SC Rewind: Years Ago - 1930s

In this week's edition of Rewind Robert Smith recalls a number of events and personalities from the decade of the 1930s in the ongoing monthly feature Years Ago.

1931 - Melbourne, Ont. Fair

This small town just west of London, Ont. has staged a fall fair since 1910. Each year an important part of the annual get together involves the harness racing program and a recent decision will surely elevate the race day's status. A major step was taken by the Fair Board in 1931 when the decision was made to join the "Canadian National Racing Association" which at the time was one of the three governing and regulating bodies in Canadian harness racing. It meant that the Fair organizers wanted to have 'first class' racing, held under proper guidelines and also where the results and times would be properly recorded.

In the 1930's races were held each year as part of the Fair and attracted some of the best racing stock available at the time. For many years the standard purse of $100 for a three-heat race was the annual offering. One notable entrant in many of those years was the famed Clint Hodgins of Clandeboye, Ont. and his horse Miss Belwins Boy. He of course later went on to national prominence.

A couple of interesting tidbits were gleaned from the Fair's website:

- In 1930, the mother of the largest family on the grounds received a new pair of shoes - value: $5.00.
- Best roast chicken, bread, biscuits, cake and pie received a kitchen table and six chairs - to win you had to live within five miles of Melbourne. (Now that was a nice prize!)

Another interesting item showed that at one time the person who was responsible for the upkeep of the grounds received "free pasture and the hay crop" as his payment for services rendered. That lucky gentleman was Malcolm McGugan.

1937 - Fredericton, N.B. Races

​Driver Earle Avery is shown with an outstanding 1930's performer and track record holder Ray Henley 2:05

July 28-29, 1937 - For the first time in several seasons, midsummer races were held at the Fredericton Trotting Park. Despite a shortage of horses, two days of well-contested races were held in front of an enthusiastic crowd each afternoon. The most impressive performance of the two-day session was turned in by Tracey Hanover, owned and driven to a two-heat victory by local reinsman and potato farmer Earle Avery of Woodstock, N.B. This horse is just five years old and raced last season on the tough Grand Circuit, appearing at numerous U.S. tracks. On day two Tracey Hanover toured the Fredericton track in a blazing 2:05 1/4 opening heat, just a second off the current track record.

Certainly another highlight occurred when veteran horseman John N. Willard of Presque Isle, Me., who turned 80 last year, scored a two-heat victory with his own horse Spud Braden. Well-known local horseman Johnny Conroy had several trips to the winner's circle, much to the delight of the large crowds. The summaries showed that once a horse won the first two heats they were "ruled out" of the third heat shown as r.o.

From here the horses move on to various parts of Eastern Maine and New Brunswick for late summer meetings and various fall fairs before coming back to this track for the Fredericton Exhibition meet.

1937 - Peterborough Industrial Exhibition Race Programme Scheduled

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Horsemen in the Peterborough area are asked to contact Mr. S.A. Lowe at the Royal Hotel in Marmora (Telephone 44) regarding the upcoming race days to be held Thursday through Saturday, August 20-22, 1937. The race program will be part of the Peterborough Industrial Exhibition and it is expected the best horses in the
area will be in competition. It should be noted that the entry fee will be $5.00 and the rules of The Canadian National Harness Horse Association will be in effect.

Also noteworthy is that the barn has been moved and new stalls have been built. Free hay and straw will be provided to all entrants. Undoubtedly the highlight of the meeting will be the FREE FOR ALL on Saturday afternoon.

1938 - The Flemings at Syracuse

​The Fleming Family in a morning training session at Syracuse, N.Y.

A piece in the June 1938 issue of Hoof Beats read "Rarely does it occur that four members of the two minute list are grouped in speed alignment, and when such a quartet is found with a father and three sons as drivers, the occasion is novel, indeed. Such a situation is presented above, where the famous reinsman, Vic Fleming, with three of his sons, are presented up behind four horses of the select two minute roster. The place is the wet-weather track at Syracuse, N. Y., where the Fleming stable is in training, and the identity, reading from left to right, is as follows: Peter Song 2.00, Charles Fleming up; Dillon Hall, p, 2.00, Jimmy Fleming up; Calumet Evelyn 1.59 1/2 (p, 1.59 1/4), Vic Fleming up; Billy Direct, p, 3, 1.58, 'Bill' Fleming up."

The Fleming family, headed up by father Vic, hailed from Dundas, Ont., for many years their stable raced at several U.S. tracks and usually sent out some of the best performers on the Grand Circuit. At times Canadian owners sent top horses to the Fleming stable, one notable example being Grattan Bars who was the sport's top horse in 1928.

1939 - Houghton Sulky Co. Advertises Top Products

An ad from the 1938 Hoof Beats

Located in Marion, Ohio and known throughout the land as manufacturers of fine racing and show vehicles since 1904, The Houghton Sulky Co. offers the new "Greyhound Special" sulky to its customers. The Houghton line of sulkies now boast of being used in the attainment of all current world records. The Company offers not only brand new equipment but they also carry a sizable inventory of rebuilt sulkies which are being offered at reduced prices.

This Company has been very instrumental in promoting local racing and each year presents high quality racing bikes to winners at the Marion Fair. It is interesting to note that some of the scenes from the 1940's movie "Home In Indiana" were filmed at the Marion County Fairgrounds near the Houghton headquarters.

For many years the Houghton sulky was the standard by which all others were judged.