SC Rewind: Jiggs Bounces Back

This week's Rewind recalls a perilous day and a triumphant return in the long career of the late Dresden horseman Levi "Jiggs" McFadden.

When a young farm boy from rural Dresden decided to take up driving harness horses it is unlikely that getting injured was ever on his mind. Back in 1933, a then-teenaged boy named Levi "Jiggs" McFadden climbed into the sulky for the first time at the Bothwell track, eager to experience the thrill of driving horses.

In the years that followed, he slowly but surely rose to the top of his chosen career. When he wasn't farming, he was touring around central Ontario, driving horses and most often winning races. In an age before the term "catch-driver" was in vogue, he often did just that. When he arrived at a small-town race meeting, his services were in demand. He seldom sat out a race and surely never turned down a drive because a horse had no chance or because it was a bad actor.

He drove for the best trainers and owners in the business. He handled young untried colts and he teamed the best aged horses around. He was the first choice of people like Russell Miller of Dutton, Gordon Lawrence of Blenheim, Wheatley colt developer Jack McIntosh and the team of Evans and Fraser. When racing went big time at Toronto's Old Woodbine, "Jiggs" was at or near the top of the driver's standings year after year. In the old days, he was known to sweep entire cards on a single afternoon.

In 1955 and 1956, Mr. McFadden was the winning driver two years in a row of the then famous Canadian Pacing Derby at New Hamburg, Ont. It was the Province's most prestigious race for parts of three decades. He won back-to-back races with Richard Hal D and Clark Herbert, thus placing him in a very special category. This along with a number of Supertest and Futurity victories made him one of the outstanding reinsmen of the era that preceded night racing.

Through the years he had seen his share of bumps and bruises. He had been tossed and jostled and often unseated. He had seen a lot of close calls as well,in an era of bad tracks and unruly horses. Such was the lot of those who chose to do what he did on a regular basis.

The evening of Friday, October 27, 1967 was not a good night for Jiggs as he performed at London's Western Fair Raceway. In that evening's seventh race, he was involved in a nasty spill while driving a horse named Dr. Pat owned by George Ramage of New Hamburg. As track personnel rushed to his aid, it soon became evident that an ambulance was required. As he was taken to the hospital, a hush came over the London crowd. Just when and if he might return was a pressing question.

Just three short years prior to this time a veteran driver had lost his life on the track in a similar scene. Horseman Wilbert Hopkins had suffered a serious head injury while driving at Mohawk in the fall of 1964. He died almost instantly on the track. It was a grim reminder of just how dangerous this sport can be. It gave pause for thought of the worst that could happen.

With seven drives scheduled the following night, there was going to be a lot of scrambling as owners searched for a replacement driver. Ironically if the accident had affected another driver, the likely replacement would undoubtedly have been Jiggs.

As the fans filed in to the WFR track on Saturday night, many in the crowd of 4,384 wondered who the replacement drivers would be. What a shame to incur a serious injury at this time as McFadden was the leading driver at the current London meeting in all categories. As of the first race post time, no program changes had been announced for his mounts in any of the seven contests.

As the horses paraded to the post for the second ,a familiar looking driver was behind the entrant Miss Aerial. It was Jiggs McFadden! His familiar red and white silks looked the same but his helmet was different. A new bright white protective helmet was in place but minus the vertical stripes which had accompanied the one worn the previous night.

Apparently whatever lingering effects there were from Friday evening's mishap were short-lived. Jiggs won the second race with the mare Miss Aerial, owned by fellow townsman Howard Farnsworth. In the third he was right back in the charmed circle behind the two year old sensation March Adios for owner and trainer Jack McIntosh, making it five in a row for the youngster. The betting public were certainly on board as the win payoff was just a mere $2.90.

By the fourth race, the patrons were wondering if the streak could continue. Handling the filly Honest Lady for owner Edgar Comeau, also of Dresden and trainer Glen Tiffin, McFadden did it again scoring the win in 2:09.3. In the fifth event he was once more the winner as he guided a horse with the simple name of Benny for owner Al Leverington of nearby St. Thomas. It was here that the win streak would end but not his successful return to the sulky.

After taking a breather and sitting out the sixth, Jiggs was back for a second place finish with Capetown Joe in race seven. In the eighth he was again second behind Dream Castle in a race won by local favourite Midge Diamond in rein to Leroy Revington. In his only other drive he came up empty, finishing 6th and last with another Jack McIntosh pupil, Jacqueline C. in the evening's featured $1,500 event. That race went to Lynden Almer handled by Brian Webster for his father Max Webster.

It was a night to remember, following a night to be forgotten. The 52-year-old McFadden sent seven horses postward, winning four times and finishing second twice. His four wins were all in succession.

The new helmet, minus the stripes was part of a serious story. His old helmet was pierced by a sulky shaft in the Friday night mishap. McFadden told a reporter, "It's lucky for me that I had it on." It was split right up the front and had a hole in it the size of a silver dollar. "He would have been a goner if he hadn't been wearing it," said McFadden's gracious wife, Gladys."He's still got a bump on his head."

Driver Jiggs McFadden and Honest Lady is joined in the WFR winners circle by trainer Glen Tiffin's wife Marlene and their two children Lori and John. Lori is now Lori McKelvie, a long time SC Field Rep, covering Mohawk and Woodbine.

Jiggs McFadden's widow Gladys is still with us, now a sprightly 92 years young. An avid racing fan herself, she still keeps her own home and continues to drive a car every day. She also reportedly at one time supplied some very tasty apple pies that were often shared by employees at the McFadden farm. Their son Ted also raced horses for many years, while another son Jack chose farming as a career.

In 1984, Levi "Jiggs" McFadden was elected to the WFR Wall of Fame. The following is an excerpt from a wonderful tribute written by Anne Eadie as part of his induction .

He is loved, respected and revered - not just by his owners, but by the thousands of harness fans at tracks big and small. He is a "one in a million" - a driver who always got the best from every horse, and always gave one hundred percent of himself, whether he was tailsitting the odds-on favourite or the longest of long shots.

When "Jiggs" McFadden passed away in 1993, the world and the sport of harness racing indeed lost a talented and colourful performer. Whenever tales of days gone by are told and the most famous nickname "Jiggs" is mentioned, no one will ever ask "Jiggs Who??"