SC Rewind: Years Ago - 1990s

In the latest edition of Rewind, Robert Smith takes a rather short trip back in time to the decade of the 1990s in the regular monthly feature "Years Ago." His reminiscence recalls a number of people, horses and other items of interest from this time period, which is around 25 to 35 years ago.

1990 - Windsor Raceway Into Its Fourth Decade — "What A Place To Race"

As Windsor Raceway entered its fourth decade of operation, President John B. Ferguson issued an invitation to all horse people to consider stabling and racing at the Windsor track. A full-page ad in the Feb. 9, 1990 edition of the Canadian Sportsman outlined the many advantages of racing at the border oval. With approximately eight months of racing on schedule for 1990, Windsor was being advertised as "What A Place To Race!"

At this time Windsor Raceway was observing its 25th year, having opened in October 1965. It was designed and built to accommodate wintertime racing. Ten years prior to this, Toronto's legendary Dufferin Park closed its doors forever. It had offered winter racing, often under rather harsh conditions. The new Windsor track was a dream for winter racing, as fans and horsepeople alike enjoyed the best "creature comforts" available at the time.

The Windsor track originally relied on a synthetic "Tartan" surface to provide racing under any weather conditions. In 1978, the surface was covered with stone dust. Around 1980, the original track was removed and replaced with a traditional, banked, spiral-graded limestone track. That surface was used until the track's closure in 2012.

Windsor Raceway President Al Siegel inspects the new tartan surface being installed at the soon-to-open Windsor Raceway. A portion of the recently completed grandstand can be seen in the background.

1993 - Canadians Dominate Breeders Crown Races

In 1993, the 12 Breeders Crown events were held at three different tracks. Two were in the U.S.; four were held at Freehold Raceway in New Jersey and four at Pompano Park in Florida. Closing out the trio of locations, four events were held on Canadian soil at Mohawk Raceway.

Overall, 10 of the 12 winners were either trained or driven by Canadian-born horsemen. In the four divisions raced at Mohawk, Canadian "boys" made a clean sweep. The four winning drivers were Kelly Sheppard, Paul MacDonell, Bill O'Donnell and Chris Christoforou Jr.

1994 - Indianapolis At Home At The Meadowlands

Indianapolis the horse is shown in a winning effort for Bill O'Donnell during the 1994 season at The Meadowlands.

Down through the years many horses have been named after cities, towns, villages and more. At the present time (1994), a veteran trotter named Indianapolis was racing like a colt at The Meadowlands even though he was 11 years old. By March he had already won four of his five season starts. He had been privileged to have a pretty good driver in recent starts, and that was Bill "Magic Man" O'Donnell. His owner had recently said, "Billy loves the horse."

He had also been driven by Walter Case Jr., who handled him at Yonkers as well as at Windsor, Me., where he trotted an amazing mile in 1:58.4 at the local fair. His trainer Glenn Deleteskey was credited with much of his success and was even known to use some unconventional training routines, such as training the horse under saddle. He had recently gone a mile in 2:08 for his "jockey." Also of note at this time, the horse was racing without an overcheck, a practice that was somewhat unusual.

Bred by Norman Woolworth, the gelded Dream Of Glory progeny was approaching $400,000 in lifetime money. Over the years, Indianapolis raced against such top-level competitors as Mack Lobell, No Sex Please and Friendly Face. Some of his major races included the Maple Leaf Trot and the $250,000 Statue of Liberty.

When Indianapolis erased Greyhound’s world record for trotting geldings with a 1:55.1 mark in mid-August of 1990 at The Meadowlands, his co-owner Ronald Ralph commented, "He never really got the publicity he deserved."

1997 - Rideau Carleton Celebrates 35th Anniversary

When Rideau Carleton Raceway in Ottawa opened in 1962, it was truly a milestone event. The construction of this new ultra-modern, state-of-the-art facility marked the first new racetrack to be built in Canada in decades. Its features included a clubhouse, modern stabling for horsemen and a five-eighths-mile track. Its overall design literally included everything then known.

In 1997, a special anniversary celebration was held to observe the occasion and several special events were held. As part of the festivities, a number of the original drivers were invited back to mark the milestone (see photo below).

On Sept. 1, 1962, Rideau Carleton — the first new track of the decade to be built in Ontario — opened, and here is how it looked on that opening night (Hoof Beats).

Quote For The Week: "Folk songs express the dreams and prayers and hopes of the working people." — Hank Williams

Who Is It?

Can you identify this fellow who is going about his daily stable chores? Sadly he left us a few years ago.

Who Else Is It?

How many people in this 1997 photo can you identify? It was taken at the 35-year Rideau Carleton reunion. Most of the people in the photo were part of the track's startup when the track was opened in 1962.

(The correct answers to the above photos will be posted here by Robert as a comment in a few days.)

Blast From The Past — Maritime Memories

Racing at New Annan, P.E.I. The surroundings were pretty basic, but the fans still came out in droves. They loved their harness racing, and that "love" has remained strong throughout the Maritimes to this day.