SC Rewind: Ron Waples Turns 80

In this week's edition of Rewind Robert Smith devotes his column to help observe the upcoming 80th birthday of a gentleman who is widely known and equally revered throughout the world of harness racing.  Technically as of today Ron Waples is not officially an octogenarian,  but he is dangerously close. 

Eighty years ago today was July 20, 1944.  World War II was ongoing and thankfully in its later years.  In general life was a lot simpler back then.  One thing that had yet to happen in world history was the birth of one Ronald Waples.  One day later on July 21st,  the population of Ebenezer, Ont., a tiny hamlet located ironically in Tiny Township, increased by one.  Silvia and Bert Waples welcomed a baby boy. His name was Ronald W (haven't been able to find out what "W" stands for) . Their family would eventually number five children.  

Ronnie spent the first 15 or so years of his life pretty close to home, probably doing what most kids who lived in rural Ontario did back then.  In two short words...Not Much.  By his own admission, he was not too keen on being a student and decided early in life that he was not likely to become an academic.  The option of becoming a farmer was definitely not a consideration.  There had to be a better way. 

Before turning 16,  he decided that his future would be better served by leaving home.  He had even prepared himself financially as he had withdrawn $32.00 from his bank account the day before he decided to leave.  A bit of successful hitchhiking took him to a friendly stopping spot at an old Boy Scout leader's home not too far away.  Following a short stay there he made a major decision which would shape the rest of his now rather long life.  His "love" of horses which had perhaps always been there but not acted upon suddenly came to the surface. 

After a short bus trip he approached his cousins Keith and Murray Waples, who were already well known and long established in the horse business to seek employment. They had their own stable at the Coldwater, Ont. fairgrounds and that's where he made his request for a job. A suitable lodging spot with a nearby uncle was secured and his lifetime with harness racing began.   With no experience in the business he began his "apprenticeship" and slowly worked his way into what would become his life calling.

At age 16 it is doubtful he realized that he had the proverbial chance of a lifetime. In later years he recalled that his early years in the racing business were not as rosy as they might have been.  He said one time in a speech, "it was a trying time when I was young, I got married early and had the mother-in-law trying to get me into the factory…..you get a lot of bad days in the horse business, but thank God she was wrong!"

Ron would go on to spend about 12 years with cousins Keith and Murray from 1959 until 1971, when he decided to go on his own. He often remarked and in a complimentary way that Keith was not a good teacher, but if you could be patient and pay attention you could surely learn a lot just by watching him.  And apparently from the way things turned out that did indeed happen.  

A big turning point in his career took place back in 1966 when the young sulkysitter won his first ever race. Driving a horse named Ferndale Prince in the rather unlikely and far away spot known as Sunnydale Raceway in North Bay, Ont., the 22-year-old scored a two-heat victory. The purse was $150, a rather far cry from some that he would compete for in the years ahead. That first year of sulkysitting saw him make just 14 trips behind the gate but he did collect six wins!

I recently conversed with Gord Waples, Keith's son and he passed along an interesting memory he had growing up as a part of the Waples clan.  He said "when I first went to the racetrack full-time (I was 18 and Ronnie was on his own), Dad said 'if you want to know anything, just ask Ronnie….he’s about 2 years ahead of everyone else!!'  That was quite a quote coming from Dad."  Gord also had this to say about his cousin Ronnie: "I’ve often said to people that if you don’t like Ronnie, you don’t like people!!"

Back in 2016 noted harness writer Beverley Smith (no relation despite the last name) wrote a great story about the life and times of Ron Waples.  In it was the following quote which sums up the early part of Ronnie's career with the sport of harness racing.  When asked about the taciturn Keith, and how had he passed on that magic?  "He was an exceptional boss," Waples said. "Any little bit of success I've had, I owe it all to Keith and to [Keith's brother] Murray. They put up with me when I was a snotty-nosed kid that landed on their doorstep. They didn't have to do what they did for me."

I've had the opportunity to have a number of "chats" with Ronnie over the years.  They have always been interesting, informative and certainly helpful.  In a recent telephone session he cautioned me,  "I don't store up a lot of details and statistics, that's just the way I am.  Years ago if I won four races the night before and somebody asked me what horses I drove I wouldn't know.  I was already thinking about what was next, not dwelling on the past.   I was more interested in my next win."

When I first talked to the then 21-year-old who was at the opening season of Windsor Raceway in 1965, he was not too much interested in driving even his own horse.  He said "I' m a lot more interested in earning some money than I am in driving." His lone horse at the time (and probably his first) was a gelding named Black Silver. 

Throughout his adult life Ronnie was never one to sit back and let things come to him.  He was always up for a challenge and over the years participated in countless driver competitions all over the globe.  He even went to far off Asia and competed in Macau, an island off China.  He also competed in Europe.  He was in many more on home soil and always seemed to do well.  

During the 1979 season as he was approaching a new record for victories in a season,  he still had time to head out to the Pacific coast when he had a day off at Mohawk.  He proceeded to win five races at Cloverdale Raceway, driving in all 10 races.  Always up for an interview and a quote or two he told a Vancouver Sun reporter, "I'd like to stay active until I'm about 92 and then I'll slack off a bit."  Imagine he was just 35 at the time. 

Ronnie has a long and colourful career and has left quite a lasting impression along the way.  He has appeared in the winner's circle at just about every track he has ever visited.  He has won all of the big races in the sport over the last six or seven decades, many more than once.  He still owns a piece of a yearling every year that he watches train in Florida. Your legion of friends, family and fans wish you the best and look forward to the future with you in it.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  Best wishes to Ron and his wife Liz as they celebrate this milestone birthday. Enjoy the day and treasure the years.  I recently read that British Rock and pop singer and songwriter Sir Rod Stewart is approaching his upcoming 80th birthday.  His celebrations are scheduled to last for weeks and touch down on at least two continents.  Maybe "Rockin' Ronnie" will follow his lead. 

Ronnie Waples Photo Gallery - A Walk Down Memory Lane 

Ronnie and his mentor and cousin Keith 

A rather young Ron 

Randy and Ron Waples

Floras Pride N is shown in rein to Ronnie Waples as she scored win number 400 that season for the young teamster in 1979.  His accomplishment earned him front page coverage.  (Photo courtesy of the Standardbred)

 A "Waples" day in the mud at Orangeville

Back in the day. Then future Hall of Famers Keith (right) and Ron Waples are shown winter jogging at the Coldwater fairgrounds.  They were also undoubtedly discussing strategy for the upcoming racing season.

Quote For The Week: "I'm only one win away from happiness at all times." Attributed to today's subject and often used by him. 

Who Is It? 

Can you correctly identify this young gentleman?  

Who Else Is It?  

Spanning the generations.  Can you identify the folks in this fairly recent photo? 

TRUE OR FALSE?  

This is something new for Rewind but a very old type of quiz. I recently read that the concept of "True or False" can be traced back to the year 1690. 

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True or False #1?  This is a picture of a very young Ronnie Waples displaying the "hardware" he collected at an awards night long before the O'Briens came along. 

True or False #2? This is another picture of a very young Ronnie Waples taken at an undisclosed location in rural Ontario.