SC Rewind: Years Ago - 1930s

In this week's Rewind Robert Smith takes his monthly look at the happenings and personalities from the decade of the 1930's in the ongoing feature 'Years Ago'. 

The Thirties was a difficult time for the sport but the tough economic times could not erase the popularity of harness racing.  Small purses and other hardships failed to deter people from their pursuit of keeping the sport alive.  His recollections, including several old photos, help to paint a 'picture' of those days gone by.

1930 - Maritimes Has Rich History Of Harness Racing

Harness racing history runs deep in all areas of the maritime Provinces and has been handed down from one generation to the next.  Their many families have stoked the traditions and preserved the heritage of the sport.  The old photograph shown below made its way to me recently and I would like to thank whoever has been keeping it for all these years for sharing it.  Thankfully a bit of provenance exists and the names and hometowns of those pictured accompany it.  I am sure that there are still some family members around today with ties to this old gem. 

First Row, left to right: Duncan MacKenzie, Florence; Moody E Allen, Glace Bay; Elmer Campbell, North Sydney; William ”Boss” Wilson, Dominion; Bill Rudderham,  Sydney

Back Row: Allie Lewis, Reserve Mines; Jimmy MacInnis, Charlottetown; Danny MacKeigan, Reserve Mines; “Silent” Charley Sweet, Glace Bay; George MacKenzie, Sydney. 

Some of the men involved in the 1930 N.S. Exhibition meet. Some horses: Lambert Todd, The Great Scott, “The Gray Ghost” Pale Face. 

1932 - The Marchioness Wins The Hambletonian - 90 Years Ago 

The Marchioness with Will Caton in the sulky was the winner of the 1932 Hambletonian at Goshen, N.Y. After Protector, an outstanding horse of the day also handled by Caton, missed this big race because he was not kept eligible, his full sister earned this famed horseman his one and only Hambo victory.  (Photo courtesy of Hambletonian Society) 

Despite the tough times caused by the depression, the 1932 Hambletonian was still able to offer a huge purse to the winning horse.  A prize of $49,489 was an amazing figure in those bleak days.  In today's dollars that amount is equal to approximately $977,000,  truly the proverbial "King's Ransom."

That year's edition created quite a story for the times as the winning mare named The Marchioness was trained and driven by a man who earned his reputation as an expert with trotters by residing for many years in Russia.  Will Caton had left the U.S. many years prior to this and conditioned top trotters for the Russian Czars.  His influence, brought from the U.S., transformed the way horses were trained in that country.  However political upheaval in the form of the Bolshevik revolution changed everything and Mr. Caton was forced to return to his native U.S. to ply his trade. 

In a four-heat affair, Caton piloted The Marchioness to victory for owner Mrs. Ralph Keeler.  The fastest heat of the day was turned in by Hollyrood Dennis (Will Crozier) with a winning time of 2:01 1/4 which would stand as the record for this event for an amazing 15 years. As a charitable endeavor, the 1932 Grand Circuit meeting at Good Time Park benefited the Goshen Hospital. 

1936 - Hambletonian Hopefuls 

Feb. 1936 - With Hambletonian No. 11 still many months away,  the race's organizers have issued an update on the number of eligible candidates for this year's race to be held in August.  A total of 38 colts and fillies remain on the list of possible starters, an increase of five from the previous year at this juncture.   Several prominent stables are on the list, headed by Hanover Shoe Farms and W.N. Reynolds, each with four nominees.  

A recent report concerning Goshen, New York and its latest weather fortunes has many old-timers recalling that not since "the storm of '88" has anyone seen so much snow.   Those stabled at the historic track have seen anywhere from one to six feet of the white stuff,  depending on the actual location.  Reportedly wheeled vehicles are of little use at the moment with those equipped with runners the preferred choice. 

Shown above at the Goshen track is the rising three-year-old Bulwark, a trotting son of Volomite who remains on the list of Hambo eligibles.  His trainer Bert Yeaton shown here is prepping the youngster on the snow for owner I.O. Blake who lists out of New York City.  (Hoof Beats photo) 

It is interesting to note that with the horse's owners listed in alphabetical order,  the second last horse on the remaining eligible candidates list  was Gibson White of Lexington, Ky. owner of the filly Rosalind sired by Scotland from the mare Alma Lee.   They were the winners. 

1936 - Harness Racing Popular In Quebec 

According to year-end statistics published in the latest edition of Hoof Beats magazine,  quite a number of small towns throughout the Province of Quebec staged harness racing during the past year.  At this time racing in Quebec was held under the jurisdiction of the Canadian National Trotting Assoc.,  one of seven governing bodies for the sport at that time in the U.S. (4)  and Canada (3).   It is possible that more racedays than those shown here may have been held as the reporting system did not always record all of the activity in a given year.  

The following locations held at least one day of racing; a number of them held multiple gatherings. It is interesting to note that Montreal which was to become the centre of racing for the Province in later years reported just a single race day. 

Towns that held racing - Ayers Cliff, Bedford, Brome, Coaticook, Cookshire, Granby, Hull, Lachute, La Prairie, Malartic, Marbleton,  Maniwaki, Montreal, Ormstown, Quebec City, Richmond, Rimouski, St. Alexandre, St. Guillaume, St. Hyacinthe, St. Pie de Bagot, Seigniory, St. Johns, Shawinigan Falls, Sherbrooke, Three Rivers, Waterloo. 

Shown above is an old photo from a track located somewhere in Quebec.  While undated I believe it was probably taken well before the 1930's 

1937 - Races Held At Mt. Forest Ont. - 85 Years Ago 

The following write-up appeared in The Canadian Sportsman publication of Aug. 9, 1937 covering the annual race day at this Wellington County town. 

Aug. 4, 1937 - "Not for years has this town seen as fine a racing program as provided by the Old Home Week committee as a feature attraction this afternoon at the Agricultural Park.  Twenty horses were entered in the three races which made up a total of 10 heats.  More than 2,000 attended today's races."

Added for today's write-up:

A few recognizable owners listed among the day's entrants would include Colin Belore, Ingersoll; Sidney Hodgins, Clandeboye; Wm. Lawson, Orangeville; E. Wray; Schomberg; Elmer Fritz, Walkerton; Galbraith Bros., Tara;  Ted Hughes, Grand Valley;  J. W. Brown, New Liskeard; and Dave Pinkney of the Queens Hotel, Stratford.   The fastest heat of the day was turned in by The Heiress owned by the Pine Ridge Stable owned by Alex Parsons of London and probably driven by Lew James.  This mare was bred and first owned by James Wellwood of Merlin, Ont. 

The above track was located at Preston which later became a part of Cambridge, Ont., not at Mt. Forest but it was an example of how the old time racing spots looked in days gone by.  (Courtesy of Waterloo Region Record) 

Did You Know?

What were popular names for people (not horses) being born during the decade of the 1930's? Top ten of both genders. 

According to information found in The World Almanac, published yearly and continuously since 1886,  the following names were the most popular for girls and boys during this decade.  Listed in order of popularity. 

Girls - Mary, Betty, Barbara, Shirley, Patricia, Dorothy, Joan, Margaret, Carol, Nancy. 

Boys - Robert, James, John, William, Richard,  Charles,  Donald, George,  Thomas,  Joseph. 

Is it possible that life was slightly less complicated back then? 

Quote For The Week: "When you hire people who are smarter than you are, you prove that you are smarter than they are."  R.H. Grant 

Who Is It?

​

Can you correctly name these two gentlemen who worked together at one time? 

Who Else Is It? 

​

Can you identify this once well-known driver? This old rather "fuzzy" photo appeared in The Canadian Sportsman 80 years ago in 1942.  Clue - Think Down East.