well named as the three-year-old colt pacer sired by Royce from Laura Lee won the final of the Adios Pick Series on November 30th at Northlands Park in Edmonton. Racing for the handsome purse of $30,400, the youngster was impressive in victory after a near-last-place start. He got away seventh in the eight-horse field for driver John Baxter (shown at right) as Wolverton Mountain (Serge Masse) and Brubeck (Brent Grundy) took turns at the lead.

Finally, at the head of the lane, Baxter made his move and used a 30.2 last quarter to gain a length and a half lead by the wire. Finishing second was Irish Squire for Clark Beelby, with the aforementioned Wolverton Mountain hanging on for third. The balance of the field, in order of finish, included Just Perkey (4th), Brubeck (5th), Glinz Rambo, Trucking Right On and Hoodoo Lobell. [Does anyone but me remember a once-popular song called "Wolverton Mountain", sung by Claude King?]

Max The First was trained by Don Smith for owner Patrick Stewart of Victoria, B.C. At this point in the late season, the colt had banked $27,530 and had won six of his 10 starts.

In another high-profile stakes event, Artful Hanover won the $24,000 Connelly Cup on December 1st. The five-year-old gelded son of Walton Hanover, with Todd Beelby driving, braved minus 11-degree temperatures and paced the mile in a swift 1:59.2. Second was On To Royalty for Clark Beelby, with the show spot going to Arizona Blizzard and Richard Turcotte.

The victory put Artful Hanover over the $100,000 mark in earnings for 1991 for owners Keith Clark, Ron Taylor, Harry Carswell and Larry Kincade. He had a standing of 9-9-4 in 28 starts.

1990 - 1999 - Ontario Sires Stakes Drivers and Trainers Awards

When the Ontario Sires Stakes program started in 1974, it made an immediate impact on the entire sport. Higher purses, more racing opportunities and greater rewards for breeding farms were just a few of the rewards. However, initially there were no awards for individual drivers or trainers.

In 1987, the first award to recognize the accomplishments of drivers was established and was called the Lampman Cup. The initial winner was Terry Kerr. He would gain a second win in 1991. By 1999, the undisputed leader in Lampman Cup wins was Ross Battin of Monkton, Ont., who had five. Dave Wall also had two Cups.

Listed below are the 10 Lampman Cup winners for the decade of the 1990s.

1999 - Ray McLean
1998 - Dave Wall
1997 - Reg Gassien
1996 - Trevor Henry
1995 - Ross Battin
1994 - Dave Wall
1993 - Ross Battin
1992 - Ross Battin
1991 - Terry Kerr
1990 - Ross Battin

In 1993, an award for trainers' excellence was established and named after the late Bruce Johnston, owner and editor of the Canadian Sportsman. Listed below are the first seven winners of the Johnston Cup. Jim Ainsworth led the way with three, while Ross Henry had two.

1999 - Ross Henry
1998 - Ross Henry
1997 - Jim Ainsworth
1996 - Jim Ainsworth
1995 - Jim Ainsworth
1994 - Robert McIntosh
1993 - Scott McEneny

Quote For The Week: "Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened." - Unknown

Who Is It?

Can you name the driver in the above photo that was taken in Syracuse, N.Y., in 1994? He's a Canadian horseman who is now retired. He bred and raised this fine young trotter at his family farm in Ontario.

Who Else Is It No. 1?

Can you identify this gentleman in a rather unfamiliar pose? The caption reads, "My 1997 brush with greatness... a photo with the incomparable Niatross."

Who Else Is It No. 2?

Can you identify this fellow who won his first Johnston Cup in the 1990s but went on to win "a ton" more?

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