SC Rewind: Years Ago - 1940s

In this week's edition of Rewind, Robert Smith takes a look back at some of the events, personalities and happenings from the decade of the 1940s. It's all part of the ongoing monthly feature Years Ago.

1942 - Lots Of Action At Picton​ Fair​

An early scene at the Picton, Ont. Fair [Fair Archives]

October 3, 1942 - With thousands on hand according to a report filed by intrepid reporter Harry M. Moore, the action at this year's Picton Fair harness racing program was almost beyond description. A spectacular accident in one race unseated five of the eight drivers but three of the driverless horses continued in the race much to the delight of the onlookers. Starter and announcer Art Blade warned the crowd to stay off the track and not try to catch the wayward horses.

The accident happened in the third heat of the W.J. Carter Memorial Race when Beth Harvester stumbled, unseating her driver Wilmer Hillock. From here a chain reaction took place with four more drivers hitting the turf. Two of the horses were caught but the other three "continued to take part without a guide" in Mr. Moore's words. Despite how dangerous the spill appeared, relatively little damage resulted and none of the drivers were seriously injured​.​

Following the final heat, the winning pilots were called to the stand for victory presentations. Sted Craig received a trophy for his three-heat triumph with Bert Patch in The George Kingsley Memorial and also received a $5 dollar bill as a bonus. Driver Dave Dowson was presented with a pair of trophies for taking all heats in the Royal Hotel Special as well as the Carter Memorial as he escaped the accident. He also received coin of the realm for turning in the fastest heats.

One horse that received rave reviews for her recent performances was the mare Doris West. Owned by W. Caughey of Big Island, "She continued to surprise local horsemen by her speed and steadiness under the hand of Herb Payne" the reporter stated.

1943 - Season's Top Trotter Sold To Maritime Interests

The​ ​winningest​ ​trotting horse of the 1942 season ​Lee ​McKillop​ ​has recently changed hands and is now a resident of Piedmont, N.S. The fine trotter who was previously the property of Mr. Wesley Litt -- proprietor of the Windsor Hotel in​ Stratford -- ​and horseman Floyd Milton of New Hamburg, Ont., was recently sold to D.W. Munro. He was shipped by rail to the East Coast and will be campaigned in the coming season by one of the​ ​Maritime's​ ​finest young horsemen, Joseph O'Brien of​ ​Alberton​,​ P.E.I.. In recent times, the sport has seen a lack of good trotting stock in the region so this should be a great boost.

Reportedly Mr. O'Brien was in Ontario to oversee the transaction. Both Messrs. Milton and​ ​Litt​ have expressed their best wishes to the new owners for the coming season. Lee McKillop won 17 races in 1942.

Co-owner Floyd Milton is shown outside the New Hamburg stables at Fountain Park with the top trotter Lee​ ​McKillop​ just prior to his departure via rail to Nova Scotia​ (Canadian Sportsman)

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1947 - Large Crowds At Three Rivers Exhibition Week Races

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A full grandstand was commonplace throughout Exhibition week at the Trois Rivieres oval as evidenced by the photo shown above. Consistently good racing kept the people coming back each day. On day one, the stage was set as a field of the best pacers in the Province faced off in the $1,500 Free For All event. Guy H, the most consistent side wheeler in Quebec at that time, took the first two heats pacing the meeting's fastest mile in 2:05 4/5 in the middle contest. Guy H was handled as always by Honorat Larochelle for owner Elzear Cournoyer of Sorel, Que. In the third heat Texas Hanover driven by Paul Emile Larente eked out a win with Guy H taking down second place money.

On the trotting side Provident won the $1,000 Free For All in three straight heats for owner Emile Blondeau of Quebec City. The week-long racing program was capped off by a five-mile event for both trotters and pacers on closing day. The winner in the field of six was the mare Laura Volo owned by A. Vohl of Saint Marc des Carriers, Quebec with a clocking of 12:34 4/5. The purse for this event was $800.

1948 - Dufferin Park Kicks Off 80 Day Meeting

Nov. 20, 1948 - The start of another long fall and winter season of racing got underway on this date and was highlighted by an Open Trot for a purse of $1,500. Because of an unusually large number of entries (17), elimination heats were required. The first four finishers in the elims met in the final. Many in attendance agreed that this was one of the finer fields of trotters assembled at this track in recent years. Undoubtedly the very generous purse may have been a contributing factor.

Taking the first heat in 2:04 was Projectile from the Richelieu Park Stables and driven by Phillip Dussault. In the second elimination, the Ontario champion Billy Stout was the winner for owner Frank Plaunt of Brantford. In the final, Projectile was heavily favoured to repeat but could do no better than third. Billy Stout again out trotted his rivals and was returned a popular winner with Johnny Mullen in the driver's seat. A solid performance was also turned in by Buster, who finished second in both tries for Delbert MacTavish of Lachute, Que. The first two heats were at a distance of one mile while the final was contested at the longer 1-1/16 miles, clocked in 2:23 1/5.

Many of the regulars are here for the season including outfits under the direction of Keith Waples, Wilmer Hillock, Floyd Milton, Real Bardier, George Giguere, Lew James, Joe Hodgins and Vic Lutman to mention a few.

1949 - Michigan Pacing Derby Winners From Ontario
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Sept. 28, 1949 - In a spirited battle between two of Canada's finest horses The Diplomat and Dr. Stanton, the former was declared the winner of the double-heat Michigan Pacing Derby​. With a purse of $10,000 up for grabs, a field of nine faced the starter in the two-heat affair to determine a winner in the State's top pacing event of the season. In the opener contested at one mile, the winner was Dr. Stanton, pacing the mile in 2:04 3/5 with Wilfred "Wick" Fraser -- son of the horse's owner Lindley Fraser -- in the bike. Second was The Diplomat for Lew James driving for London, Ont. Owner Alex Parsons.

​In a close finish driver Fraser behind Dr. Stanton (2) edges out The Diplomat (3) in rein to Lew James to take the opening heat of the 1949 Michigan Pacing Derby at Northville Downs. In later years Lew James became a noted race secretary. ​(Harness Horse)

In the second heat contested at the longer distance of 1 1/16 miles, The Diplomat reversed the order of finish with Dr. Stanton second. Third in both heats was the outstanding Jimmy Creed. One other Canadian entrant was in the field the fast mare Rosemary Brooke owned by Harold Carr of Dresden, Ont. She ended the evening with a standing of 6-5. The closing heat was marred by an accident that took four horses out of the field reducing it to just four finishers.

Alex Parsons, hotelier and horse owner from London, Ont. accepts a trophy following a win by his fine pacer The Diplomat at Northville Downs. Perry Williams presents the silverware as driver Lew James looks on​.