SC Rewind: Reading The Results

In this week's edition of Rewind Robert Smith recalls the time when printed race results were an important piece of information to everyone involved in harness racing. He recaps a day of racing in mid-winter 1986 that includes a lot of familiar names.

How many people remember when we relied almost solely on the regular harness racing journals to supply us with race results? Apart from racing action that was reported in your local paper, everyone carefully pored over the results published in The Standardbred, The Canadian Sportsman, Harness Horse or The Horseman And Fair World. At times the results were pretty "stale" but you were still finding things out for the first time! ​

I have done a little research to come up with some one-day statistics for what might be considered racing in the "Dead of Winter" in fairly recent times. The figures show the day's recorded attendance and total mutuel handle as well as a highlight or two from the on track activity at each location. The dates chosen (completely arbitrary) were the weekend beginning Friday, February 28, 1986 through Sunday, March 1, 1986, as not every track raced on all days.

Listed below in alphabetical order are the 15 tracks that were staging racing on those dates. These facts and figures show that racing fans back then enjoyed their trip to the Track even in the "Dead of Winter". My thanks to facts gleaned from The Standardbred News, a popular publication of the day.

​Assiniboia Downs - Winnipeg, Man.​

Attendance - 1,246
Mutuel Handle - $155,637

Highlights of the Program - The program kicked off with a win by Major Bret in rein to Sandy Best in 2:06.2. The feature for a purse of $3,000 went to Burst Away piloted by Bobby Clark in a time of 2:02.3, giving him three wins on the program. Brothers Keith and Allan Cullen each scored single victories. Other drivers having a good meeting over the 13/16 mile track include Porter Hill, Chuck Fraleigh, Robert Coulter, Ron Cullen, Joe Ratchford, Mike Noble and Doug Shaw.

Barrie Raceway

Attendance - 1,272
Mutuel Handle - $113,155

Highlights of the Program - Eleven races went postward, the fastest in 2:05.2 when Arise won the second race for driver Ray Cunningham and owners Kourier Stable and C.E. Beales. The featured eighth race for $1,300 was won by Real Rich, driven by Murray Brethour for owner G.W. Peacock of Oro Station stopping the timer in 2:07 flat. Steve Byron was a two-race winner with Roman Pegasus and Deal Me Three. Scott Rowe teamed Moras Duke, the seven-year-old Betty's Duke gelding home first in the opening Trot for a $900 purse.

Blue Bonnets Raceway - Montreal

Attendance - 5,594
Mutuel Handle - $913,344

Highlights of the Program - Cordial Vet, a four-year-old Glencoe Skipper stud won the featured sixth race for a purse of $3,600 in 2:03 and was handled by Gil Lacharite for the Lacharite family of St. Bruno, Que. Benoit Cote was a double race winner with the pacer Keystone Mount and trotter Audience. The winners of all 11 races were owned by Quebec-based stables or individuals listing their homes in the Belle Province. The winningest driver during the past week has been Yves Filion tallying four wins on one card, with Yvon Poirier close behind.

Cloverdale Raceway - Surrey, B.C.

Attendance - 3,518
Mutuel Handle - $543,391

Highlights of the Program - Driver Keith Quinlan won the opener and the nightcap, first with Anchor Bay and closing with Senga Chettsal. The proceeds from these wins were welcomed as on Feb. 14 Mr. Quinlan had been assessed a $25 fine for failing to keep his feet in the stirrups! Joe Hudon bettered his output as he was a three-time winner on the same card. His most impressive win came behind Minnekhada Jove in the $4,400 co-feature as he bested a field of eight in 2:02.3 for winning owner Tru Alta Stable of Calgary. The top event of the night went to Relhom Diane an eight-year-old Adios Pick mare in rein to Edward Stewart for the Tywin Stables.

Connaught Park - Aylmer, Que.

Attendance - 1,920
Mutuel Handle - $244,614

Highlights of the Program - On a track rated as "good" Confort Bay won the highlighted $2,000 Pace with Richard "The Cat" Simard aboard for the Leung Stables. Other winning drivers included Perry Forgie, Howard Portelance, Marcel Lariviere, Andre St. Amour, Chris Storms, Jacques Morneau, Gaston Pregent and Robert O'Dwyer. In recent days, wins have been recorded by Ricky, Douglas and Perry Forgie. A horse with the rather interesting name of Shake Baby Shake was a recent winner for Howard Portelance who scored on this program with Rideau Jet, a horse he co-owned with N.A. Lacroix. In the day's lone trotting event Donald Jobin was victorious behind his own horse 13-year-old Day By Day in 2:14.2.

Flamboro Downs - Dundas, Ont.

Karen Fekete is alone at the wire a winner behind G I Count at Flamboro Downs​

Attendance - 3,309
Mutuel Handle - $377,416

Highlights of the Program - On a fast track Dream Account won the featured ninth for driver Dave Boughton in 2:02 taking the lion's share of the $4,500 purse for owners Boughton and Duke. Other notable driving feats saw both Karen Fekete and John Holmes each win two races. Ross Battin won the secondary feature with No Guff in 2:02.2 for London owners Parcreek Developments. Carman Hie had a nice win with Dream Of Troy trotting home in front in 2:06.4 for a purse of $4,250. A recent two-time winner has been Brand Name, driven by co-owner Marc Lepage. One driver who has shown a fairly hot hand of late has been Tim Twaddle scoring with Jollys Bit, Highland Wave and Shannon Speed.

Greenwood Raceway - Toronto, Ont.

Attendance - 10,179
Mutuel Handle - $1,931,591

Highlights of the Program - Eleven races highlighted the day with Cadillac winning the $15,000 FFA for owner Donald Seiling of Waterloo driven by Tom Strauss in 1:59.1 with Armbro Cruiser second and Reanna third. Two companion races each for an $11,000 purse, were won by Hammers Hammer driven by Paul Macdonell and Morning Joy in rein to Steve Condren. The only double dash winning driver was Doug Brown, home first with Elvis Seelster and Enlightening. Other winning pilots were Jim Billyard, David Smith, Dave Wall, Jerry Duford, and Ben Wallace driving Quackerson. Willow Bowl, a seven-year-old Albatross horse turned in a mile in 1:59.1 to equal the day's fastest and was handled by Dave Wall. In addition to the nice pacer Paul MacDonell piloted to victory on this day, he also had a win behind the FFA trotter Robins Wonder in a $15,000 event on the previous program for owners R.J. Williams and Doug Gamsby.

Paul MacDonell and Robins Wonder winning at Greewood

Kawartha Downs - Peterborough, Ont.

Attendance - 1,118
Mutuel Handle - $95,716

Highlights of the Program - Driver Brian Collins won the first two races. Two events each for $1,000 went to Gems Bing and driver Guy Larush followed by Busty in rein to Allan Nicholls in 2:07.4. It was a day for double winners with Jerry Robinson joining Allan Nicholls and Collins. Reg Gassien had a nice win with the three-year- old Jazz Gass which he owns as Reg Gassien Farms of nearby Lindsay, Ont. Dan Riley of Roseneath has had a winner on the last two race days. ​ Other winning drivers in recent action were Murray Brethour, Guy Larush, Peter Johnson, Murray Samons and Peter Gunter driving Rau D Rosie. ​

Kingston Park Raceway

Attendance - 677
Mutuel Handle - $68,369

Highlights of the Program - With the track rating as "Slow" the mile times ranged from 2:21.1 to the fastest at 2:15.2 when Smokey Lopez won for Ted Huntbach and owner the Mcadoo Stable of Kingston. Two maiden races were carded and were open to both gaits. The five-year-old Dry Spot won one for Hugh Wemp in 2:20.2 with the other going to the Tim Gillespie owned and driven Admiral Skipper in 2:21.1, a three-year-old by Hail Skipper. Daniel Murphy was the only two race winning driver on this program, tallying with Shadow Firstmate and Alabode Artie. Earl Lake recently piloted Base Station a four-year-old by Strike Out to a win in 2:13.2.

Orangeville Raceway

Attendance - 2,028
Mutuel Handle - $283,334

Highlights of the Program - Twelve races, all pacing events but one, were presented on this ​Sunday​. Driver Dave Boughton took the $1,600 feature with Dark Velvet in 2:06 flat for the fastest clocking of the day. George and Wayne Henry each had winning drives as did Scott Rowe, Jim McClure, Larry MacTavish, Brian Dunbar, Robin Clark, Jim Ritchie and Bryan Richardson. The lone Trot went to Iron Crown owned by E.D. Moffat and driven by Brian Dunbar in 2:09. ​ Lloyd Spinks, a local favourite, was held winless but has made quite a few trips to the charmed circle of late with the likes of Kiss Off, Armada Special, Stoneriggs Bullet and MB Dorado. ​

Pre Vert Raceway - Jonquiere, Que.

Attendance - 541
Mutuel Handle - $48,383

Highlights of the Program - Nine races made up the card with the top purse event of $900 going to Mi Roi in 2:11.1 for driver Jacques Marchand of Jonquiere who was also the owner. He had two winning drives also scoring with his own Shantala. Gaby Comeau won two races with other winners being Max Bradette, Real Juneau, Yvon Belanger and Marc Cote. Driver Come Tremblay won the opener with Te Bidule.

Quebec City Raceway

Attendance - 1,304
Mutuel Handle - $168,061

Highlights of the Program - A Stake Trot for a hefty purse of $8,500 drew eight entrants with the win going to Glenco Presto nosing out Tawny Peach. The winner was handled by Phil Brochu in 2:08.3 over a track rated as good. The secondary feature, also a Trot for $1,600 was annexed by Noiraud driven by Yvon Duclos of St. Bernard, Que. who also owns the now 10-year-old. Other popular winning drivers here of late include Leo Dube, Guy Jutras, Pierre Giguere and Gabriel Boily.

Stampede Park - Calgary, Alta.
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Baron Storm and Scruffy Hanover dead heat for win at Stampede Park in the Prairie Pacing Series

Attendance - 3,720
Mutuel Handle - $562,966

Highlights of the Program - On the 10-race program there was a lot of great action and no driving doubles. In the featured $12,500 opening leg of the Prairie Pacing Series a dead heat occurred when Baron Storm (Don Monkman Jr.) and Scruffy Hanover (Sten Ericsson) could not be separated at the wire blazing to a 1:57.2 mile. This series provided a lot of exciting racing as Ontario invader Armbro Cruiser flew in the next week and won with trainer Garth Gordon in the sulky for Milton, Ont. owners Randy, Brian and Leonard Coulson apparently showing no signs of jet lag. Other drivers holding hot hands despite the cold temperatures were Pat Barr, Clark Beelby, John Baxter, Keith Clark, Edward Tracey, Richard Turcotte and Rod Hennessy to list a few.

Western Fair Raceway - London, Ont.

Attendance - 2,073
Mutuel Handle - $178,029

Highlights of the Program - The program might well have been called "Ross Battin Day" as the Monkton based teamster won a total of five races, including four of the final five contests. He also owned the fastest mile of the program scoring in 2:04 even with Handy Slipper owned by Dr. P. A. Rutherford of Listowel. Other winner's circle appearances were courtesy of Maggies Moneymaker, Rockey Bea, Warwick Al and Porkys Pride in the nightcap. Wayne Hussey did manage a driving double and Ken Quirie took the featured Pace with Country Topper owned by Fred Sadler of Parkhill. The following day Don McElroy won three races including one with Bold Zip still winning at the age of 11.

Windsor Raceway

Attendance - 2,889
Mutuel Handle - $428,813

Highlights of the Program - Danny Johnson of the Greg Wright Stable won the opener with Star Palm and repeated in the 7th with Grandeur Hanover, both trotters. Bill Gale, perennial dash leader at the border oval, won three on the day including a maiden win for Goldust Lobell owned by Arlene Traub, a win with Energy Fuel and a victory with 14-year-old Ashton now in his final year of racing. Other winners included Trefoil Dana (Bryce Fenn), Cagey Tilley (Ken Hardy), Son Of A Star (Gord Waples), Amrock Tara (Ron Henderson) and Canneberge (Doug McIntosh).

​A horse who has shown some early season promise is the now four-year-old Gladiator, a son of Laryngitis. In a span of four days he has picked up two wins for local owners Al and Bob McIntosh and Scott Campbell of London. Wm. Gale has been in the bike for both tallies, the fastest in 2:01.4 adding $3,900 to a growing bankroll. Bob McIntosh does the training. Leaders in the driver's race currently include Kevin Wallis, Randy Kerr and Richard Carroll in addition to those mentioned above.

Closing note: Can you imagine waiting 1-2 weeks to find out where your horse finished? Many years ago Jack Campbell (certainly one of my all time favourite people) told me about the time his father sent two horses to California to race for the winter in the stable of B.N. "Frog" Redden. Whenever they raced, back in Ailsa Craig they did not know how they fared until the next edition of the Harness Horse magazine arrived; sometimes up to two weeks.

Can't wait 'til next week's results!

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​W​h​ere​ Is It​ and Who Is It​?

Can you identify this location? The correct answer will be given during the coming week. ​

Can you identify this gentleman? The correct answer will be given during the coming week.