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 two European-born drivers to win an Ontario Sires Stakes race? A two-part clue - European "born" is important and secondly, one may have been mentioned elsewhere in today's Rewind. Can you name these two gentlemen? One of them 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)
This week's picture answers
Our experts were accurate again this week, can't get anything by them! The correct answers are listed below:
#1. Shawland Belle and driver Don Davies. (Also see note below)
#2. Lou Macs Dream and Garth Gordon.
#3. Superhampton and Gord Waples.
#4. Bridger and Dave Green.
#5. Wilcos Comet and Trevor Ritchie.
#6. L to R, Gord Rumpel, Charles Juravinski, horse Cranberry Hill, Driver - Dr. John Hayes Jr., Margaret Juravinski and Ila Rumpel. No idea of the presenters on the far left.
#7. General D Brook and Jim McClure.
#8. Eugene Forbes owner, Ted MacDonnell groom, horse Nadirs Pride, driver Robert Walker and Glen Pearson of Rideau Carleton .
#9. Lifetime Chance owned by Max Webster and driven by Kelly Sheppard.
#10. Gwen Johnston and driver Wm Gale.. Looks like Bruce Shea finishing second.
OSS Trivia - Our experts were exactly right . Don Davies who was born in Birkenhead, England and accompanied his parents to Western Canada at age 3 (circa 1918 ) had the amazing filly trotter Shawland Belle at the head of her class in 1974, the very first year.
Also "ageless" Bill Megens was a big winner in year one with his unforgettable trotting colt Snegem Flight . Bill arrived in Canada in 1950 from his native Holland and has yet to slow down. Both of these men have had many sons who became professional drivers.
Thanks to everyone that joins in on the weekly quiz pictures .
Number 2 is Lou Mac’s Dream…
Number 2 is Lou Mac’s Dream on his journey to becoming 3 year old Canadian Trotter of the year in 1985. Lou Mac’s Dream was the first 3 year old Ontario Sired Trotter to win faster then 2 minutes when he won at Rideau Carlton Raceway in 1593/5 setting the track record in 1985. He also held the 3 year old track record at Clinton Raceway for several years when he won a O.S.S. There in 1985. Number 8 is the late Bob Walker receiving a Trophy for his winning drive. Bob could hang up a Trotter with the best of them.
1. Don Davies, don't know…
1. Don Davies, don't know the horse but must be steady, check out the left kneeboot 2. Double G. Maybe Lou Macs Review? 3. Mr. Gordy Waples 4. Dave Green possibly Bridger 5. Trevor Ritchie Maybe Known Fact. 6. Dr John and Cranberry Hill 7. Jim McClure 8. Eugene Forbes, Ted Macdonnell, Bob Walker, Ageless Glen Pearson 9. Kelly Sheppard 10. Bill Gale with Bruce Shea finishing 2nd Trivia I'll say Don Davies
#1. Shawland Belle and Don…
#1. Shawland Belle and Don Davies.
#2. Lou Macs Dream and Garth Gordon.
#3. Superhampton and Gord Waples.
#4. Bridger and Dave Green.
#5. Wilcos Comet and Trevor Ritchie.
#6. L to R, ?, ?, Gord Rumpel, Charles Juravinski horse Cranberry Hill, Dr. John Hayes Jr., Margaret Juravinski and Ila Rumpel.
#7. General D Brook and Jim McClure.
#8. Eugene Forbes, Ted MacDonnell horse Nadirs Pride, Robert Walker and Glen Pearson.
#9. Lifetime Chance owned by Max Webster and driven by Kelly Shepard.
#10. Gwen Johnston and William Roy Gale.
Trivia maybe Don Davies?
#1- shawland bell and don…
#1- shawland bell and don davis
#2 garth gordon
#3 gordy wapples
#4 Dave green and bridger
#5 Trevor Ritchie
#6 dr john hayes and charlie devinchky
#7 Jim McClure and armbro napier
#8 Robert Walker
#9 kelly shephard
#10 bill gale
1Don Davies Shawlend Belle…
1Don Davies Shawlend Belle 2 Garth Gordon Lou Macs Dream 3 Gord Waples 4 Dave Green and Bridger 5 Trevor Ritchie 6 John Hayes and Charles Juravinski and wife Margaret 7 Jim McClure General D Brooke 8 Eugene Forbes Ted MacDonell Bob Walker Nadirs Pride 9 Kelly Sheppard 10 Bill Gale Trivia Question Bill Megens
# 9
Lifetime Chance - Kelly Sheppard - Max Webster (owner).