SC Rewind: First Firsts, Pt. 2

In the current edition of Rewind Robert Smith presents the second part of an ongoing feature titled The First To Be First. His piece traces the start up of many racetracks across Ontario, with each containing a short commentary on the location. Personal memories are always welcomed. Thanks for those submitted on Part I.

Hiawatha Park - Sarnia, Ont.

The possibility for a new racetrack in the Sarnia area was identified around the mid 1980's. One of its main attractions was to provide racing in the general area over a five-eighths mile track during a portion of the season that Windsor was closed. A group was formed to research the feasibility and when the decision was made the principals included just one person with a harness racing background and that was Larry Ainsworth of nearby Petrolia, Ont. Larry's grandfather Nate Neeley of Sarnia was a well-known figure in the sport when racing was in its earliest days in this area.

Hiawatha's first race was won by In My Shadow in 2:02.4 with Jim Ainsworth in the bike, on July 1 1988. The track was very heavy on opening night resulting in a rather slow time. Even though the grandstand was only half finished, more than 4,500 people were in attendance. A total of $142,369 was wagered on that opening night.

The track operated for some time before all of the plant's facilities were completed. The official opening was finally held in early September. On September 9, some 2,800 fans attended the kickoff night of a weekend of opening celebrations. The clubhouse, which featured an 856-seat dining room, was filled to capacity. This track at the time was the only facility in Canada other than Ottawa's Rideau Carleton to feature the collapsible hub rail.

Kawartha Downs - Peterborough, Ont.

After many years of harness racing at Morrow Park in Peterborough a new racing plant was constructed at nearby Fraserville, Ont. to meet the changing times and the needs of the local horsemen. In a rather unique move, financing for the new track which was to become Kawartha Downs came about through the selling of shares to people, most of whom were involved with the horse racing business. The complex was built for a reported $1 million, or in that range. A total of 137 shareholders were involved at the time of the opening and it was stated that no single shareholder held more than three per cent of the total.

PETERBOROUGH RACING ASSOCIATION: Pictured above are the executives in office in 1972 the year that Kawartha Downs opened. Front row (L-R) Jack Heenan, Director; Elwood McDonald, Treasurer; Dr. Harry Hamilton, Director.

Back Row (L-R) Ken West, President; Ray Lowery, Vice President; John Ball, Director; Bud Cotter, Director.

The new plant opened for racing under the lights on July 22, 1972. 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.

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

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 had been a huge part of the Raceway's long history.

Leamington Raceway - Leamington, Ont.

Leamington, like many old tracks in the Province, existed as a fairground track long before the modern era. In 1954 the Leamington Community Arena was built and part of the construction process meant that the old racetrack was removed and moved further back from the town's main thoroughfare. When the annual race day was held that summer, well-known horseman Cecil Coke of Petrolia, Ont. won the first race on the new track. The winning horse was a mare named Margaret H Direct, owned by Allan R. Drew of Windsor. His nephews Greg and David Drew are still active in the sport. I am told that somewhere there exists a picture of the Town fathers in the winner's circle with Cecil that day to commemorate the occasion.

Around 1970 the track began to offer regular racing programs on Sunday afternoons with input from the local Kinsmen Club who derived financial benefit for their services. Eventually lights were installed and the interest in small-town harness racing made it a popular spot for summer racing, usually two nights per week. It became an immediate host of O.S.S. races when the program was launched in 1974. This track lists among its past and present announcers a couple of pretty darned good callers; Marty Adler and Frank Salive.

A couple of views from the old wooden grandstand at Leamington before it was razed by fire in the 1970's, Nice crowds on a Sunday afternoon (Photos courtesy of L.R. Smith)

Today the track remains and still holds race meetings in the late summer and into the fall season. It also serves as a training centre for several stables that compete on other Ontario tracks. At one time, around 1960, a number of large stables wintered here because of the moderate climate and milder winters that allowed horses to be readied earlier. Some of the larger outfits included those of Del MacTavish Sr., Jim Wiener, Bert Madill, Dave O'Dare, John Charbonneau and Albert Rogers. Many that trained here raced at the two big Montreal tracks -- Blue Bonnets and Richelieu Park -- which usually opened in early April and remained open until November.

More than a few people witnessed their first taste of harness racing here...this writer included.

Western Fair - London, Ont.

An early scene from London's Western Fair Raceway showing a packed grandstand

The track at London dates back many decades prior to its modern day state as a leading Raceway. On the evening of May 17, 1961 it became the first track to host night-time racing in Ontario, attracting a crowd of just under 3,000 who bet $46,626. In the track's first ever race, a two-heat affair, the winning driver was 61-year-old Wm. H. Herbert of London driving his own mare Adieu Herbert. Although she won the first heat of the evening's inaugural program, the filly was scratched from the second encounter. To my knowledge she never won another race despite starting a number of times later in her career. Thus began the modern era of racing at London which continues now in its 58th year of operation if I have counted correctly.

A trio of drivers from the early years on awards night. From left Wes Coke, Neil McRann and "Jiggs" McFadden. The presenters are unidentified.

The opening night feature, a C1 Pace for a purse of $700, went to Brother Hy owned by Alex Hyatt of Petrolia and driven by Ken Bogart. This amazing little horse went on to be a real fan favourite in the years that followed as he piled up many of his 85 lifetime victories at this track. After winning the first heat in 2:11.3 he finished second to Baron Atom in the second stanza.

Driven by Almer Holmes for M. J. Webster, Baron Atom recorded the evening's fastest mile of 2:09.2. In all, eight different drivers visited the winner's circle that night with no double-heat winners. Other winning drivers were Harvey Fleet, Garfield Ritchie, Wm. Herbert, Don McNutt, Hugh McLean and Neil McRann.

Mohawk Raceway - Campbellville, Ont.

A view of the Mohawk grandstand from the backstretch as it appeared in the 1960's (Hoof Beats)

On the evening of Friday April 26, 1963 a reported 4,338 fans flocked to the opening of Mohawk Raceway. A nine-race card greeted them and when the pacer David Hal B and driver Pat Crowe crossed the finish wire a winner in the first race in 2:09.1, yet another milestone in Canadian harness racing entered the books. The purses on opening night ranged from a low of $500 to a high of $1,400 for the featured sixth race which was won by Adios Dominion driven by Ken Galbraith.

In May of 2013 when Mohawk observed its 50th anniversary Pat Crowe was in a reminiscent mood as he recalled the start up of Mohawk and how certain things had changed while others had not. A portion of his interview that was carried on the Standardbred Canada website at that time went as follows:

“I remember the race very well,” admitted Crowe, who, at the time, was 25 years of age. “He (David Hal B) was just a cheap horse, but he got the job done that day. It’s pretty amazing how things have changed since then.”

“The atmosphere was just amazing. The place always had a terrific turnout of people and it was a fun place to be at,” he said. “We didn’t race for very much money, but we were just as competitive back then as they are today.

"I remember it was a very big deal when it was built. A five-eighths oval wasn’t popular back then,” Crowe continued. “We usually raced on half-mile tracks and I remember when Keith Waples qualified Blaze Pick in 2:00. It was the first 2:00 mile and that was really something to see back then.”

“It’s much more of a business now-a-days compared to then,” he offered. “Back then, trainers drove all their own horses and the owners were involved for the love of the sport, not really to get rich. They enjoyed watching their horse race every week and coming to the track.”

In contrast, Crowe says the horsepeople of the sport are much the same today as it was decades ago.

“As for us horsemen, it was like family. We saw one another pretty much every day, so we all became friends,” Crowe said. “Don’t get me wrong, we were very competitive on the track, but off the track we were all pretty close.

The initial spring Mohawk meeting was short in duration, lasting just four weeks with the final night of racing held on Saturday, May 25. Keith Waples led all drivers in both average and dashes won as he recorded 21 wins during the 26-night session. The building of Mohawk was a major step by the Ontario Jockey Club as they embraced the modern day version of harness racing. It was a time of rapid change as Canadian horsemen could stay much closer to home. They could also compete with the best from other racing jurisdictions and more often than not succeed.