SC Rewind: Remembering The Judges' Stand

In this week's Rewind, Robert Smith takes readers back to a much earlier era of harness racing and recalls what was then an integral part of the sport.  The old time judges' stand was a small yet important place at every racetrack, regardless of its location.  His offering is mainly pictorial in nature and displays a lot of old photos of the iconic structures that have now all but disappeared. 

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The above is an artist's rendering of an old time judges' stand.  The inspiration for this one was supposed to have been located at Saginaw, Michigan and depicted a famous trotting race held on July 16, 1874 which featured a couple of great horses of the day Goldsmith Maid and Judge Fullerton in a famous matchup. Times for the heats were displayed on the front of the stand.  

In days of old virtually every racetrack had a judges' stand.  Some were more ornate and perhaps more elaborate than others,  but they all served the same purpose.  They were the "headquarters" at every track.  They were strategically located at the finish line, usually in the infield,  and built high enough to provide a vantage point of the entire track. Before the days of the mobile starting gate the starter was perched there and performed his duties in full view.  There was no film being taken and no photo finish camera so the people located here were very busy overseeing each race.  

On race day it was not unusual to have at least a half dozen people occupying a spot in the stand.  The announcer was there as well as judges, spotters and anyone else deemed to be necessary to conduct good racing.  All announcements were made from here and if anyone was summoned from anywhere on the grounds they were likely to be told to report to the judges' stand. 

The following pictures of judges' stands, many with a short notation,  were once part of the landscape of the world of harness racing.  I felt as though because many tended to look alike that it would be too difficult to figure out their location so I did not treat it as a quiz...well, almost.   

The above photo is the only one of this group taken outside of North America.  It shows a rather ornate stand that once stood at an old track in  Copenhagen, Denmark. It may have been a postcard. 

This one was located at Tillsonburg, once a popular race town located south east of London, Ontario.  Take note that at least nine people are positioned in the small structure.  Nice cars in the infield.  The winning driver here (on the outside) is in the Canadian Horse Racing  Hall of Fame. (London Free Press Photo) 

This one appears to be the only movable one in the collection as it is on wheels.  It was pictured in Lindsay, Ont., home of a popular fair and annual race spot for many years. 

Strathroy, Ont., located near the home of the Duncan Campbell family, was home to one of the most famous and popular race days held annually on July 1, Dominion Day, for many, many years.  (London Free Press Photo) 

This old stand was located at Montague, P.E.I., the scene of many exciting race days years ago. 

A field of horses approaches the judges' stand in this 1940's photo taken at Wallacetown, Ont.  near London. (Photo from Elgin County archives)

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This old stand was located at New Hamburg, Ont., the original home of the famous Canadian Pacing Derby.  Ok, I said NO quiz but what is the name of the pictured horse? Tell us if you can identify this old fellow.

This old structure was located in Oshawa.  Don't know who we have presiding over the festivities. 

Closing Note: Often seen in old photographs and newspaper accounts of race days from yesteryears, the once familiar judges' stand has all but become lost in the sands of time.  

Quote For The Week: "Don't taunt the alligator until after you've crossed the creek." - Dan Rather 

Where Was It?

Where was this old judges' stand located? Tell us if you can where it stood for many years. 

Where Else Was It? 

Where did this old judges' stand call home? 

Who Is It? 

We can't have a Rewind without a "people" picture so let us know who you think this driver might be. Let's go for two and identify where the judges stand in the background is.  I think it is still around.