This week's Rewind is the regular monthly feature "Picture Parade." Robert Smith has delved into the archives for some old photos for your viewing pleasure. The subject this time is the Ontario Sires Stakes. With the 2026 version about to begin on May 15, he has retrieved a few old photos that may date back as far as 1974, the year the series started. If you care to join in on the picture identifying, please do so.
This week's group of pictures are all related to the Ontario Sires Stakes. This year marks the 53rd year of competition for this highly successful series of races for two- and three-year-olds that started in 1974.
Note - Because of the now long duration of the O.S.S., it is possible that many of the pictured subjects were involved in numerous winning efforts. For that reason, the name of the winning driver or horse will be deemed a correct answer. Also, it is possible that a photo was not necessarily taken at an actual Sires Stakes event.
#1 - Can you identify this horse or driver? This was action from 1974, the inaugural year of the OSS. This trotting filly won over $79,000 that season, a figure not possible before the Sires Stakes era.
#2 - Can you identify this horse or driver? Mid-1980s is the time frame on this one. This three-year-old trotting colt scored victories in seven Sires Stakes events in 1985, quite an accomplishment.
#3 - Can you identify this horse or driver? Late 1970s for the race, early to mid-20s for the driver. Let us know who you think it is.
#4 - Can you identify this horse or driver? This horse won seven OSS events in the early 1980s and later fared very well as an aged trotter.
#5 - Can you identify this horse or driver? This one is from the mid-1980s.
#6 - Can you identify some folks in this scene from 1985? Lots of smiles; perhaps you could say "It was just what the Doctor ordered." Let us know who you see.
#7 - Can you identify this horse or driver? This horse came from a very small stable (maybe only one), but was highly successful during the 1984 season. This trotting colt started in all 13 of his events, winning eight, and was rewarded by earning almost $110,000 in those starts.
#8 - Here we have a party of five, including the horse. How many can you identify from this 1985 photo?
#9 - This trotting colt was a standout in both 1983 and 1984. Can you name the driver and maybe even the owner?
#10 - Can you identify this horse or driver? This driver starred in OSS events for many years and was an early winner of the Lampman Cup. The above photo was from 1977 at Mohawk.
O.S.S. Trivia Question
Can you name the first European-born driver to win an Ontario Sires Stakes race? A two-part clue - European "born" is important and secondly, he may have been mentioned elsewhere in today's Rewind. Can you name this gentleman who had a season leader in 1974?
(The correct answers will be posted here by Robert as a comment in a few days.)
Quote For The Week: "Life's a dance you learn as you go; sometimes you lead and sometimes you follow." - Words from a once-popular song by John Michael Montgomery
Blast From The Past
These harness bags were a familiar sight at O.S.S. events for a lot of years. (Author's collection)