SC Rewind: Mother’s Day

In this week's edition of SC Rewind, writer Robert Smith talks a little about Mother's Day in both equine and

human terms.

I recently came across a horse (actually a mare) called Mothers Day. I would be surprised if there hasn't been more than one over the years as names do seem to recur. As luck would have it, she was bred and owned by the legendary Clifford "Chappy" Chapman Jr., the man best remembered for doing just about everything in Canadian harness racing. The bay daughter of States Attorney did her racing around the late 1950's era. I have no way of knowing but suspect she may have been foaled on a certain Sunday in May, maybe the second. Buried deep within some records of yesteryear I am sure the answer rests.

She must have been a pretty "decent" mare as the saying goes as she raced for quite a few seasons for "Chappy" and in later years made her way to the Maritimes - Port Hood, Nova Scotia to be more specific. Owned by someone with the uncommon East Coast name of Daniel MacDonald, she eventually became a broodmare and presumably lived out her days there.

Whether we call them dams, mothers, mares or broodmares, they are the literal backbone of our sport. I can recall my late father explaining to me in my very early years of being interested in horses that the single most important component in a horse's pedigree was its dam. That of course was an opinion, not necessarily a fact. I can also remember the thrill of having a foal born at our farm and watching the mothering process as it began to unfold in equine terms. Mares invariably take on the role of being a mother with the utmost seriousness. They instinctively nurture, protect and teach their young. There are even stories of elderly broodmares, well past their years of bearing their own young that continue to watch over others in the pasture field.

Many years ago I had he pleasure and the privilege of visiting a grand old horseman named Gordon Lawrence who lived his entire 90 year lifetime near Blenheim, Ont. A vibrant 87 at the time, he proudly showed me his stock, both in the barn and the pasture. Among his "flock" was a 35 year mare named Judy Chief, believed at the time to be the oldest living standardbred in Canada. Gordon spoke of her in glowing terms, bestowing as many accolades as he could for what she had meant to the Lawrence family. She had performed admirably on the track and later as a broodmare. Looking very frail and old she still occupied a special spot in Gordon's heart; a true testament to the love between a person and a horse.

Mother's Day for humans is said to trace its roots as far back as Greek and Roman times, well before the birth of Christianity. In the United Kingdom it was first referred to as "Mothering Sunday". Its traceable past began well over a hundred years ago as people set aside a special day to honour their mothers. It gained in popularity when a declaration was signed on May 8, 1914 by then U. S. President Woodrow Wilson officially designating the day. Since then people across the land have been celebrating this day with joy and devotion. It is now celebrated in 46 countries, not all on the same date.

I feel privileged to have been positively influenced by my own loving mother who devoted her life to "hearth and home". I have also seen my wife as the ultimate mother to our two daughters who now are mothers themselves. Well down the road, hopefully the process will repeat itself as our three granddaughters will also one day be mothers. That day I will not rush.

I am always struck by those witty and thoughtful sayings displayed on marquis signs. I recently saw one that really caught my fancy and it goes this way: "No gift you can give your mother will ever equal the one she gave to you.” We all owe much to our mothers and should honour them each and every day but in a special way this Sunday.

Happy Mother's Day.