SC Rewind: Fifty Years Ago

In this week's 'Rewind' Robert Smith looks back an even 50 years ago to find some interesting facts, figures and faces from the year of 1969. His reminiscence includes a collage of old photos that help to add a bit of a shine to the "Golden Memories" from that period in time.

The following items are at random and based on whatever information was readily available. Each is a separate short story; I hope you find some items that twig your memory.

Two-Minute Miles In Canada

Fifty years ago the speed revolution in harness racing had yet to arrive. During the 1969 season a total of just two sub-2:00 miles enterd the books in all of Canada. This was down sharply from the previous year when 10 "miracle miles" were recorded in 1968. Up to this point in history only 33 miles in 2:00 or less had ever been achieved on Canadian soil. In 1969 the only two new entrants to this exclusive list were Blaze Pick, who stopped the clock in 1:59.4 at Richelieu Park for Keith Waples on July 19, and the mare Sunnie Tar, who also scored in 1:59.4 at Greenwood on August 2. Sunnie Tar was the pride and joy of Armstrong Bros. and driven by Joe O'Brien. She became the first mare or filly to record a two-minute mile which was quite a milestone. The victory came in the Beaches Pacing Stakes as she edged Shadydale Pitch (Benoit Cote) who finished second.

Jug Day - 1969

In late September the annual Little Brown Jug Day was held in Delaware as it had been since 1946. That year's race went for a total purse of $109,731; the highest in history to that point. The 16 entrants went in two elimination heats with the top four finishers in each returning for the final. In the opener the winner was Lightning Wave (Marc Ferguson) with Going Thru second and Canadian entrant Penn Hanover third for Keith Waples. In the second Laverne Hanover (Billy Haughton) was victorious over stablemate Nardins Grand Slam (George Sholty) who raced as an entry and another Canadian-driven horse, Shadow Rocket was third with Lucien Fontaine in the bike. Times for the first two heats were identical at 2:00 4/5.

In the final Laverne Hanover, a Tar Heel colt, was again the winner for Billy Haughton making him the first driver to ever win four Jugs up to that point. Kat Byrd was second for Levi Harner and third went to Nardins Grand Slam and George Sholty. Horses with Canadian connections, Penn Hanover was 6th and Shadow Rocket finished fourth. The final went in 2:00 2/5 on a track slowed by heavy rains on Wednesday. The crowd was recorded as 42,460.

Ehrlick Transport Will Take You Where You Want To Go

Pictured above is one of the horse hauling vans from the fleet of S.E. Ehrlick Horse Transportation from 1969 (Can. Sportsman)

With over 30 years of experience in serving the shipping needs of horsemen Toronto based Ehrlick Transport was well equipped to meet the modern day requirements of harness racing. Their service covered Ontario, Quebec, Western Provinces, Maritime Provinces and many U.S. points. Weekly trips were made to U.S. breeding farms and agents were present at all Canadian and U.S. sales.

The Company's slogan was "No Shipment Too Large Or Too Small"

Show Me The Money

The above photo shows the top five money winning drivers on the Golden Horseshoe Circuit. Their combined earnings of over $1 million by October of 1969 was an indication of how much Canadian harness racing had changed during the decade of the 1960's. (Courtesy of Harness Horse Happenings)

Windsor Into Fifth Year Of Racing

November 29, 1969 - Now in its fifth season, Windsor Raceway continues to see increases in every category as well as recently proving that direct competition from a Michigan track had little effect on betting or attendance. After a week of racing head-to-head with Northville Downs in Michigan track officials saw little difference in their crowds or betting. A Saturday night crowd of 7,510 that wagered over $517,000 saw some excellent racing action.

While the border track attracts a lot of U.S. horses, the Saturday night feature saw two London-area horses take the top two spots. Zip Tar from the Dutton Ont. barn of Russell Miller was home first in the $5,000 event driven to a 2:03 victory by Mike Novick, Jr. for his seventh win of the year. In close pursuit was Tanya Herbert, trained and driven by Jack Herbert for the Herbert Stables of Lambeth, Ont. The second-place finish by the four-year-old Herbert mare put her earnings over the $100,000 mark with every penny earned racing on Canadian tracks.

Zip Tar reaches the wire a winner at Windsor Raceway for driver Mike Novick Jr. with Tanya Herbert second driven by Jack Herbert. A full house was on hand for the Saturday evening card as shown in the background. (Harness Horse)

A New Lachance at Montreal

The Lachance name has long been a highly recognizable one for many years at the two big tracks in Montreal as well as other smaller spots throughout the Province. For the past five years Gilles LaChance has been at the top of the driver's standings much of the time at both Blue Bonnets and Richelieu Park. A recent injury to Gilles has brought yet another family member back to the Montreal scene. Michel, the 19-year-old younger brother to Gilles, has been summoned from Buffalo Raceway where he was currently among that track's top teamsters.

Michel or "Mike" began jogging horses at the age of seven and knew from an early age what his career plans would be. He won his first race at the tender age of 16 in just his fifth lifetime start. It took a mile in 2:12 to notch that initial win and he remarked that the times have changed a lot since then.

Grand Circuit Returns To Ontario

The above graphic shows the Grand Circuit events for 1969. Each race was named after a former great in Canadian racing except for the Queen City which was already in existence since 1964 (Harness Horse Happenings)

For the first time since 1935 The Grand Circuit returned to Ontario as Greenwood hosted its first ever Grand Circuit meeting. The week-long schedule of racing attracted the sport's top performers and large crowds enjoyed the various events. Many of the top drivers in all of North American harness racing participated with appearances by Billy Haughton, Stanley Dancer, Delvin Miller, Joe O'Brien. Local driver Keith Waples was also among the winning drivers.

Some 57,000 people attended the week-long festivities which included nightly entertainment before and during the races.

On closing night which was Saturday a crowd of 13,031 watched as the week's headline event the Queen's City Pace for three-year-olds was won by Super Wave in rein to Jack Kopas for owner Dr. George Boyce of London, Ont. Super Wave is shown above winning on another occasion at Greenwood. (Harness Horse Happenings)

The above table shows the sport's top drivers (with Canadians highlighted) as well as those competing mainly on the Ontario Jockey Club circuit.

Other Highlights From 1969

- The Canadian Pacing Derby was won by Overcall, driven by Del Insko in 2:00.2 with Nardins Byrd (Eddie Dunnigan) second and Blaze Pick third for Keith Waples. The purse reached a new high with $41,800 up for grabs

- The Maple Leaf Trot was won by Grandpa Jim, driven by Bob Farrington in a new Greenwood track record of 2:01.1. The $41,000 purse was the largest to date for this classic event.

- Bill Wellwood of Clarkson, Ont. then just 29, was voted OJC Horseman Of The Year as he enjoyed his finest season ever. By November 29 at the end of the fall Mohawk meeting he had already won over $260,000 in purses and scored 160 wins.

- The circuit's Good Guy Award went to veteran Jimmy Holmes. The Milton horseman was cited for the award because of his untiring efforts with hundreds of children who visited his backstretch barn to visit his mare Easter Sonnet during the "Easter Sonnet Poetry Contest". Almost 500 poems were written about Easter Sonnet.

Who Are They?

These fellows shown above were all very active participants 50 years ago. It might be too easy a task but can you put a name on each one?