In the latest edition of Rewind Robert Smith recalls the racing career of a memorable Maritime campaigner named Just Gary. He logged some unbelievable statistics in his lengthy career and is undoubtedly still remembered by many who saw him race. This gelded son of Abner T Clegg defined just how durable and strong a standardbred horse can be.
It seems that today's news makers in harness racing are invariably very fast or those who win a lot of races and money; probably often both. It was not always that way and today's subject was living proof that 60 or so years ago racing wasn't all about money and speed. This fellow's accomplishments brought much happiness to his owner and the many fans who followed racing in the Maritimes back then.
Just Gary was a foal of 1957, sired by a rather famous sire of the day Abner T Clegg and out of the mare Lees Nightmare. He was bred, raised and first owned and campaigned by a well-known gentleman named James O'Brien of Elmsdale, PEI who was an uncle of the famous Joe O'Brien. He was first trained by Claude O'Brien (brother of Joe O'Brien) and raced by him as a three and four-year-old. During this time he made 44 starts and won 10 races and amassed a bank account of just under $2,000. He took a record of 2:12 and change at the age of four.
Just Gary is shown in a winter training scene handled by PEI horseman Claude O'Brien using an old style high wheeled cart. (Photo courtesy of Jerry McCabe)
By 1962 Just Gary was sold and moved to his long time owner Rankin McLaine of Charlottetown. He would remain there and become part of the stable of yet another O'Brien, this time a man named Laurie. They would become a well-known pair, along with his wife Helen O'Brien. That first year he made a modest 31 starts, winning eight and taking a new record of 2:08 over a half-mile track while he banked another $1,600.
Just Gary with Laurie O'Brien the man who trained and drove him throughout much of his career in the sulky. Just Gary went to the gate with Mr. O'Brien on 639 occasions, winning 159, placing 109 times with 107 thirds. (Photo courtesy of Jerry McCabe)
At age six in 1963, he began to ramp up his starts and started to accumulate some rather impressive numbers. Racing at that time in the Maritimes, regardless of location, involved a lot of starts and mainly low purses. Invariably the year end statistics reflected those two factors.
In 1967 a news item that was printed in many newspapers across the country carried the following message:
"In Prince Edward Island where men are men and horses are expected to be proportionally tougher, they don't believe in pampering their livestock.
Statistics on last year's busiest season in harness racing show that Just Gary, owned by F. R. McLaine of Charlottetown, made 115 starts and won 25 races. Now nine years old, Just Gary also gained some fame back in 1965 when his 32 victories were the most recorded by a harness horse that year.
In all, this horse has been to the post 456 times in seven seasons of racing, averaging 65 times per year. He has won 121 races during that span, but has managed to collect only $21,161 for all that work. It is said that he has a labor grievance."
In summary Just Gary raced every season from his three-year-old year until the age of 14, the mandatory retirement limit. During that lengthy time he went postward a whopping 778 times. He won 178 heats, was second 137 times and recorded 125 third-place finishes. He took his lifetime record of 2:05.4 on a half-mile track at the age of nine and retired at the end of the 1971 season with lifetime earnings of $37,545.
In the four years between 1964 and 1967 while aged seven thru 10, he started in no less than 410 races and was the winner on 110 occasions. His busiest season at the age of eight in 1965 saw him make 118 starts. In back-to-back seasons 1965 and 1966, he made an almost identical $5,700-plus each year, his two best. His lifetime average earnings per start amounted to $48.25.
Now that was quite a career, however you look at it!
Proud owner Rankin McLaine is pictured on a specially designed Christmas card with two of his very durable performers in the 1960's. (Photo courtesy of Jerry McCabe)
Jerry McCabe passed along the following statement as he was quite familiar with Just Gary's forever trainer and driver.
"Laurie and his wife Helen were great characters that I remember fondly. In my younger days when I was serving as the paddock judge at the Charlottetown Driving Park (1977-83), Helen and Laurie would travel to Charlottetown for Old Home Week from their N.S. base with one or two horses plus a small trailer for themselves that they would set up near the paddock and the ship-in barns. Helen would have a cup of tea ready for Laurie when he came off the track after warming one up and they would enjoy a little tea break together before resuming their racing day. Never in a hurry but always ready to stop and share a tale or three."
I would like to pass along a very special thank you to Jerry McCabe for his invaluable assistance in compiling this week's Rewind. Jerry is an extremely helpful gentleman who is always ready to share his knowledge, old photos and expertise when called upon. He is also a published author.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO EVERYONE
Anyone like pumpkin pie?
I would like to wish a very happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the reading audience as we observe a great annual holiday on Monday, October 14. Thanksgiving is a wonderful time of year as we gather together, often at home in the company of family and those close to us. We have much to be thankful for, not only at this time but throughout the year. Many of us associate the celebration on this day with certain traditional foods. One of my favourites is a slice of good old pumpkin pie as pictured above.
Quote For The Week: "Don't let yesterday use up too much of today." - Quote from Will Rogers
Who Is It?
Can you identify this well-known horseman? No longer with us but surely remembered.
Who Else Is It?
Can you correctly identify this fellow? He may have had a bit of involvement with today's story. Let us know. (Photo courtesy of Jerry McCabe)