SC Rewind: Memories Of 1969

In this week's Rewind Robert Smith wraps up 2016 with a series of short recollections of events and personalities from the year 1969. A number of old photographs help to recreate this period in time now almost 50 years ago.

My selections are completely at random and intended to evoke a bit of nostalgia and maybe even a few chuckles as you view old pictures and hear once familiar names, some still familiar.

Horse Goes Head Over Heels Following Victory

Driver Carman Hie is flat on the track as race winner Wil Lor Kim owned by Wilmot and Lorne Brethour of Sunderland rears straight up in the air. Bewildered onlookers were Cecil Robins and Shirley Hie.

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The excitement that follows a race can be pretty 'high' at times, often displayed by an owner or a jubilant fan with a winning ticket in hand. As for the winning horse, it is pretty hard to tell just how high their emotions might run. On the evening of May 30, 1969, the seven-year-old mare Wil Lor Kim must have been pretty elated at winning her race at the old Garden City track. A few lucky patrons were still gasping at the $41.70 win payoff when she literally went head over heels in the winner's circle and in the process pinned her 24-year-old driver Carman Hie under the sulky.

Thankfully he was not injured, nor was the horse. She abruptly left the scene but was soon corralled by parade marshall Ivan McKutchion. Hie showed a lot of resilience and dedication to his profession when he was back in the sulky seat a few races later driving Noteworthy Pick to a third place finish in the eighth race.

Wellwood Leads All Drivers at Mohawk Fall Meeting

Owner "Wib" White of St. Marys, Ont. accepts a trophy and a cooler following a win by Tigalus in the $9,500 Valedictory Pace before the meeting's largest crowd of 6,062 fans. Presenting the silverware is Miss Helen Hall while driver Bill Wellwood looks on.

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On the evening of November 29, 1969 the fall meeting at Mohawk came to a close. The featured event of the evening was The Valedictory Pace. The winner of the event was Tigalus with the meeting's leading driver, 29-year-old Wm. Wellwood in the sulky. The horse's seventh win of the campaign in 29 starts came about as a bit of a surprise as Laurel Adios in rein to Keith Waples appeared to have the race won when he unexpectedly made a break just before the wire leaving the opportunity for Tigalus to snatch the victory. Second money was awarded to Cape Grattan as Laurel Adios was set back to third. For Wellwood it was his second trip to the winner's circle as he also notched a win behind El Mungo.

Wellwood was Mohawk's leading driver based on his fine showing of 29 victories and money won totalling $54,876, tops in both categories. The leading U.D.R.S. driver was Dr. John Findley with an average of .414. Wellwood's association with the owner Mr. White went back many years prior to this when he drove such horses as Kintoo Colby, Ardee and many more raised on the White farm. This was the last of 73 stake races held on the circuit with a total value of $750,000.

Note: If my memory serves me correctly this horse was named for a family member as Tigalus I believe translates to "Douglas". Not sure from what language?

Young Drivers Listen to O.J.C. Director of Racing

A group of young drivers in the Garden City paddock. From left, Bill Hicks, Carman Hie, Edmund Bradley, Wes Coke, John Hayes Jr., and Ron Feagan. It would be interesting to know his message.

Ed Bradley, long-time executive with the Ontario Jockey Club discusses some of the finer points of driving with a quintet of drivers who were all very active on the three track circuit around this time. Mr. Bradley, who started as an announcer at Dufferin Park way back, served in several managerial positions during the real growth years of the O.J.C. and is credited with bringing the Grand Circuit back to Ontario. At one time as a very young competitor -- in fact just nine years of age -- Bradley was the youngest licenced driver in Ontario and perhaps all of Canada. He came from a racing family as his father Cliff Bradley was the starter at Thorncliffe Park and also was active in many other capacities as an owner, trainer and member of several organizations. Mrs. Bradley, his mother, also drove in some exhibition races at Dufferin Park.

Ed Bradley passed away in 2006 at the age of 81.

New Announcer Debuts At Windsor

New track announcer Marty Adler (left) chats with veteran race caller Jack Calvert at Windsor Raceway.

In 1969 Windsor Raceway was in its fifth season of operation as the new "Winter Racing Capital" in Canada. Its all-weather tartan track and creature-friendly design allowed for top quality racing even during the harshest of weather conditions. That season a new voice took up his position high above the crowd as race caller. Young Marty Adler, a Windsor native who had some previous announcing experience elsewhere was joining the current announcer Jack Calvert. The new schedule would see Adler do the weekend cards while Calvert devoted more time to his own stable of horses back in Michigan but still call races during the week. Previous race callers included Jack Riggs and Norm Lampkin.

Adler, then 26 years of age, had taken an interest in the harness sport and started his race calling while attending the University Of Western Ontario in London. This new interest led him to the announcer's perch at London as well as Goderich, in addition to his day job with the local radio station in Wingham, Ont. His recent acceptance of a job with CKLW-TV in Windsor made the Windsor Raceway job possible.

As most long-time followers of the sport will already know, Marty eventually took up training and driving horses in addition to his now very long announcing career which has spanned some six decades.

Connaught Park Concludes Record Year in 1969

Driver Doris Filion (centre) a member of the famous family of driving brothers from Angers, Quebec is pictured at Connaught Park where the then 24-year-old teamster was having a career year in the sulky. On the far right is Roger LeBourdais, a representative of the Molson's Brewery and on the left is parade marshal Mary Callahan. The young Filion won both the percentage and dash titles in September to become the first driver to do so. He then repeated in October which prompted the above presentation.

The 1969 season at Connaught Park was the longest in its history and went into the books as its most successful in almost every department. The track was hampered severely because of the closing of the Champlain Bridge, the major artery to and from Ottawa, but apparently fans found alternate routes. The good news was that the construction was nearly complete. The existing track records were threatened but remained unbeaten with the pacing standard set in 1968 belonging to Replica Herbert at 2:01 3/5, while the trot record set in 1962 by Old Scrooge remained at 2:05.

Accommodation for some 200 horses in brand new winter barns made Connaught a sought after wintering spot at this time. Many horses raced on Sunday afternoons throughout the winter months and then by mid April an expanded schedule began.

H​APPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE - LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT 2017!!​