SC Rewind: Years Ago - 1990s

This week's Rewind is the monthly edition of 'Years Ago,' a regular feature. Robert Smith has found some old short stories and pictures and  this time around it's all based on people, events and anything to do with the decade of the 1990s.  That means 30-plus years ago.   

1990 - The First O'Brien Awards Night 

History was made on the evening of January 20, 1990 when the first ever O'Brien awards were presented  to a number of outstanding stars of the sport, both equine and human. It was a landmark event in the history of Canadian harness racing. The creation of this award met with immediate success and has grown in stature year after year. 

Perhaps fittingly the very first recipient was Ilene O'Brien, the widow of Joe O'Brien, and the presentation was handled by Stan Bergstein, Harness Tracks of America President and longtime friend of Mr. O'Brien. A photo from that evening is shown above. 

First Year Recipients - Jan. 20, 1990

• Horseman of the Year - Wm. "Bud" Fritz
• Driver of the Year - Doug Brown
• Trainer of the Year - Tom Artandi
  
   
• Three-Year-Old Pacing Colt - Goalie Jeff, owned by Centre Ice Stable
• Three-Year-Pacing Filly - Sal Harbor, owned by Hie & Cockshutt
• Three-Year-Trotting Colt - Demilo Hanover, owned by Bob Waxman
• Three-Year-Trotting Filly - Peach Pit, owned by Wm. Wellwood, Betty Fasken, Chas. Armstrong, G. Schickendanz
  
   
• Two-Year-Old Pacing Colt - Road Machine, owned by Dan Thompson, Bob & Vera Burgess
• Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly - Town Pro, owned by Pro Group (Robert Grand & Tony Delmonte)
• Two-Year-Old Trotting Colt - A Worthy Lad, owned by Dr. Joe & Doris Johnston
• Two-Year-Old Trotting Filly - Cajala, owned by Clarence & Norma Varcoe
  
   
• Aged Pacing Horse - Matts Scooter, owned by Chas. & Margaret Juravinski 
• Aged Pacing Mare - Armbro Feather, owned by Chas. Armstrong & partners
• Aged Trotting Horse - No Sex Please, owned by Ron Waples Jr.
• Aged Trotting Mare - Grades Singing, owned by Ferme Grade 
• Horse of the Year - Matts Scooter

1993 - Walter Case Jr. Wins 843 Races 

Walter Case Jr. displays a milestone victory banner. 

When the final tallies were in for the 1992 racing season New England based horseman Walter Case Jr. was credited with a rather amazing 843 trips to the winner's circle.  A few years later in 1998 Case vaulted into new territory when he scored a phenomenal 1,077 wins. At the time many believed his record would last a very long time but nine years later along came Tim Tetrick who recorded 1,189 wins in a single campaign. 

Driver standings for 1992

Veteran observers remember when 1,000 wins in an entire career was considered quite an accomplishment.  Some time ago a Rewind featured a very prestigious list of drivers compiled 60 years ago in 1964,  that contained the names of drivers who had attained 1,000 or more lifetime victories. There were just 30 names on that list.  In the years that followed and racing seasons extended year round, the numbers changed dramatically.  

The following quote appeared in the January 1993 issue of Northeast Harness News regarding the accomplishments of one of the sport's top drivers. 

"Walter Case Jr. is one of a kind. He ended 1992 with 843 victories, in over 250 days of racing, only 10 were without a win, plus, he became the youngest driver in harness racing history to annex 5,000 wins. With all the personal demons, real and imagined, he is without question, "king of the mountain."

1994 - Breeders Crown Turns 10

In 1994 the rather new Breeders Crown Series reached its 10-year anniversary, dating back to 1984.  That year the "Crown" races were held at three different tracks,  Woodbine,  Garden State and Freehold Raceway.  The fastest time recorded in the 12 events belonged to Magical Mike who toured the Garden State track in 1:51.3 for driver Mike LaChance and trainer Tom Haughton.  

While some years a driver was fortunate enough to drive multiple winners in the big races only one was able to accomplish that feat in 1994. That was the aforementioned Michel LaChance who also hit pay dirt with Shady Daisy in the Open Mare Pace also at Garden State Park.  Two Canadian drivers notched their first career victories in Breeders Crown races, Ted Jacobs and Tim Twaddle.  

Trainer driver Ted Jacobs following his victory with Eager Seelster in the 1994 Breeders Crown Two-Year-Old Colt Trot. They set a new track record of 1:58.3 at Woodbine  (Photo courtesy of Hambletonian Society /Breeders Crown archives) 

The following quote is from the archives of the Breeders Crown: 

"Trainer-driver Ted Jacobs was a precocious starter, training his first horse at age 15.  His confidence in himself and his horses resulted in excellent success on a regional level. The group of owners, John Fielding,  a cosmetics manufacturer, Vito Leo, a photographer and four Toronto businessmen who raced under the nom de course of The Four Stud Stable, were in racing for a lark and trusted Jacobs to provide them with one." 

1995 - North American Driving Championship Held At Bangor

Back on June 11, 1995 many of the top drivers in the sport from both the U.S. and Canada gathered at Bangor Raceway in Maine for the N.A. driving championship.  The overall winner was Gary Mosher. 

Sixteen of the leading harness drivers were invited, including national "Hall of Famers" Herve Filion, Ron Waples and Billy O'Donnell, plus Maine "Hall of Famers" Leigh Fitch and Freeman Parker. The representation included eight drivers from Maine, five from Canada and three from Massachusetts. Paul Battis was invited, but due to a broken arm was not able to participate.

 A special feature of the event was that the drivers were able to mix with the crowd previous to post and sign autographs for racing fans. The invitees  participated in three events with results tabulated by the International Point System. The eight drivers with the most points competed in the Final. The winner received a rather unique gift which was a box of Maine lobsters packed to travel, donated by the Maine Harness Horsemen's Association. Additionally all drivers received Maine Dept. of Agriculture gift boxes and jackets with their stable colors, from Bangor Raceway. The Maine Promotional Board donated hats and T-shirts to those in attendance.  Much of the preparation and planning was credited to Bangor's promotionally-adept Fred Nichols. 

See below for this week's Quiz questions related to this event 

Quote For The Week: "I like writing because you can make things happen and turn out the way they never do in real life." Quote from Rob Reiner, actor, writer and filmmaker.  Perhaps best remembered as "Meathead" on the Archie Bunker show. 

Who Is It? The following pictures were taken at the 1995 N.A. Drivers Championship held in Bangor, Maine

Who Is It #1:

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Gloria Stevenson chats with a visiting driver. Who is he? 

Who Is It #2:

Can you name the man in the driver's suit? 

Who Is It #3:

Ken Ronco is in the centre, so can you identify the gent on his left and right?  

Who Is It #4:

Someone "is chatting with a couple of young harness fans" according to the original picture caption.  Who is that someone?