In the latest edition of Rewind, Robert Smith offers up a special photo quiz to readers. He has displayed a wide range of pictures of various locations connected in some way to harness racing. Many are no longer in existence, or no longer active. Have a look at each one and see if you can figure out the specific location of each old photo. Good Luck!
#1 - Where is this Ontario farm location? It was occupied for many years by a very well known breeding and racing operation and the owners lived there. Many excellent Canadian bred horses were foaled here and went on to stardom. The farm boasted "more than a half mile of white-painted paddock fences" at the time this photo was taken. I visited there a time or two many years ago to chat with the husband and wife team who owned and managed this lovely spot.
#2 - Where is this location? Looks like a pretty nice sized crowd. "Welcome To Our Fair"
#3 - Where is this Ontario location? It was the home of annual harness racing for many years but is no longer used for that purpose.
#4 - Where is this location? It was located in far eastern Canada.
#5 - Where is this location? If you drove up to these gates, where would you be?
#6 - Where is this location? Based on the crowd size it looks to be a fairly major track. It no longer exists.
#7 - Where is this location? This could be a tough one! It is located in the U.S. and at one time was home to a major annual race but not for many years now. I am not sure of its current condition or status.
#8 - Where is this location? This well-known Canadian track had a very long existence but was closed and torn down quite a few years ago.
#9 - Where is this location? It is in the U.S. and is fully operational as it has been for many years.
#10 - Where is this location?
The correct answers will be posted here by Robert as a comment in a few days.
Quote For The Week: "The history of mankind is carried on the back of a horse." – Author Unknown
Blast From The Past
Horses have played a role in so many ways in the development of civilization and change. Long before modern refrigeration became available and affordable, ice was taken from frozen lakes and stored for later use in iceboxes and other cooling devices.
This week's pictures were ....
This week's photo Quiz seemed to create quite a bit of interest. Please see the note on item # 8. The following are the correct locations:
#1 - That photo was taken at Lambeth, Ont. just west of London and was the long time home of Wm. & Ruth Herbert and thus the foaling place of many horses bearing the "Herbert" name.
#2 - That was taken at the Charlottetown Driving Park in P.E.I.
#3 - That was a picture of the grandstand at Exhibition Park in Belleville, Ont. For many years a popular spot for harness racing
#4 - That was Sackville Downs and thanks to Scott Green for his excellent recap
#5 - That photo shows the front gates and entrance to Tara Hills Stud Farm in Port Perry, Ont.
#6 - That lineup of people waiting to make a "donation" was taken at the beloved Greenwood Raceway in downtown Toronto
#7 - This one failed to stump the experts and it was identified as being taken at DuQuoin, Ill. I believe that was called Hayes Fair Acres, the longtime home of the fabled Hambletonian
#8 - The horses are passing in front of the Connaught Park grandstand. This photo drew a variety of different answers (at least 4) and it was Luc Dupont "to the rescue" as he correctly named it .
#9 - That lovely structure stands at Goshen, N.Y. home of the U.S. Hall of Fame of the Trotter
#10 - That large and rather picturesque grandstand was Northlands Park in Edmonton Alberta
Thanks to everyone that participates in the Rewind photo quiz features. Your involvement is appreciated!
Note to Mike Self - You probably already had your homework completed.
You are right Mike, I…
You are right Mike, I believe the announcer was the great Jack Stevens back then. Then Jim Lampman took over and called it Hopplesauce.
Garden city
#8 is garden city…there was a radio station in saint catherines that would replay the last quarter or so of each race…I lived in peterboro and on a good nite you could get that station…that was 60 years ago and I still remember listening even though I was supposed to be doing homework
Number 8
Connaught park in Aylmer
*Number 10
Northlands Park, Edmonton, AB
Picture #10
Northlands Park, Edmonton, Alberta
number 7 is Duquoin Illinois…
number 7 is Duquoin Illinois
Number 10 is Edmonton Northlands
No. 4 is Sackville Downs in…
No. 4 is Sackville Downs in Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia near Halifax. No. 9 is the Hall Of Fame Of The Trotter in Goshen, New York. Great pictures. Bert Clish
Photo # 1
Hi Robert,
Could that be Jack Lang's Prima Farms, outside Caledonia in Haldimand County ?
1 Lambeth Bill Herbert…
1 Lambeth Bill Herbert farms 3 Kingston Park 5 Tara Hills 8 Orangeville Raceway
picture rewind
Number four picture is Sackville Downs at Sackville Nova Scotia, it was opened on April 24, 1955 and closed July 23, 1986. The pacing record was 157/1 Witsend's Gypsy July 13, 1986 Driver Larry Walker 28, 58/1, 127/4 o- Antonio Chiaravalle Hamilton Ontario br,h,4 Most Happy Fella - Nightly Caper and trotting record 203/2 Captain Jamie July 18, 1986 Driver Emmette Bernard 29/3, 100/3, 131/3 o- Barry and Paulette Amodeo Astoria New York br,h,4 Speedy Crown - Victorious Ami. This was also the retirement mile of the famous trotting mare, Fresh Yankee who went a workout mile in 203/1, last half in 100/4 on November 11 1972 for driver Saunders Russell but the time is not officially recorded in the USTA records as a track record.
Where is it ?
3. Bellville Ont . 8 . Garden City. 10 . Woodbine . Probably wrong but my good friend Gord Brown will know . LoL
Number 1 looks like Village…
Number 1 looks like Village Acres. Which sadly no longer exists and was replaced by Industrial Warehouses. Hwy 10 (Hurontario Street) in Brampton
I'll try the easier ones!
#3 - Belleville (?), #6 Greenwood, #7 Duquoin state fair for the Hambo (?) #8 Elmira #9 Goshen H of F. #10 Greenwood
Dave A.
Quiz
Beautiful and yet sad photos at the same time.. a couple of guesses ;
#1 ABC Farms in Brampton
#2 the Simcoe Fair ,maybe?
#6 our sadly missed Garden City Raceway in St. Catharines..
Errol Taylor
1. Armstrong Brothers, Ont
2. Charlottetown, PEI
4. Sackville Downs , Lr. Sackville, N.S.
6. Blue Bonnets??
7. Goshen, N.Y.??
9 Walnut Hall, Ky.??
10 Woodbine, Ont.
number 1 Bill and Ruth…
number 1 Bill and Ruth Herbert
no. 8
Blue Bonnets