Canadian Standardbred industry icon Charles ‘Charlie’ Juravinski, the philanthropic founder of Flamboro Downs, was inducted into the Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame on Tuesday (October 17).
Juravinski was inducted alongside Olympic rider Cindy Neale-Ishoy, decorated figure skater Don Knight, world-class wakeboarder Jeremy Kovak, and veteran NHLer Ric Nattress
The Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2017 was inducted during at a luncheon at the Best Western Premier ‘C’ Hotel by Carmen’s, which is located at 1530 Stone Church Rd. E.
Born in Saskatchewan during the depression, Juravinski’s family moved to Hamilton in 1942.
From the mid-to-late 1950s Juravinski worked in construction and then was co-founder of a Dundas, Ont.-based construction company.
After the construction venture closed, Juravinski and former Ontario PC cabinet minister Ray Connell opened the Standardbred racetrack Flamboro Downs in Dundas in 1975. Juravinski managed the very successful facility for almost three decades before selling it in 2003.
Flamboro’s most prestigious event is the Confederation Cup, which has featured some of the greatest horses in the history of Standardbred racing.
Juravinski, as an owner, was connected with many outstanding horses, including Hall of Famers Matts Scooter and the great mare Ellamony.
Juravinski was inducted into the ‘builder’ category of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2012.
Since his retirement, Charles and his wife, Margaret, have made considerable endowments to the City of Hamilton and McMaster University, which have permitted the establishment of a new state-of-the-art cancer care facility at the former Henderson General Hospital, now the Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre. Charles and Margaret’s philanthropic endeavours contribute to health care in the local area through Hamilton Health Sciences, St. Joseph Foundation, St. Peter Foundation, St. Joseph Villa Foundation, McMaster University and others. Charles and Margaret are extremely passionate about their ‘people-oriented’ help charities.
(With files from The Hamilton Spectator and the HSHOF))