In his weekly feature, Robert Smith takes a look back at some people and events from harness racing in the 1970's in the ongoing feature "Years Ago"
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1970
A check of the leading drivers at Windsor Raceway as of January 26 shows Clarence "Shorty" Lockhart of Collingwood first in average at .507 and second in wins with 12. Gerry Bookmyer of Sycamore, Ohio leads all drivers in wins with 24 out of 101 trips to the post. Also on the leaderboard are Merritt "Butch" Dokey, Richard Carroll, Greg Wright, Ray Remmen, Chet Dewbre, Shelly Goudreau, Jerry Duford and Brad Farrington rounding out the top ten. Just below the leaders are Pat Crowe and Tom Merriman.
Pacer Philip Brian and driver Jim Merriman Jr. hold the all age track record of 1:59 3/5 set here October 12, 1968.
1971
The Canadian Trotting Assoc. has published its schedule of fees for the current year and they are as follows :
Membership - $10.00
Drivers License - $18.00
Trainers License - $10.00
Grooms License - $2.00
Eligibility Certificate - $5.00
Stable Registration (Lifetime Fee) $100.00
1972
It has been a while since fans have seen a three-year-old pacer the likes of Mr Peter Ray. The son of Pop Gun out of Jean Lee Grattan is owned by Peter Harrison of London and trainer-driver Ray McLean of Port Elgin. A winner of a shade over $10,000 at age two, Mr Peter Ray has earned $61,000 this season. He faced the starter 25 times, winning 15 of those starts, finishing second 6 times along with 3 thirds. His season's best of 2:00 2/5 was recorded in late May at Vernon Downs in a division of the Can-Am Pace with McLean at the controls.
1973
Bill Hicks and his father Verne of Greenwood, Ont. are having a fair amount of success with their six-year-old homebred trotter Oscar Song. He is a gelded son of Sparky Song, who was also raced by the Hicks combo a few years back, from the mare Dolly Riddell May. Oscar Song's latest triumph came in the Alliston Trotting Stakes on November 25th at Mohawk covering the unusual 1 and 5/16 mile distance in 2:52 1/5 with a clocking of 2:10 1/5 at the mile marker. Purse for this event was $9,200 and the winner's share upped his season total to well over $16,000. Finishing second was Allwood Newt with third place going to Dillon Song and Jerry Duford. This was the third straight victory for Oscar and the public showed their confidence by installing him as the 2-1 favourite.
1974
Racing at Barrie Raceway is now in its second season. Bus service to the track is available from downtown Toronto each Wednesday and Saturday from December through March. Price for the round trip including admission to the track is $4.95. The Electrolux Co. recently sponsored a number of races at the local oval awarding prizes to each winner. The first place finisher in the September 23rd featured Trot for a purse of $1,500 was Swift Warrior driven by Allan Nicholls for owner Ed Peconi. Second was Mirabile driven by Robert Walker for his father Allan of Owen Sound and third place went to Moorelands Jean owned and driven by Sherman Moore of Lindsay. A couple of real veteran campaigners seem to have found a home here.Thirteen-year-old trotter Protector Donledo was a recent winner for driver Chas. Lawson and owner Kent Baker and Quiller, a winner of over $116,000 lifetime on the pace, is racing well in the Murray Waples outfit trained by son Wendell.