In this week's edition of Rewind, Robert Smith takes a trip back to 1977 and recalls the first ever Confederation Cup held at Flamboro Downs.
Front cover of Flamboro program and welcome message (courtesy of Keith Nethery)
Following a two-year hiatus and few format changes, the once popular Confederation Cup is again part of the Ontario stakes schedule. Once one of the major Canadian events for three-year-old pacers, it has a history of excellence, excitement and memories that covers five decades and almost 40 years. It is nice to see it back again.
The first ever Confederation Cup was held on Saturday afternoon of the 1977 Labour Day weekend -- that day being September 3rd. Favoured by sunny skies and a temperature of 78 degrees F., it was an ideal day for racing from just about every aspect possible. The track was honed to perfection and the grounds were in spotless condition. A crowd of 3,720 were in attendance even though a somewhat
larger number was anticipated as the regular weekday figures were in the 3,000 neighbourhood. The day's mutuel handle was $281,320.
A ten-race card was featured with two Cup elimination heats plus the final being the main attraction. The inaugural Cup was carried on CBC Live for the first time ever. It was co-sponsored by the Flamboro Track and The International Stock Food Co., represented by Cliff Sheppard, the latter a long-time promoter of the sport. It was a banner day at Flamboro then in its third season of operation.
A total of 11 three-year-olds were on hand to face the starter Larry Cattel. Among the entrants were many of the Continent's top sophomores, led by the heavy favourite and eventual winner Governor Skipper. The tall brown pacing son of Meadow Skipper was making his 19th start of the season and was coming off a streak of four straight victories, all in two-heat events. Just one week earlier he had taken his season's record of 1:54.3 at Montreal's Blue Bonnets, which was also a track record. He had nine wins in 18 outings, good for $229,212 -- by far the largest earner in the field.
Governor Skipper was right at the top of his game and just a few weeks away from his prime target of the season, The Little Brown Jug. The purse for the new Confederation Cup was a total of $72,500. The final went for $29,000 while each elimination was contested for $21,750.
In the opening heat Governor Skipper went off at odds of 1-4, scoring from the fourth position. Canadian-born driver John Chapman soon took command and reached the quarter in :28.3. At the start Kawartha Eagle, who had earlier in the season recorded a mile in 1:55.4 and was expected to test Governor Skipper leaving, made a break. Shortly after the quarter, driver Glen Garnsey took Racy Goods out but was unable to collar the leader and found himself parked out while the balance of the field were all on the wood.
Governor Skipper retained his lead reaching the three-quarter marker in 1:27.4 and eventually opened up a comfortable three-length margin to post the win. Sprinkler and catch driver Ron Feagan closed quickly to take down second place with Missile Almahurst and Greg Wright getting the show spot.
The mile was clocked in 1:57.3 which shattered a number of Canadian and track records. It was a new all Canadian record for a half-mile track and of course a new Flamboro record. Just a week earlier "Skipper" broke the world's record for a five-eighths mile track when he paced in 1:54.3 at Montreal's Blue Bonnets.
In the second elimination just five colts started as a scratch of Seedling Herbert then racing out of the Wm. Haughton stable, reduced the field by one. Candid Camera, a son of Good Time, was first to show with Doug Arthur in the bike. Right from the start he was challenged by No Hitter and driver John Hayes, Jr. This son of Strike Out maintained his challenge throughout much of the race was but was unsuccessful and eventually faded and finished last in the small field. While these two battled it out, the 2-1 favourite River Captain bided his time in a comfortable contending position. At the three quarters young John Campbell unleashed his horse and soon gained the lead.
Despite being pressed through the early panels, driver Doug Arthur and Candid Camera made a final surge. With River Captain inside, Arthur matched strides with the pacesetter and the two reached the wire together. After careful review the judges were unable to separate the two and a dead heat resulted. With a final quarter in 29.2 the mile was logged in 2:00.2, a much slower pace than in the opener.
The final saw the top four finishers in each heat go for the top prize and the first ever Confederation Cup. Greg Wright, who had two qualifying horses, opted to drive Missile Almahurst and called upon his trainer Danny Johnson to handle Shelabat Rainbow.
The afternoon culminated in a thrilling final as Governor Skipper prevailed over Candid Camera by a scant half length.
The Governor's driver John Chapman, then 48 years old, was no stranger to many local fans although he had been racing exclusively on the U.S. side for several decades. A native of Toronto, he began his racing career back in the 1940's learning from his father Cliff "Chappy" Chapman Sr. He had won Canada's biggest race as far back as 1948 when he drove The Count B. to victory in that year's Canadian Pacing Derby at New Hamburg, Ont., a small hamlet not all that far west of Flamboro Downs. On this day he was joined by his two brothers: Carl, a thoroughbred trainer of note, and Cliff Jr., also known by all as "Young Chappy", the editor and publisher of the Canadian Sportsman.
The victory in the Confederation Cup boosted Governor Skipper's season earnings to $254,587 for owners William, Arthur M. and Arthur Wirtz Jr. of Chicago, Illinois, who raced under the name of The Ivanhoe Stable. This family was well known in other Big League Sports circles as they also owned The Chicago Blackhawks professional hockey team. Trainer Bucky Norris, who hailed from Iowa, was a former trainer for noted Ohio horseman Eddie Cobb. In the fashion of a true champion, Governor Skipper led the field at every station in both his elimination and the final. As the overwhelming betting favorite he paid just $2.50 in the elim and $2.60 in the final for a $2 win ticket.
On this day a new chapter was opened as The Confederation Cup would soon become a popular annual event. The names of the winning horses,their owners, trainers and drivers now etched on the Cup is an amazing piece of Canadian harness racing history.
NOTES
The afternoon opened with a win by Bambi Quester capably driven by Ray McLean. In the second race it was Royal Brat handled by young 22-year-old "Bud" Wellwood for his father Harold of Stratford. Leading driver Paul Matthews took the third with The Nagger, owned by the Blue Sapphire Stable.
The fastest mile on the card after the record mile by Governor Skipper was clocked in 1:58.4 by Derby Dan handled by Jerry Duford for owner Ron Ellerker of Forest in the Invitational. On hand to watch his outstanding four-year-old High Ideal - Judy Chief colt Mr. Bohana in the second was 77-year-old Gordon Lawrence of Blenheim, who has been racing horses for over 50 years. Biggest payoff of the afternoon was $19.00 to win when Mr. Dobson won the ninth for Don LaRush. Hunch players who smoke cigars probably cashed in on Old Port Duke from the Mehlenbacher barn who won the seventh and paid $16.30. Winner of the final race was Country Kitchen handled by Ross Curran for Flamboro track owner John Grant.
The current judges at this meeting are "Black Jack" Stewart, Wm. Lang and Laurence Geisel.
CONFEDERATION CUP RESULTS
1st Elimination Division - $21,750
Times :28.3, :58.3, 1:27.4, 1:57.3 (New Canadian record for half-mile track and new Flamboro Track Record)
1 - Governor Skipper (John Chapman)
2 - Sprinkler (Ron Feagan)
3 - Missile Almahurst (Greg Wright)
4 - Kawartha Eagle (Stanley Dancer)
5 - Fulla Strikes (Lloyd Daulton)
6 - Racy Goods (Glen Garnsey)
2nd Elimination Division - $21,750
Times :29.1, :59.3, 1:31, 2:00.2
1DH - Candid Camera (Doug Arthur)
1DH - River Captain (John Campbell)
3 - Rock N Wave (Dave Wall)
4 - Shelabat Rainbow (Greg Wright)
5 - No Hitter (Dr. John Hayes)
SCR - Seedling Herbert (Rich DeSantis)
CONFEDERATION CUP FINAL - $29,000
Times :28, :58, 1:27.2, 1:58.2
1 - Governor Skipper (John Chapman)
2 - Candid Camera (Doug Arthur)
3 - Sprinkler (Ron Feagan)
4 - Kawartha Eagle (Stanley Dancer)
5 - River Captain (John Campbell)
6 - Missile Almahurst (Greg Wright)
7 - Shelabat Rainbow (Dan Johnson)
8 - Rock N Wave (Dave Wall)