SC Rewind: Happy Father's Day

In today's 'Rewind,' Robert Smith sends a Happy Father's Day message to all the reading audience as we prepare to celebrate their special day on June 17. He also includes a few pictures that are apropos to the occasion.

A great father and son combo and indeed one of my all-time favourite photos. "Smiling" Fred Goudreau and his son Shelly who were both very accomplished horsemen many years ago. Originally from the Dresden, Ont. area they were well known throughout the sport.

Fathers play a very special role in our society; their duties are many and varied. Folklore tells us that setting aside a special day to recognize and honour them is a custom that dates back to the middle ages in Europe but did not make its way to North America until the early 1900's. It complements similar celebrations honouring family members such as Mother's Day, Siblings Day and Grandparents Day.

While it is celebrated in many ways such as family gatherings including a meal, dining out, attending a sporting event or perhaps just paying a visit to a special loved one, all are acceptable. At our house we use the occasion as another get together to enjoy this wonderful season of the year and to spend some quality time together.

Undoubtedly one of my life's greatest joys has been the privilege of being a husband, father and also a grandfather. I would like to thank each and every one in my family for their ongoing support and for making the job pretty darned easy. I have enjoyed every stage of it and continue to do so. The rewards have been well beyond what I could have ever imagined.

There is perhaps no other occupation or profession that has seen more sons (and some daughters) follow in their father's footsteps in career choices than in harness racing. It is so pronounced that the incidence of someone involved in the sport not having been steered there by a father (or a close relative) is almost a rarity. When people are profiled in interviews and other media pieces, they invariably credit a father or grandfather as their guiding force.

There have been so many instances of father and son combinations that it is almost impossible to even consider naming them; the list could virtually go on forever. A few years ago, while not linked to Father's Day, I wrote a Rewind piece seeking out families who had at least three driving members in their ranks (Mar. 14, 2015). It drew a sizable number of responses and that surely was just the tip of the iceberg.

This 1961 newspaper clipping from the Montreal - Matin profiled father Honorat Larochelle and his son Denis, one of the many well-known father son harness racing combinations in the Province of Quebec. Despite my limited command of the French language I believe the title translates to "In The Footsteps Of His Father."

(click on the image for a larger version)

While we think of human fathers as the main group being remembered on Father's Day, we could easily include some equine "Papas" as well. The picture below and the text that accompanied it appeared in the July 1963 issue of Hoof Beats magazine.

"Happy Father's Day, Adios from all 509 of your Children" is the Inscription on the cake in front of him. Probably the reason Adios is not interested in the cake is that it's made of cardboard. The stunt was arranged by USTA Public Relations Director, Earl Flora, in collaboration with Del Miller, and was flashed around the country on the news wire services prior to Father's Day. At any rate, it is an exceptionally fine head shot of the 23-year-old stallion and shows him to be in fine physical condition. (Hoof Beats)

​In closing I would be remiss in not remembering my own father and his lasting influence on my interest in our grand old sport. While neither of us ever depended on harness racing as a means of making a living, we have spent (or in some cases wasted) a lot of time and energy on it. My father was interested and involved with horses of some type his entire life. He owned, bred, raised, showed, traded, farmed and logged with and in later years raced many horses although he was never an active trainer. He loved to go to the races, take in all of the action and excitement and thoroughly enjoyed conversing with the many friends he made over the years.

At a very young age I became interested in harness racing and loved to travel with my Dad not only to the races but also to visit farms, fairgrounds where people trained in those days, and in general anything at all that involved the sport. We talked "horse" all the way there and all the way back, non-stop. My earliest and most vivid memories were centered around our many trips to Batavia Downs, always his favourite spot. He left us nearly 50 years ago, but his memory is always close at hand. He may not have ticked off all of the boxes of the perfect father but he was special to me.

I can recall my father telling the story of how many years ago he and my mother had invited some other couples to attend the races with them when one of their horses was racing. Most of them had probably never been to a racetrack before. After his horse finished a well-beaten sixth or so, one of the ladies said to him "Gee Carl you sure are a good loser...." to which he replied "Yes I've had a lot of practice!"

"By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right ,he usually has a son who thinks he's wrong." - Charles Wadsworth

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Who Is It?

Can you name the folks in this old photo? Clue - the three handsome lads standing in the back row behind Mom and Dad were brothers. The correct names will be given during the coming week.