SC Rewind: Banner Year At Blue Bonnets

This week's Rewind travels back in time to the end of the 1970's as Robert Smith recalls yet another sensational season at the Blue Bonnets track in Montreal.  His piece includes a lot of names familiar back then as well as some excellent photos from that time which is  now well over 40 years ago. 

A full house at Blue Bonnets taking in the racing action. (National Library and archives of Quebec)

As the decade of the 1970's came to a close,  the Blue Bonnets track in Montreal was "in a good place" to quote a time-worn saying.  It was extremely successful, popular with racing fans and certainly at the pinnacle of its existence.  As history has taught us though, the years that  followed were not so kind,  but back then things were in good shape to say the least. 

As the 1979 season came to an end racing officials at the Decarie Blvd. track were busy looking over the year-end statistics and had good reason to be pleased with virtually everything they saw.  Wagering showed an increase of some $75,000 in the daily average.  While the 1978 number of $846,289 was considered good, the new number of $920,000 was most impressive.  Racing fans had been flocking to the windows in a steady stream. 

On the subject of attendance the daily average increased from 7,560 the previous year to just under 8,000 per program in 1979.  Because of a transportation strike that prevented fans from getting to the track  the total attendance was down slightly by a total of around 30,000 fans.  Per capita wagering saw an increase of about 3.5% rising to about $116 from approximately $112.00. Looks like someone placed a couple of extra $2.00 bets! 

 

Racing officials regarded the campaign as "one of the best in the track's very long history."  Dating back to 1974 the track management  launched an attempt to reach a daily attendance of 10,000 with a projected daily mutuel handle of $1,000,000.  While these numbers were not consistently met it was felt that the day was not far off when they would be.  There were some pretty big days especially when special events were held.  

A view from the backstretch at Blue Bonnets during the winter months  (National Library and archives of Quebec)

100 Miracle Miles In 1979 

The "speed era" was well underway by this time but most people remembered that it was just 20 years prior to this that the elusive 2:00 barrier had finally been reached.  That of course happened at nearby Richelieu Park when Keith Waples reined Mighty Dudley to Canada's first "miracle mile." In 1979 no less than 100 miles in 2:00 or less were recorded; a far cry from earlier years.  The first sub-two minute mile was "for sure" even though it was recorded on April Fools Day. That honour went to Nicki's Gem and driver Jean -Guy Lareau.  This pair were for real and had the distinction of hanging out the first three sub-2:00 clockings of that season.  

At this time the latest in any season that a 2:00 mile had occurred was November 8th and that had happened twice in the track's history.  Canny Choice had done it in 1970 and Preston Almahurst in 1976.  This year three miles were registered after this date with the latest happening on November 28.  On that date Benoit Cote scored in 1:59.3 with the four-year-old son of Golden Money Maker Lou Bred Wit.  This "miracle mile" became the 361st since the previously mentioned Mighty Dudley accomplished it 20 years earlier in 1959. 

Michel Lachance, a rising star on the Blue Bonnets scene, led all drivers with eight 2:00 miles.  Three drivers, all regulars of course, scored seven each and they were Mario Baillargeon, Gilles Gendron and Jacques Hebert.  They were followed by the quartet of Benoit Cote, Benoit Lefebvre, Jean-Paul Charron and Gilles Lachance,  who all had six apiece.  

Once again as had been the case in recent times the local driving scene was dominated by two local "garçons",  Gilles Gendron and Mario Baillargeon.  Gendron recorded 1,605 starts and from that busy schedule had a standing of 275-270-218. He also became the first driver to earn more than $1 million in a 12-month period racing in Montreal.  For the second year in a row Mario Baillargeon finished second to Gendron and his numbers were also impressive.  The youngster drove 239 winners in 1,498 starts.  His mounts earned $914,500.  Jacques Hebert was third as he drove the winners of $850,000.  Several others including Mike Lachance, Yves Filion, Andre Boucher, Jean-Paul Gauthier and Serge Grise had very good seasons. 

Prix D'Ete Day - 1979 Edition 

The usual high point of the season was this prestigious event held on August 26. This year it was a homecoming of sorts as local phenom Herve Filion, then 39 years of age, returned to the scene of many of his earlier triumphs.  Herve piloted the sensational Hot Hitter to a world's record on a five-eighths mile track in his elimination when he was clocked in 1:54.  He came back to take the final in 1:56.1.  The purse of $181,150 was the highest to that point in time but within a few years the big prize had more than doubled.  

The crowd of 15,000 wagered nearly $1.5 million.  They were thrilled at Filion's accomplishments but were also elated to see Daniel Ben, the lone local representative in the race, finish a respectable fourth in the final for driver Jean-Paul Charron.  

A few days after the big race the aged pacers staged another exciting day of racing as 13,600 fans were on hand to see Try Scotch win the $75,000 Challenge event, driven by Shelly Goudreau.  Their winning time was 1:55.3 as Flight Director wound up second for Joe O'Brien. A couple of local entrants — Le Baron Rouge, driven by Robert Samson, finished third and Wizard Almahurst, with John Chapman at the reins, was fourth.  Fans were again in a betting mood as they sent $1,354,000 through the mutuels. 

Above is a view of the Blue Bonnets grandstand area and clubhouse from the very early days.  The long and storied history of this once magnificent track covered some 137 years.  (National Library and archives of Quebec)

Quote For The Week - "To err is human, but when the eraser wears out ahead of the pencil, you're overdoing it." Quote from Josh Jenkins 

Who Is It?

Can you correctly identify these four young lads?  (Montreal Gazette)

Who Else is It? 

Who is this gent from the past at Blue Bonnets?  (National Library and archives of Quebec)

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Shown above is the finish of a race at Blue Bonnets dated Feb. 1973.  I have no details as to the contestants but if our "picture experts" want to have a go at it please do so.  I am sure there will be some correct answers but I won't be able to verify them.  

Blast From The Past 

What was this item which you can see was associated with today's topic?