In this week's Rewind Robert Smith recalls some Christmas happenings at the track from days gone by. A few special old photos add to the festive mood of his recollections.
Christmas came early for the small fry who attended the matinee card of racing at Mohawk with their parents on closing day December 10. Santa Claus (who looked a lot like Jack Kenney) handed out pre-Christmas goodies to more than 300 children that afternoon.
Dating back to many years ago, racetracks were pretty much deserted at Christmas time. The racing season ended by late fall and virtually everyone headed for home, wherever that may have been. There was the odd exception and at the top of that list was of course Toronto's Dufferin Park -- a track that raced all winter. Just what went on there I am not certain.
By the mid 1960's, the racing season became much longer and eventually turned into year round activity. Because of the nature of Christmas and it being considered a family-oriented holiday, racing was seldom if ever to my knowledge held on the actual date of December 25th. Racing has always been popular on Boxing Day though; undoubtedly those who received cash in their stockings are always eager to 'invest' it.
However, leading up to Christmas, a lot of special get-togethers were organized with the holiday season in mind. Some were strictly for the backstretch brigade while others were held for the general public. Below with the aid of some old photos I have described a few happenings at the racetrack that had a Christmas theme.
For many years The Jockey Club held a special day for children in attendance at the races. One such day took place at Mohawk on the last day of racing of the season, which occurred on Saturday, December 5, 1966.
The arrival of Santa caused quite a stir among the sizeable crowd and with good reason. Perhaps as a sign of the times Santa Claus did not travel in the traditional sleigh towed by his trusty reindeer. Instead, a modern helicopter landed in the infield and much to the delight of all in attendance, Santa emerged.
For a number of years starting in 1967, Ancaster horseman Jack Kenney was absent from the Christmas festivities but apparently with good reason. While everyone in the crowd was sure that the Jolly fellow in the red suit was in for the day from his post at the North Pole, some were slightly suspicious. The man passing out gifts and wishing everyone the best of the season bore a striking resemblance to Jack.
Mr. Kenney was a longtime participant in the sport and added this job to a long list of tasks he performed over the years. After leaving school at the age of 15, he became the proverbial Jack of all Trades. He drove a cab, ran a body repair shop for over 20 years, and served as Postmaster of the hamlet of Binbrook. He also started the first Drivers Education school in Hamilton, besides working for a time at both Firestone and Browns Bakery. After all of these more serious occupations, he 'retired' into harness racing.
In 1964 his homebred filly Kelly Mac Hal set a new earnings record for a two-year-old when she banked $23,544 and paced in 2:07.1. He is also remembered as one of the founding members of the O.H.H.A., and was involved with brokering some of the early agreements with track management. He was also a major player to do with the Ancaster Fair for several decades. When Jack passed away in 2010 at the age of 92, harness racing lost a longtime friend...and a pretty good Santa.
Jack's nephew Bill McDonnell recently related to me that his Uncle and his wife Edna did not have children but that Jack really enjoyed playing Santa.
When many stabled and trained at the track, it created a different atmosphere than we know today. People were undoubtedly more available to get together and 'break bread' as the saying goes. On Dec. 23, 1964 the Jockey Club served up a special pre-Christmas meal for the folks who put on the show at the then-new Garden City track. Seated and smiling at the heaping plates are horsemen (from left) Gary Campbell, Franz Beitlich and Allan Pacey. The well-dressed waiters were on the left, Ed Bradley, O.J.C. Standardbred Racing Manager, and Lew James, Race Secretary.
My thanks to Bill Galvin for these old photos and accounts of Christmas events.
Good stuff(ing) Robert. My
Good stuff(ing) Robert. My favorite Christmas times were when I worked (?) for John and Pearl Lester she bought all the food from home (Forest ON.) and warmed it on hotplates and served anyone who came by our barn 4 at Greenwood. John bought the liquid cheer with him. They were like my second mom and dad. Miss them !!