SC Rewind: Memories Of Dufferin

In this week's Rewind Robert Smith recalls the once famous Dufferin Park racetrack in Toronto and its closure 60 years ago. This is the second edition of a three-part story.

Left: Ad for racing at Dufferin Park in 1946. Right: Harold McKinley serenades one of his horses at Dufferin Park. He wintered at Dufferin for many years and later became the trainer and driver of the huge and powerful Armstrong Bros.' stable from nearby Brampton. Harold, who passed away in 1998, is one of many Hall of Fame members who raced at Dufferin.

In the years following WW II, standardbred racing became quite popular at Dufferin. It was not unusual to have 100 days of racing and because of the time of year, the conditions could be trying. Times were often exceptionally slow and even on good days, so called 'speed' was not an important factor. I am not sure what the overall track record was, but in 1946 the Dufferin management had a standing offer of $50.00 for anyone bettering the existing record of 2:07 1/4. Whether this sum was ever collected I am not sure.

Reportedly the largest crowd in the track's history occurred on Thanksgiving Day in 1943 when some 23,000 people jammed the Dufferin oval. Feature races were not commonplace at this track but one rather famous race was instituted in 1937 and was called 'The Cup and Saucer' named in honour of Mrs. Orpen, wife of the original owner. It became popular during the second world war and I am guessing it was a thoroughbred event. During the war years, only Dufferin operated as Long Branch was rented to the R.C.A.F. for military purposes.

With the passage of 60 years since the closure of Toronto's Dufferin Park, it becomes obvious that precious few people who actually experienced attending the facility are still with us. Thankfully I have been able to be in touch with a few people with vivid memories and I thank them for sharing their recollections. A couple will appear today with more in the next edition.

Hamilton native Wm. R. 'Bill' McDonnell was a regular at Dufferin for parts of two decades, continuing right up to its closing. Most of his visits were on Saturday as he was still in school when the weekday races were held. He travelled with his father Tom McDonnell, who was a patrol judge, and also a gentleman named Roy Fitch who was a licenced bookmaker and part of the Wicks bookmaking crew. On occasion when his uncle Alex McDonnell was racing a family horse, Bill was pressed into service as a groom and recalls the 'drafty' stables that were a memorable part of the experience.

The Lee Express and driver Alex McDonnell appear in the Dufferin Park winner's circle during the summer meeting in August 1946

Bill recalled, "It was certainly a unique place, complete with its own Damon Runyon-like characters such as 'Dirty Dick', 'Peg Leg' Jones and 'Lucky' the tailor, who made the driver's silks. The trick was often to try to find a spot where you weren't freezing to death! It was quite self contained with many of the horsepeople dining under the stand. Harness shops run by Les Ehrlick and Charlie Gilbert provided supplies on the grounds. Ed Bradley, who later worked with the O.J.C. tracks, was the announcer and did a very credible job. For many years after the starting gate was introduced, the starter was Art Whitesell of Tillsonburg.

"A number of people got their start in administrative positions at Dufferin and went on to further careers," according to Bill. "Some good race secretaries got their start there including Cliff 'Chappy' Chapman Jr., Purvis Lawrason, Bill Slack and Lucien Bombardier along with office clerks Harry Dunlop and the perennial Bob Cruickshanks. If I recall correctly, the first horsemen's organization called the United Harness Horsemen's Assoc. was started there as well."

This old Dufferin Park shot shows six horses in the photo finish. Mud sheets are in evidence on all horses and the drivers wore no silks, just heavy winter clothing. It is labeled "Orpen Race Tracks Photo Finish Division". (Author's collection)

Dr. Glen Brown, long associated with the Armbro operation at Brampton was a visitor at Dufferin many years ago and recently shared some of his memories with me. His letter follows.

"I went to Dufferin a few times in the mid 40's with my father, who had a stable there with Cliff (Chappy) Chapman. We would drive down from New Liskeard for the weekend racing, especially if Dad had something entered. Dad and some of the regulars (Herb Hatch, Alex Parsons etc.) sat in what had been a press box across the front of the grandstand. Harold Wicks had the legal bookmaking concession just below and to the right of that area. Cliff Chapman, of Canadian Sportsman fame and son of Chappy Sr.(also John's brother) worked for Wicks on the books. They had three or four sellers each with a chalk board listing the odds. I recall the bettors trying to hit the window at the right time to get the quoted odds before Wicks dropped them when he saw too much action. Your ticket had the odds on it that were in effect at the time you bought your ticket so a later drop did not affect your bet.

"I recall the people living just outside the backstretch fence sitting on their roof or in the window to watch the races. A lot of the grooms lived in tack rooms in the stable area, and there were a lot of card games there on non-race days. The Chapman family lived only a few blocks away in a 2nd floor apartment, and Dad and I enjoyed a few meals there. Dad and Chappy sat in the living room until late each evening talking nothing but horses. John knew I was bored with it so he took me to a hockey game or two at the Gardens.

"It was about that time that Dad acquired The Count B. who went on in the late 40's to his multiple wins in the Canadian Pacing Derby at New Hamburg. He did race a useful pacer at Dufferin called Cyrus Martin and had another winner in Goodwill Bill.

Famed horseman Johnny Chapman, who grew up in the shadows of Dufferin Park, is pictured here behind Cyrus Martin, owned by James Brown -- father of Dr. Glen Brown. This horse provided a very young Mr. Chapman with his first lifetime victory around 1947 at the summer meeting at Dufferin Park [Canadian Sportsman photo]

"I know Dufferin kept a lot of the sport's participants alive in those early days and they provided the base for the sport to grow with the opening of Thorncliffe in the early 50's and later Old Woodbine (Greenwood).

"I'm sorry I can't recall a lot more but I was only about 10-12 at the time.

"[Keep up the good work. I really enjoy reading your weekly articles. They bring back many memories.] - Glen"

Bill Galvin recently shared a few recollections of those days long ago. "The mention of the old Dufferin Park brings back many memories for me. I dug out my old O.R C. groom's licences from 1954 and 1955, which cost $2.00! The pay was $50.00 a week and you worked seven days a week but you could get a good meal under the grandstand for 50 cents. The O.R.C. office was a double vacant stall fixed up to accommodate Commission clerk Jim Irvine who made sure everyone was licenced. 'Centre Field Willie' was the resident bootlegger and Buddy Gilmour was fearless driving in the muddy track conditions. It was a different time."

Dr. John Findley who observed his 90th birthday last year is one of a very few remaining drivers from the Dufferin era and he recently spoke about the memorable old place. "I never stabled at Dufferin but raced there parts of two seasons, shipping from Thorncliffe for one and Long Branch the next. Yes it was a great deal of fun, and stories that cannot be told."

The third and concluding edition will appear in an upcoming Rewind.