Rewind: The Story Of Johnny Bing

In this week's Rewind column Robert Smith recalls the long and colourful career of a horse named Johnny Bing. His rugged demeanor and stamina helped him enjoy a very long lifetime on a lengthy list of raceways, both large and small. His list of accomplishments may be considered mediocre by today's standards but a half century ago he was a standout, known and admired by many fans of racing. I hope some people still remember him.

Hard working people and hard working horses have long captured the fancy of nearly everyone involved with our sport. When you give your best, try hard and stick to the task it's hard to go wrong. A horse with the catchy name of Johnny Bing was that kind of horse. I think his memory is worth reviving.

Johnny Bing a foal of 1962 was the son of Capetown (who once a part of the Armbro farm roster), and from the trotting mare Ramona Grace, who had a record of around 2:06. He was a bit of a late bloomer on the racing scene but was busy at other activities such as siring his first foal named Jimmy Bing at age two. Unraced as a two-year-old, the still young fellow did not make it to the races until September of his three-year-old season which was 1965. That year at the Belleville Labour Day weekend races he made his first career start. With his owner, trainer and breeder Don Chatterson of Brighton, Ont. in the bike he won his first start. The time was 2:16.1; the purse was an even $100.00. Not a king's ransom but the start to a pretty productive career. A week later he went on to another win at Belleville, followed by a further trip to the winner's circle at nearby Warkworth during its annual race day.

It was then time for a step up and he was taken to the late fall meeting at Mohawk. He closed out the 1965 season with a total of nine starts which yielded five wins, one second and two thirds. His first year bankroll was just a $2.00 bill (no toonies in those days) short of $800.00. He ended up taking a respectable mark of 2:10.1 with Rejean Boily in the sulky at Mohawk. At the age of four he went on to a four-win season for Mr. Chatterson, two with Carman Hie driving. He lowered his best time to 2:07.

At the age of five the horse was sold to a gentleman by the name of Robert D. "Benny" Peters who then listed Weston as his home base, later of Havelock. He handed over a reported $3,000 to become the proud owner of the then up-and-coming Johnny Bing. I believe he would go on to be his only owner in a lifetime that lasted some 24 years. At this point another important part of this remarkable horse's career emerged. Owner Peters hired a young 25-year-old trainer and driver named Guy Larush to handle his new purchase and the balance of his modest stable. Their names remained "paired" pretty much from then on as many years of successes followed. Their first year together set the stage for the future as together they tallied nine wins and season's earnings of almost $10,000. Johnny also took a new lifetime record of 2:03.4 at Rideau Carleton that year.

Johnny Bing and driver Guy Larush shown in a winning effort at the old Garden City track in 1970. This was but one of his 68 lifetime victories.

In 1970 at the age of eight Johnny's career appeared to be over when he broke a sesamoid bone. His handlers feared he would never return to the track but after over a six-month layoff he returned in 1971 and enjoyed his best season ever winning over $28,000 that season. His rise in class meant that he raced against much of the best aged talent in competition at that time. He met and defeated the likes of Armbro Intrigant, Commander Del, Caroldons Knight, Swinging Time, Canny Choice, Armbro Knox and Non Stop to name just a few. He won nine races that year and scored victories at six different tracks: Greenwood, Mohawk, Garden City, Rideau Carleton, Kingston and Orangeville.

That same year of 1971 saw Johnny take his lifetime record of 2:03 competing in an event at Garden City in mid-July that carried a purse of $5,500, the richest event he ever won. Perhaps his finest lifetime performance came at Rideau Carleton in mid-June when he won the $3,000 Labatt's Invitational. In a statement about that race Guy Larush said "that night Johnny paced a last half in :59.1 and beat Swinging Time and Canny Choice in 2:03 and a piece. They just couldn't get to him that night and there he showed he was a two-minute horse."

In early October that season Johnny scored his final victory of the season at Orangeville as he took the featured race that day an Invitational Handicap for a purse of $1,200 stopping the clock in 2:06 flat. Two races earlier Guy Larush also scored a win with Johnny's son Jimmy Bing in 2:07 flat. In between, the Invitation handicap trot was won by Protector Donledo driven by Nelson White in 2:08 flat. Perhaps fractions were not being recorded that Sunday afternoon.

Larush (pictured at right) also stated some pretty lofty comments at the time of the horse's passing in 1986. "Johnny was always better on a five-eighths track because he would touch his knees a bit plus was always good in the mud. The only complaint I ever had with him was that he was tough to get back racing after a layoff. I still say he was the best horse I ever drove." Johnny's dam Ramona Grace turned out to be quite a productive broodmare as she left not only him but also his half brother R Yankee Wann, sired by Yankee Chief, who was at one time the fastest and richest Canadian bred standardbred as of his passing in 1970.

At the end of the 1976 season Johnny was officially retired at Kawartha Downs where he had often raced and won. That final season he was still the profile of durability as he started 42 times. Despite the lateness of the season as it was November 27th, a crowd of over 2,100 cheering fans showed up for his send off. In a special non-wagering race Johnny faced two of his sons and two daughters. As fate would have it he finished second to his son Jimmy Bing, a double-gaited performer that he had I believe often raced against. At the finish of the race the judges detected that Jimmy was pacing while his listed gait at the time was trotting. Larush and Johnny were moved up to the win spot by the judges, needless to say much to the delight of everyone in attendance.

Ruth Peters (owner), Johnny Bing, Guy LaRush (driver-trainer) and Jim Feltis making the presentation to the connections in Johnny Bing's retirement race on November 27 at Kawartha Downs (Can. Sportsman)

Johnny Bing, the 14-year-old pacer, surrounded by friends in the winner's circle after winning the retirement pace at at Kawartha Downs (Can. Sportsman)

On April 5, 1986 Johnny Bing passed away in his stall at the farm of his long-time owner Benny Peters. He was 24 years old at the time and had been retired from racing for 10 years. He went to his eternal reward after thrilling many people during an era when fan favourites were in vogue. In a career that spanned parts of two decades he went to the post an amazing 338 times, coming home a winner on 68 occasions to go along with 52 seconds and 56 third place finishes. His career earnings stood at $116,116; not too bad for a $3,000 investment. It is a nice time in history to remember.

Note: I would like to acknowledge the assistance of well-known harness racing journalist Harold Howe for the research he provided in an article published in the Canadian Sportsman back in April 1986.

HAPPY EASTER to all in the reading audience as we celebrate a late Easter this year. It is a wonderful time of year as we see the magic of nature with the return of green grass and the warmth of the sun. It can't come too soon.

Where Was It?

Can you identify this once well-known timepiece and where it was located? I wonder if anyone knows where it now is (I don't). The answer of what it is will be given during the coming week.