In this week's edition of Rewind, Robert dials back some 35 years to 1990 and recalls a milestone happening for the all-around great horseman Dave Wall.
Dave Wall Hits Career Win Number 4,000
Saturday, March 24, 1990, was a pretty busy and eventful day for London-area horseman Dave Wall. Often referred to simply as “Wally,” this then 44-year-old horseman was accustomed to a lot of busy days — but not all of them were milestones. This one was.
On that Saturday evening, he recorded career win No. 4,000. By any measure, that’s a lot of winner’s circle visits and photos. His milestone victory came in the seventh race behind the pacer General Tyron at Mohawk Raceway. The stage was set after he opened that evening’s program winning with the filly Legal Possession for trainer Ken Hofacker. It was her first career win, and she paced in 1:58.3.
He still had a busy evening ahead with numerous drives scheduled. A driver of his calibre and ability didn’t get to sit out many races — he was always in demand.
Earlier in the day, he had inched closer to the 4,000 plateau by winning two races much closer to home at London’s Western Fair track. With his day’s work done there, he headed to Mohawk Raceway. He was no stranger to racing at multiple tracks in the same day, and in fact did it on a regular basis.
His victory moved him into a very special category, as only two other OJC regulars — Steve Condren and Doug Brown — had scored that many wins. In typical Wall fashion, he said in the winner’s circle, “This is great. Funny though, I told my wife and kids not to come tonight because I didn’t think I’d get it.”
This all happened 35 years ago, and a lot has happened in Wally’s career in the years that have followed. While the achievement of scoring 4,000 victories was quite a milestone by 1990, in hindsight he had really just started — his career total went on to reach more than 7,100 wins.
Dave always passed off a lot of the credit he was given for what he accomplished in racing and was quick to acknowledge his supporting cast, as shown above. Dave got his start in the sport in a bit of an unusual way. As a youngster, his father Bill gave him a broodmare, Miss Lord Grattan, for his birthday. Her offspring eventually brought success to the young Wall.
Dave and Cheryl Wall, on the far right, with winning horse Jumbo Dynasurge. Presenter at the left is Diane Burke at Greenwood. In the background is Dave’s mother, I believe.
Wall’s great versatility with horses of both gaits has been constantly in evidence down through the years. In 1985, he piloted his trainee Staff Director to victory in the North America Cup, and in 1991 he and Odds Against claimed the Canadian Pacing Derby title. Wall drove Goodtimes to glory in the 1999 Maple Leaf Trot — the same year he and Odies Fame teamed up to capture both the Fan Hanover and Breeders Crown finals.
This, of course, is just a very short list of the many fine horses he handled over the years. At one point, he enjoyed 15 consecutive years in which he netted more than $1 million in purse money on the OJC circuit alone. In 1995, he hit $2.6 million.
While the term “Grown in Ontario” usually applies to things in the agricultural realm, it might well be applied to people like Dave Wall. He was born in Kincardine in 1947 and received his schooling there — in both academic and horse matters. He later moved to Komoka to be a bit closer to the racing circuit.
His entire career has been spent not all that far from his roots. He has travelled on occasion to the U.S. and even to Europe (with Goodtimes) when his duties required, but he has been true to his home province. He has even been dubbed “Mr. O.S.S.” because of his deep and successful involvement in the Ontario Sires Stakes program. He was a winner of the Lampman Cup in 1994 and again in 1998. He is a shining example of what Ontario’s harness racing program is capable of producing.
Dovers Surge, driven by Dave Wall, was owned by Robert Chapple of Chatham. In his two- and three-year-old seasons, this trotting colt by Surge Hanover banked a total of $173,351 in 1978 and 1979, mainly in OSS competition. This was just one of the many top-flight performers trained and driven by Dave Wall and his well-oiled operation.
During the long career of Dave Wall, he has accumulated a list of honours and awards that are the proverbial “mile long.” Still, his greatest achievement is not symbolized by a trophy in his showcase or a plaque on the wall. Being well-liked and admired by your peers is an honour that will last forever.
Closing Comment
To further explain the versatility of Dave Wall, there is proof that he not only defeated a lot of horses in races — he also turned back at least one human. In 2002, he drove Goodtimes, one of the horses that made Wall famous, against marathon runner John Ferguson (Not the former hockey player John Ferguson!) and defeated him, hands down. This was in a charity event that raised in excess of $4,000 for the London Health Sciences Centre.
A media quote following the event read: “He drove Goodtimes, one of the horses that made Wall famous, against marathon runner John Ferguson and defeated him, hands down. The stunt raised $4,000 for the centre.”
Quote For The Week: “Don’t mess with old people; they didn’t get old by being stupid.”
Who Is It? #1
Can you identify this fellow who was upgrading his farm with the building of a new barn? His plan included standing a new stallion to join in on the opportunities brought about by the O.S.S. program.
Who Is It? #2
Who is this gentleman as he cruises to victory with one of the many good horses he campaigned during a long career, mainly at Ontario tracks?
Who Is It? #3
Who is this young lad as he appears during an OSS event many years ago at the old Barrie track?
(The correct answers will be posted here by Robert as a comment in a few days.)
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
Happy Thanksgiving to Rewind followers wherever you may be. We Canadians, I have often said, are fortunate to have our annual celebration during a truly wonderful time on the calendar.
In Canada, Thanksgiving was proclaimed a federal holiday in 1879. Parliament called it “a day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed.”
The holiday is seen as a time for friends and families to gather for a hearty (often homemade) meal and to give thanks for general well-being and all the past year has offered them.
Enjoy your day!
Nothing says Thanksgiving better than a beautiful pumpkin pie! This gem was home-baked by my loving wife, so I might be a bit prejudiced in my views.