SC Rewind: Years Ago - 1940s

This week's Rewind is the monthly edition of 'Years Ago', this time devoted to the people, horses and other happenings during the decade of the 1940's.

Harness racing in Canada and elsewhere saw a number of highs and lows during this time period (1940-1949). Wartime restrictions in the earlier years completely stopped racing at certain times and curtailed it at others. From about 1946 on, the sport saw unprecedented growth as the new era began.

1945 - Guy H. Has Record Season

Guy H and driver Honorat Larochelle appear in the winner's circle at Shawinigan Falls following one of his many victories during the 1945 season. The judges' stand visible in the background shows the current track record holders. Looks like Brady Hanover (pacer) and Ed Lasater (trotter) held the records but the numbers are a bit too hazy to easily read.

One Canadian-owned horse stood above all the rest during the 1945 season and that was Guy H. His story of success saw him race at all of the major Quebec tracks as well as facing the top competition at a number of U.S. tracks. Owned by Elzear Cournoyer of Sorel, Que. and driven and trained by Honorat Larochelle, the fleet son of Guy Abbey started in a total of 42 heats and was returned a winner on 33 occasions. His performance at Rutland, Vt. in the Free For All resulted in a mile time of 2:02 3/4 in the third and final heat. This effort made him a season's champion as that was the fastest mile turned in on a half-mile track in 1945. Guy H was timed in 2:05 or under on a half-mile track a total of 11 times that year. In the heats that he did not win this horse also recorded six second place finishes and three thirds.

Mighty Spender 2:06.4, another top performer in the Cournoyer stable, is shown with driver Larochelle. This horse was very successful while racing on the very tough Green Mountain Circuit winning six of 11 races. (Harness Horse)

1946 - The Supertest Stakes Held At Tillsonburg, Ont.

In 1944 a new series of colt races was introduced in Ontario, sponsored in part by The Supertest Oil Co., a well-known supplier of gasoline and other petroleum products across the Province. The first ever event was held at the Leamington Fairgrounds in 1944 and was won by a two-year-old pacing colt named Jack E Herbert. The popularity of this series grew over the years and eventually included separate events for both two- and three-year-old trotters and pacers. They were tendered each year and local tracks could bid on holding these annual classics. They were held at many spots, starting with the small town tracks and eventually reaching such locations as London and the O.J.C. tracks.

A field of horses are paraded to the post by two young lads riding their ponies. This photo was taken during the 1946 races at Tillsonburg and this was a special day as the local track was hosting that year's three-year-old Supertest Stakes race. A number of well-known horsemen of the day were in this picture. Leading the parade is a noted horse from the area Dillon Flicka with Alf Moore of Sarnia in the bike for owner Edward Arthur of Otterville, followed by Brookdale D for owner Harold Carr (Joe's father). The eventual race winner was a mare named Jean Herbert with owner Wm. Herbert driving.

The Supertest Stakes remained until the decade of the 1970's and were discontinued around the same time as the new O.S.S. program debuted in 1974.

1947 - Joe O'Brien Has Big First Of July Performance

Racing fans at the July 1 racing program at Union Park in New Glasgow, N.S. were treated to some early fireworks thanks to one driver. Joe O'Brien, the diminutive reinsman from Alberton, P.E.I., "had a field day all to himself" as described in the local newspaper. He had 10 wins in four different classes. To add to his heroics he also scored a two-heat victory in a Match Race which pitted Tip Abbe against The Walnut Abbe. Times for the two heats were 2:13 and 2:15 with a purse of $100. The 2:13 mile was tied for tops of the day as Prince Marine also recorded that time for driver Herb Wisener.

O'Brien's victories came with Traffic Grattan owned by John McLeod of Yarmouth N.S. taking two out of three. Scotty Budlong took the opener for Ted Weir. He scored three more victories with Mack Fingo for John Ferguson of Oxford, N.S. His other three wins were courtesy of My Partner owned by Dr. J.A. Donohue of Truro. The race days held at New Glasgow were considered some of the best in the Province and always drew large crowds. The purse total this day was $1,600, somewhat larger than most other race meetings in the area.

1948 - Canadians Populate Backstretch At Buffalo Raceway

From the time it opened in June 1942, Buffalo Raceway immediately became a favourite spot for Canadian horsemen. For years prior to this a number of Canadians from Ontario and Quebec raced at the fairs in N.Y. State. By 1948 with WWII over quite a few Canadians were among the backstretch residents. A few of the names were Vic Rowntree, Wilmer Hillock, Lorne Tolhurst, Floyd Milton, Harry Fields, Cliff and son John Chapman and Gordon Ramsey.

Stratford Hotel owner Wes Litt added another trophy to his growing collection at the Windsor Hotel as his 11-year-old trotter Bruce Henley captured "The Green Grass of Wyoming Trot" at Buffalo Raceway in Hamburg, N.Y. Doing the presenting is Mrs. Charles Kosco, wife of the resident manager of Twentieth Century Fox in Buffalo. The driver is Lorne Tolhurst. [This old photo is from the June 30, 1948 issue of Harness Horse, courtesy of Don Daniels]

Mr. Litt was a long-time participant in Canadian harness racing circles. Over a 40+ year career he owned many fine horses that raced on both sides of the border. A short list of his horses would include Ex Ra, Sam Hy, Rosena Chips, Lady K Brooke, Meadow Art, Mr Oakley, Frosted Flakes and Black Creek. For many years his horses were stabled at his farm located at Sebringville, Ont. on the outskirts of Stratford. His resident trainer and often partner was Harold Wellwood Sr.

1940's - Racing On Prince Edward Island

I don't have an exact year for the following item but that shouldn't detract from the great story that it tells. I am indebted to Jerry McCabe, a local historian, for providing the details as well as the pictures shown here.

Each year during the 1940’s there was a special day of racing at the Montague racetrack in aid of the local hospital. It was organized by Alice McIntyre, whose husband -- Dr. Preston McIntyre -- was well known as an owner of race horses in P.E.I. As covered in a recent Rewind he was also instrumental in setting up the first photo finish camera ever used in Canada.

On that big day, there were regular races plus a couple of match races. In this particular year one match race featured Valley Long and Alfred Lowrey against O U Volo and Harold Stead. There was also a match race between the young and the old. Youthful Ralph Annear would race against Alfred Moore and they had him looking old, despite the fact he was probably not yet in his teens. Ralph detailed the event with delight, “I drove Minnie Lacopia, my old mare. At one time I drove her to school which was about 1-1/2 miles away. Alfred Lowrey gave me his uniform for this momentous race. He couldn’t get the stirrups short enough for me. I won that race in 2:40 around the old Montague track and will never forget it.”

I am pleased to report that Ralph Annear is still very actively involved in the racing business, now mainly as an owner and breeder. His grandson Jack Panting has taken over the driving duties after getting introduced to horse ownership as a teenager when his grandfather gifted him part ownership in Maple Leaf Noble. Annear also had success with the pacers with top stakes fillies like Magic Dexter and Darko just to name a couple.

Two horses parade in front of the Montague judges stand prior to a match race won by Minnie Lacopia piloted by a very young Ralph Annear.

Quote For The Week - This week it becomes more of a short story...As a youngster I had never heard much of people being divorced. When I did hear of one instance I asked my father what had happened to a certain couple. He said "Apparently Dewey wanted to sleep with the bedroom window open and his wife wanted it closed. They couldn't agree so they got a divorce."

Who Is It?

Can you identify this good-looking young gentleman? No more information being offered at this time.

Who Else Is It?

Can you correctly identify this young fellow? Perhaps sideburns were in back when this photo was taken.

TRIVIA QUESTION - As mentioned in the 1946 item above the Supertest Stakes program was first held in 1944. The first winner was a gelding named Jack E. Herbert owned by Wm. H. Herbert & Son of London. Who was the driver?

REMEMBER WHEN?

I'm sure all of the older people in the audience can recall when almost everyone smoked and some even rolled their own. Remember this once popular brand that I saw in an old newspaper ad? The topic of "roll your own" brought to mind an old story. The legendary Tom French, the pride and joy of Elmvale, Ont., was working for Keith Waples. He was apparently looking after Ben Boy and part of his chores included jogging this famous trotter several slow miles. Once Tom got on the track he immediately started to visit with everyone who would listen, thus soon forgetting how many laps he had completed. Finally to solve the problem he decided to roll three cigarettes, head out on the track and when he had smoked the third one it was time to return to the barn. No counting involved. True story? Perhaps, but I've often heard that the truth should never get in the way of a good story!