SC Rewind: Kawartha Memories (2/2)

This week's Rewind features the second and concluding edition of 'Kawartha Memories' as Robert Smith recalls the 1972 start up and early days at the Peterborough-based track.

After much planning and preparation and a few delays, the new Kawartha Downs opened on the evening of Saturday, July 22, 1972. General Manager Raymond J. "Ray" Richards was at the helm, a position he retained until 1984 guiding the track through its earlier years. A number of dignitaries were on hand for the occasion; many were local but others travelled some distance.

A view of the grandstand during the construction phase in the early part of 1972.

Among the opening night personalities was The Hon. Earl Rowe who presided over the ceremonial ribbon cutting ceremony. Affectionately known as "The Guv" throughout the sport, he was a spry 78 years of age at the time and still keenly involved in the sport. He was undoubtedly thrilled to be a part of the momentous occasion. It was truly a milestone for harness racing in the Peterborough area.

A partial list of racing officials for opening night included Race Secretary, Harry Wilford; Track Vet, Dr. Harry Hamilton; Announcer, Cy Yard; Starter, Tom Curtin; Clerk of the Course, J.W. Orde and Paddock Judge, John Challice.

On opening night The Hon. Earl Rowe of Newton Robinson Ont., longtime harness racing icon presided over the official ribbon cutting ceremony at the brand new Kawartha Downs.

The opening night card consisted of a total of 10 races. In the first race ever at the new oval, Frank Conlin guided the four-year-old maiden pacer Bold Battles to a win in 2:08.4 for owner Joseph Guest of Hampton, Ont. He was also a winner in the fourth with a horse named John Honey, to make him the first multiple winning reinsman. Other winning drivers on opening night included Frank Alexander, Carman Hie, Earl Shea, Jim McIntyre, Allan Nicholls, Tom Riley, Sherman Moore and Retta Herrington. Lots of names from the Morrow Park era were here to 'christen' the new facility.

In a slightly ironic way, the "torch" was passed to the new track when Sherman Moore won the opening night feature behind Shars Jade, a horse that won the second last race at the old Morrow Park location the previous year. Their clocking of 2:07 flat was the evening's fastest and gave the new Kawartha oval its first pacing track record. Countless horses bearing the name "Moorelands" graced the Kawartha winner's circle in the years that followed for Sherman and Barry Moore of Lindsay.

Since only one race on the opener was scheduled for trotters, the 7th race winner Hoot Valley and driver Frank Alexander laid claim to the first track record for that gait with a clocking of 2:09.3. The owner of this seven-year-old trotting mare was John R. "Jack" Ball of nearby Baltimore, Ont. He was an original investor and part of the group responsible for the creation of the new track and also served on many other committees within the sport over the years. In 1999 he passed away at the age of 85.

For many years Mr. Ball operated Ball's Feed Mill at Baltimore, Ont. Today that site is part of the Ganaraska Conservation Authority. He also owned a farm in Hamilton Township, just west of Baltimore where he raised his horses. It was located about one mile north of the old Hamilton Township Fairgrounds, a place commonly referred to by local horsemen as "Grasshopper Flats". Many area trainers used that track including the Hies, Jack Gordon, Gord Sherwin, Ivan Thackeray and Everette Adams to name a few. When Kawartha opened, several moved including the Ball horses who shared a barn at the new complex with Ray Lowery.

Several special nights were held that first year and the track soon began to draw entrants from outside the local area. This of course was just before the coming of the Ontario Sires Stakes program which brought in many horses starting in 1974. For many years considered a mainly local track, the new K.D. soon moved up the ladder.

On September 2nd the travelling O.H.H.A. Belvedere Colt Series for three-year-olds came to town. The competition was outstanding and the race times reflected the calibre of colts and fillies involved. As part of a season long duel, two colts from the same town of Forest, Ont. battled it out and in the process showed just how fast the new track could be. Atomos, driven by owner John Lester beat out Derby Dan and Ron Ellerker, stopping the clock in an amazing 2:02.4, thus setting a significant new track record. Also on that evening the eventual overall leading driver of the meeting Retta Herrington won both the Invitational Trot and Pace. Baron Angus took the Pacing feature while Papakomeka co-owned by Retta and Carolee Roland, both locals won the Trot.

The annual Fallis Memorial Race for a purse of $3,330 was held for the first time here on September 16th, having been held for many years at the old Morrow Park location. It was held to honour a veteran of the area who was instrumental in bringing night racing to Peterborough in the earlier years. Unfortunately he did not live to see the furtherance of his early groundwork. The 1972 winner was an impressive three-year-old filly named Chocolate Cherry who paced home in 2:04.2 with co-owner Gerald Lowery in the bike. He shared ownership with John Coxon of Port Hope. Sun Brier Bob was second for Junior West.

One evening, merchants from nearby Cobourg presented a cooler to each race winner as a show of support for the new venture. In a similar fashion, the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce also sponsored an evening. Each winning driver received a stop watch and the Invitational winner was presented with a cooler as well.

After some 35 racing programs, Kawartha Downs lowered the curtain on their inaugural meeting on November 23rd. The O'Keefe Brewing Co. presented monthly awards to the leading dash winning drivers. Ray Lowery was the July and August winner as well as the meet's busiest teamster as he faced the starter a total of 102 times. Retta Herrington, who led all drivers with 18 wins, was the September winner while Carman Hie took the October title. With a reduced racing schedule in November, Jack Bissonette needed just four victories to win that month's crown. Not mentioned elsewhere but finishing among the top three percentage drivers was a real veteran Clarence Franklin, a native of nearby Northumberland County.

In July of 2002, a 30th anniversary reunion was held at the track featuring a number of different events. Each of the ten races was named in honour of a special "personality" which included either a person or a horse associated with the early years. The following were honoured, listed in order of the race named after them. Frank Conlin Jr., Jerry Robinson, Derek Newman Sr., Ray Lowery, Cedarwood George, Jerry Hughes, Gerald Lowery, Murray Samons, Billyjojimbob and Allan Nicholls. It was a memorable gathering as many people made a special effort to either race that evening, or just return to renew old acquaintances.

The above photo appeared as the program front page in 2002 as Kawartha hosted a 30th anniversary celebration of the Raceway's opening. The three gentlemen pictured have been a huge part of the Raceway's long history.

By this time the "speed revolution" was in full evidence with an overall track record of 1:52.3 for pacers shared by Fernbank Fiona (Ricky Macomber Jr.) set in 2001 and equalled by Winning Smile A (Doug Bowins) in 2002. For the trotters the speed tab was 1:56.3 set by Northern Bailey (John Bax) in 2002, not long before this event. Obviously 30 years sees a lot of changes.

A list of records etc. after 30 years in 2002.

Over the years Kawartha Downs has seen a lot of ups and downs and through it all survived. Starting with the naysayers who opposed the building of the new track, many obstacles have been met and overcome. It has gradually gathered a rich heritage, assembled by those many people that have plied their trade there. Countless great families have grown up competing at Kawartha and often moved on, but to a person I don't believe a single one has ever forgotten their roots.

Early in its history, Kawartha Downs was coined "The Class 'A' of the 'B' Circuit" and it would appear rightfully so.