For this week's Rewind Robert Smith has penned a few short stories. While they are unrelated to each other, they all capture a small piece of history in some way from the past days of harness racing. Some of them will be accompanied by an old photograph or two to assist in telling the story.
First Sub-2:00 Mile In Quebec By A Female Driver
On July 16, 1983 driver Danielle Duquet registered the first ever sub-2:00 mile in Quebec harness racing history by a female driver. The young trainer - driver registered a mile in 1:58 at Blue Bonnets Raceway piloting a horse named Lead Story, perhaps appropriately named for the occasion.
"When I saw the time on the board, my heart jumped into my throat. I couldn't believe my eyes," said the young woman in a post-race interview. "I feel very relaxed in the sulky. There isn't much difference between a mile in 2:01 and a mile in less than 2:00 minutes. I knew Lead Story was capable of a fast mile, but I never expected such a fast time!"
At this time Danielle had been driving horses for only about a year. She had participated in around a hundred races. She related that her boss, Jean-Paul Charron, wouldn't let her drive all the horses in the stable just yet. "Lead Story, in fact, is one of the difficult horses that I am now allowed to drive.” Danielle was looking forward to an upcoming drivers' tournament on August 5th which would pit her against three other local competitors and two others from outside. This tournament will take place at Blue Bonnets. "We are all confident, like the others," said Danielle. "But I know that the horses entrusted to us will also have their say!"
It was a great moment in Quebec harness racing history and indeed in the young career of Ms. Duquet.
Lachance Sets Single Season Record For Wins
Driver Mike Lachance displays a sign describing his new single season record for wins at Roosevelt Raceway. The horse is Crown Wood, a top trotter at that time. Photo by Bert Meurer
Late in the 1984 racing season Quebec native Mike Lachance set an all-time Roosevelt Raceway record when he captured over 200 wins for the season. This new mark shattered the previous standard of 196 victories in one season set by Carmine Abbatiello in 1980. Lachance set the new mark by winning with the talented trotter Crown Wood that year's American trotting champion and the U.S. representative in the International Trot.
Crown Wood is shown gaining a victory for Lachance in July at Roosevelt. The above photo shows the second place finisher Wholly Arnie driven by Bill O'Donnell who at this point appears to be slightly ahead but it may have been the angle or just before the final strides.
1974 - Maritime Purse Size Reaches Milestone
For the first time in Maritime racing history the purse for a Free For All race reached the $10,000 mark on July 6, 1974. The victory by the six-year-old La Cardy, owned by Edith MacPhail of Cornwall, P.E.I., was the record breaking event. The occasion was the Alexander Memorial Pace held at Exhibition Park in Saint John, N.B.
The winning horse was trained and driven by Blois MacPhail, husband of Edith — the horse's owner. The win in the Alexander Memorial race was the horse's 13th win of the season and the winning time of 2:03.3 was a new lifetime mark. He went on to notch four more victories before season's end for a total of 17 trips to the winner's circle. After entering the season with just $6,000 in lifetime earnings he had a career year earning more than $22,000. Local fans were accustomed to seeing this horse come back for a picture as he recorded 12 of his 17 season's wins at Exhibition Park.
Blois was a well-known local horseman based in the harness racing hotbed of Cornwall, P.E.I. He later served as general manager of the Charlottetown Driving Park, after the track was purchased by a group by the Hillsboro Trotting Club.
Proud owner Edith MacPhail congratulates her winning horse La Cardy following his win in the Maritimes first ever $10,000 Free For All Pace. Her husband Blois MacPhail drove the winner in a new lifetime mark of 2:03.3. Finishing second was Power Baron with Scotch Gauman third. A packed fence line and grandstand can be seen in the background. Photo submitted by Scott Bernard
Four Decades Of Service
After officially retiring in 1965 at the age of 11, the world class trotter was still making public appearances as recently as 1982 at the age of 28. Born in 1954, he was still spry and active and happy to be part of the pre-race ceremonies before the driver's Hall of Fame races at The Meadowlands. At the time "Sumie" was living a life of luxury at Stanley Dancer's Egyptian Acres Farm in New Egypt, N.J.
At the time of his retirement in 1965, Su Mac Lad was the sport's leading career money earner with $885,695 brought in during a total of 151 races, with the horse winning 68 times, coming in second on 32 occasions and taking third 18 times. He was sold as a two-year-old for $750 and was purchased by Irving Berkemeyer, his longtime owner in 1959 for $35,000. Most of his racing career was spent in the stable of Stanley Dancer.
He passed away later this same year on September 19, 1982.
Su Mac Lad was paraded for the Meadowlands crowd by Stanley Dancer in 1982. He was 28 years old at the time
(Jim Rafferty, Meadowlands track photographer)
Quote For The Week: " A horse is like a best friend; they're always there to nuzzle you and make your life a better place." Author Unknown
Who Is It?
Can you identify this popular reinsman who drove a lot of good horses in years gone by?
Who Else Is It?
Can you identify the fellow and perhaps his horse from this relatively recent photo (as in only about 10 years ago)? This photo was featured on a harness racing oriented calendar undoubtedly hung up by many back then. It was taken by an aspiring photographer, Linnea Burgess.
Blast From The Past
If you were a fall fair attender in yesteryears you probably recognize what is going on here. Can you describe what this once popular activity was?
This week's pictures were ....
Once again this week's photos were no problem for our experts.
The who is it? photo was Ray McLean driving the outstanding Willow Wiper.
The who else is it? was the duo of Jerry Hughes and the great trotter San Pail, photo taken at the Mohawk
In the "Blast from the past " photo there were many correct responses to the picture of a team of horses pulling a "boat" loaded with weights. In my home area we called them "Drawing Matches" but all of the answers given were correct. I can remember watching these exhibitions as a youngster and one man ( his name was Marchand) always put on quite a show. When he got into real heated competition he always removed his false teeth as part of his repertoire as he urged his horses on to greater deeds. That photo was taken at the Elgin County plowing match in the late 1940's and the teamster was N.C. Srigley of Wheatley, On. I believe he later had harness horses.
Thanks everyone for your participation.
Who is it ?
Ray Maclean. Who else is it? Jerry Hughes. Blast from the past ? Horse pulling contest.
Who is it Ray Maclean Who…
Who is it Ray Maclean Who else is it Buddy Wellwood and Odies Fame
Blast from the pass Horse pull
rewind
The great Ray MacLean and Willow Wiper
The other picture is of what we called a horse draw - teams of horses pulling increasingly heavy loads.
In Nova Scotia they also use oxen for this sport.
An annual part of many fall fairs, including Arnprior, where i grew up, and in Pictou NS, where I lived for many years.
My father was a teamster in his youth, following his father to the woods near Thessalon.
He would not be happy with the teamster above - "Don't just throw the lines at them! Drive them!
Ray McLean and Willow Wiper …
Ray McLean and Willow Wiper , The one and only Mr. Jerry Hughes and San Pail. That would be a horse pull, much like a tractor pull.
Blast from ....
Horses pulling a charge
Who is it?
Ray McLaen (spelling?) and Willow Wiper