SC Rewind: Remembering R Yankee Wann

This week's Rewind takes readers back to the year 1970 when tragedy ended the career of one of Canadian harness racing's great horses of that era.  Robert Smith recalls the heroics that propelled a homebred horse into national prominence before a sudden and premature death claimed the life of pacing great R Yankee Wann.  

R Yankee Wann and trainer driver Rejean Boily 

As recently as 1970 horses that could pace or trot a mile in 2:00 or under were still quite a rarity.  When a horse went in what was sometimes called "even time" (two minutes) it was cause for celebration or at least that horse became part of a special list.  The further below the two minute mark you got, the bigger the accomplishment.  Today a mile in 2:00 might be considered just a slow training mile for a large number of horses. 

It is interesting to note that by the end of the 1970 racing season a total of just 49 races in 2:00 or less had been recorded on Canadian soil in history.  Of that total an unusually large number of sub two minute races, 16 or about one-third of that number, were logged during the 1970 season. In the U.S. there had been quite a few more over the years for a variety of reasons. 

In late July and again in early August of 1970 R Yankee Wann, a Canadian-bred and owned horse, reeled off a pair of back-to-back  sub-2:00 miles at Vernon Downs, a spot well known for its fast times. In the second race of those two, the then seven-year-old son of Yankee Chief owned by Cam Wannamaker of Consecon, Ont.,  stopped the timer in an incredible 1:57.1 which turned out to be a record setting performance of great magnitude.  

R Yankee Wann appears in the Vernon Downs winner's circle following his 1970 record setting performance.  At the horse's head is trainer Bill Faulkner while driver Rejean Boily and an unidentified gentleman are on the far right.  His winning time in this race was 1:57.1 

This was the winner's circle after R Yankee Wann scored his first sub 2:00 mile in 1970 covering the mile in 1:58.3 at Vernon Downs. At the horse's head is driver Rejean Boily while owner Cam Wannamaker is third from the right.  I do not have identification for any of the others. 

The 1:57.1 clocking made R Yankee Wann the fastest Canadian-bred Standardbred in history and replaced the current record of 1:57 3/4 recorded by the famous horse Winnipeg set in 1928 at Toledo, Ohio.  His lifetime earnings to age seven in 1970 were $207,738,  making him the largest winning Canadian-bred horse foaled in Canada to that point in time. 

To recognize the moment in history a special day was planned for this very accomplished horse and his connections at his "home" track at Belleville, Ont.  A special memorial race to remember another local hero, Richard "Dick" Ellis — a great member of the Belleville community — was arranged. This gentleman had served in local politics and been a longtime supporter of minor sports in Belleville.  He had recently passed away. 

The race was held on Saturday, Oct. 10, 1970.  Because of the huge gap in talent in this race it was staged as a betting race but with R Yankee Wann barred from the wagering.  A field of seven starters (shown below) faced the returning hero.  It is interesting to note that in the field was I N Wann, a full brother to "The Bull" as R Yankee Wann was nicknamed because of his tenacity on the track.  As an indication of the disparity in the entrants,  the highest earner had a year-to-date total of $60,878 to his credit while his next closest was Jimmy Bing who had earned a respectable but distant $2,092. 

As expected and enjoyed by all in attendance the great pacer, who was the centre of the day's festivities, was a convincing winner in the slow time of 2:09.3 on a muddy track.  The winner for wagering purposes was Jimmy Bing, a beloved horse in the area driven by Guy Larush for owner Lloyd McMurray of Colborne, On. While the race carried a purse of $800 the owner of R Yankee Wann, Campbell Wannamaker, refused to accept the money as a sporting gesture. "We just brought him here to race to help promote harness racing in Belleville," said 27-year-old Rejean Boily, the only man to ever drive this famous horse. 

At this time the Belleville track was an important spot on the "B" Circuit list of tracks and served as did many small town tracks as a training ground for young horses and often young horse people as well.  The fans in the area supported the racing programs which were held throughout the summer months.  At this time the Quinte Riding & Driving Club officials were: Jack Jeffrey, president;  Gloria Vance, V.P.; H. Kemp, V.P.; J. Robertson, Secretary-Treasurer; Harry Burkitt, Classifier; and Lucy Burkitt, Race Secretary. 

While "The Bull" won in convincing fashion those close to the horse noted that he was not as sharp as he had been in recent starts. He had raced and won at Batavia Downs in New York State as recently as September 26th  prior to shipping home.   Within a day or so it became evident that the great performer was seriously ill.  While a veterinarian (or perhaps more than one) was summoned it was determined that nothing could be done to save the horse and on the Wednesday after the big race day R Yankee Wann was in critical condition.  On Sunday, just eight days after the big race, he breathed his last at about 4 a.m. at the Wannamaker farm in Ameliasburg Township.  

An autopsy performed by a Brighton government Vet confirmed that the horse had died from colitis, a very serious bowel disorder.  He was buried at the Wannamaker farm wrapped in a cooler, one of many that he had won in his illustrious but often underrated career. 

A headline from the local Belleville newspaper following ths passing of the area's favourite horse R Yankee Wann 

R Yankee Wann had an amazing career, much of it accomplished far from the so called "Big Time" of harness racing and his owner and handlers were extremely humble people.  His sudden passing was a great shock to those close to him. He died as the fastest and richest standardbred foaled in Canada.  

Note: A special thanks to Todd Ferguson for his assistance and pictures for this week's Rewind. 

Quote For The Week: "Always do right; this will gratify some people and astonish the rest." Words of Mark Twain 

Who Is It?

Can you identify the folks in this well known racing family? I'm glad I didn't say that I wasn't putting in any more "easy ones" so here you go. 

Who Else Is It?

Who is this smiling driver holding his trophy? If anyone can identify the gent on the left please do as I have no name for him currently.