This week’s Rewind takes a look back at the decade of the 1970s as Robert Smith recalls many names, happenings and recollections from that time period in his regular monthly “Years Ago” feature. It was a busy and vibrant time in the history of harness racing.
1970 - Windsor Raceway Readies For 1970 Fall Meeting
By late September, racing officials and other track employees at Windsor were busy getting ready for the upcoming fall meeting at Windsor. It would be their sixth in history. When combined with the first meet of 1971 in January, it meant that most horse people would be “staying put” for a lengthy period of time.
As stalls were being allocated, the largest contingent was expected to be headed up by local horseman Greg Wright. He led the way with 22 stalls. He was coming in from an outstanding late-season stay at Northfield Park in Ohio. Second in stall assignments was Gerry Bookmyer, perennial driving champ, with 20 spaces to fill.
Another horseman with substantial allocations was to be a newcomer to the border oval but a nationally known horseman, Harry Harvey. His lineup would be headed by horses owned by local auto dealer Bert James. Also of note on the list was female trainer and driver Retta Herrington of Brighton, Ont. She had a couple of well-performing horses in her care, Barbara D Pride and Alpha Cape, that had been racing with success at Vernon Downs.
When everyone was in and settled, it was expected that a capacity contingent of 800 would be on the backstretch. This, combined with another 200 stabled at nearby farms, would provide race secretary Joe DeFrank with ample entries for the many events he had planned.
Rare Sighting At Windsor
Along with all the normal preparations for opening night of the harness season, another unusual project was underway. The Windsor backstretch had a most unusual group of temporary residents. Several thoroughbred horses and their trainers were on the premises. They were trying out the Tartan track in morning workouts to see if it was suitable as a thoroughbred venue.
The track crew was experimenting with adding a layer of sand on top of the regular all-weather surface. Early indications were that the track would be suitable even with a minimal addition of sand.
Follow-up note: During the summer of 1971 Windsor did stage thoroughbred racing. I believe that was the one and only such meeting ever held at that track.
1970 - Bobbe Huntress Sets World Mark At Vernon Downs
A highlight of Vernon’s Grand Circuit week in 1970 is captured in the above photo as Bobbe Huntress reins the trotting gelding Seymour J. to victory in the $5,000 Invitation Trot. Their winning time of 1:59 1/5 made her the fastest lady driver in the history of harness racing.
August 1970 – The huge Friday night crowd which came to see the $30,000 Founder’s Gold Cup were also treated to a 1:59 1/5 world record performance by Miss Bobbe Huntress and her six-year-old trotting gelding Seymour J. The 5-foot-5, 115-pound former music teacher now had the distinction of driving the fastest race by a lady driver in the history of harness racing.
According to the U.S. Trotting Association, the 41-year-old Gouverneur, N.Y. horsewoman lowered the trotting standard held by Marian Brewer of Lexington, Ky. Mrs. Brewer’s old mark was 2:01 2/5 with Rodare at Lexington in 1959. Miss Huntress’ 1:59 1/5 race mile with Seymour J. also smashed the lady driver pacing standard of 1:59 4/5 set by June Dillman in 1957 at Vernon Downs driving Red Dominion.
Bobbe also held the half-mile track trotting race record of 2:03 4/5 with Seymour J. in 1969 at Monticello Raceway. Miss Huntress, who was from the U.S., gained her early experience and success while racing at Connaught Park in Quebec. She appeared at numerous Canadian tracks and always competed successfully against her male counterparts.
1979 - Gray Veteran Nears Retirement
Gray horses in harness racing have, for some strange reason, always drawn special interest from racing fans. While gray thoroughbred horses are more common, the numbers in standardbreds are very low. I, for one, have always enjoyed seeing a gray horse on the track.
As the 1979 racing season was coming to a close in the Maritimes, a veteran 13-year-old gray gelding named Circle Grattan was getting close to the end of his racing career. He was a foal of 1966, sired by Adios Senator from the gray mare Kathleen Grattan. When a horse reaches the age of 14, they can no longer compete at tracks that feature pari-mutuel wagering but can still race on the fair circuit.
This venerable performer had made his presence known at numerous Maritime tracks and changed ownership on several occasions. Typical of many horses in this part of the country, he saw many campaigns with well over 40 trips behind the gate and quite often sported a nice number of wins for his efforts. At the conclusion of his 13-year-old year, he had a respectable bank account of just under $45,000 lifetime. As for a career speed mark, his quickest winning time was 2:05.1h, taken at age 10, slightly bettering a mark of 2:05 3/5 set two years earlier.
Among his drivers and owners besides those mentioned below were Doug Folkins, Ned Gougen, G.R. Fraser, George Mauger, Colin Riggs, D.W. Rector, Emery Gougen, and Mead Smith (owner). I am sure there were many more, but this gives a few of his handlers. It appears as though he had quite a racing career.
Circle Grattan had enjoyed a lengthy and very successful career, appearing on many tracks over the years, beginning in the U.S. At the time this photo was taken he was owned by Frank Daniels of Truro, N.S., and trained and driven by John Wayne MacInnis, shown in the sulky. This photo was taken at the Inverness track. (Photo courtesy of Tammy MacKay-Kearney, daughter of the pictured driver.)
1977 – 1979 - Abercrombie Becomes Sport’s Fastest Horse in History
The highlight of the final day of the Meadowlands’ 1979 harness season was provided by Abercrombie. After a short period of off performances due to a bruised foreleg, the great son of Silent Majority returned to his winning ways. He paced a mile in 1:53 for Glen Garnsey, shaving a fifth of a second off Warm Breeze’s June 1977 record. It was the fastest race mile in the history of harness racing up to that point in time.
Also in the picture were two horses driven by Canadian-born drivers. Try Scotch with Shelly Goudreau in the bike was second, with Le Baron Rouge and driver Robert Samson finishing third.
Quote For The Week: “It goes without saying that you should never have more children than you have car windows.” – Erma Bombeck
Who Is It?
Can you identify these two friends off the track, foes on the track? Quite a pair.
Who Else Is It?
Can you name this young fellow? He was pretty popular at the major Ontario tracks for quite a few years.
Where Was It?
Can you identify the location of this cluster of buildings? Built in 1965, they were demolished a number of years ago after many useful years.
(The correct answers will be posted here by Robert as a comment in a few days.)