This week's Rewind takes a look back at some events and people making news during the decade of the 1960's in the ongoing feature Years Ago.
1960 - MacTavish Stable Training In Southern Climes
Veteran Quebec based trainer Del MacTavish the squire of Cloverland Farms is again wintering in the "South" this off season. Not quite the Sunshine State, but perhaps the best Canada has to offer. Along with sons Duncan and Del Jr., both accomplished drivers, the stable is residing at the Leamington Fairgrounds this winter. Even grandfather Rory has been here to visit.
Affectionately known as "The Sun Parlour", this most southerly area of Canada located in Essex County has a much more favourable climate for winter training than the Brownsburg, Quebec area where the family resides. They have a mix of aged and young prospects being readied for the Montreal season which opens April 24th at Blue Bonnets. Their best performer in recent years has been Dares Direct, now a four year old who finished third in last year's Jug at Delaware, Ohio.
P.S. - Dares Direct took a four-year-old record of 1:58 this season at Vernon Downs with Del Sr. up. Also Duncan won a race on opening night in Montreal with Oliver Twist.
1963 - Serious Fan Uprising At Roosevelt Raceway
On November 8, 1963 an ugly scene occurred at Roosevelt Raceway in New York resulting from a judge's placing in a race involving a mid-race accident. The judges allowed the race to become official with only two horses finishing the race and Knight Deposit driven by George Sholty declared the winner. Disgruntled fans, part of a crowd of 23,127 on hand for the Dexter Cup, set off a riot first throwing bottles and other debris and then jumped on to the track. They began smashing the tote board and soon clashed with police who attempted to intervene. As fires were set the responding firemen turned their hoses on the angry mob and eventually order was restored. Thankfully it was the evening's final race. It was a disgraceful performance and certainly a black eye for the track and the sport as a whole. A total of 15 people were treated for injuries.
1965 - Windsor Raceway Off To A Successful Start
After opening October 21 and now with just three weeks of racing at this new all-weather harness racing facility, everyone seems to be extremely pleased with all aspects both in handle, attendance and overall acceptance by the horsemen. On October 30th Barbara Johnston set the current track record of 2:02.1 for driver Gerald Johnston. For trotters, the fastest mile to date has been 2:06.3 and belongs to Ardee for trainer driver Harold Wellwood and owner Wib White.
Top drivers so far include Fred Goudreau, Tom Merriman, Pat Crowe, Keith Waples, Gordon Norris, Jim Merriman Jr., Bert Madill and Harold Wellwood. The first repeat winning horse at this new track is the 13-year-old Rocky Senator for driver Wilf Duford and owner Jerry Duford of Nipawin, Sask.
1967 - Ontario Stallion Listing
The following is a partial listing of stallions advertised for public service this season accompanied by their service fee.
Ambassador Pick - $100
Camp Hanover - $100
Castle Lee - $100
Clever Byrd - $100
Derby Time - $100
Direct Adios Clay - $100
Direct Noble - $100
Ensign Dillon - $200
Excel Knight - $200
Good Flyer - $300
Hillcrest Attorney - $60
Jean Laird - $300
Meadow Battles - $300
Mighty Atom - $200
Newport Duke - $200
Patch Creed - $125
Philip Frost - $300
Spring Caper - $300
The McNab - $125
Thoughtful - $200
1968 - Hambletonian Society Announces Major Change
Beginning this August the $100,000 plus Hambletonian will be raced on Sunday afternoons rather than the traditional Wednesday dates of the past. The move is being made to attempt to broaden the base of the number of people able to attend this great race. Additionally the organizers at the Du Quoin State Fair are hoping to negotiate a contract to televise the race. The Hambletonian is the only $100,000 plus race in the world that remains a non-wagering event. While the Wednesday crowds have been large, they have never been sell outs which would be expected of a classic of this stature. The 1968 Hambo was won by Nevele Pride in 1:59.2 driven by Stanley Dancer.
The Year 1968 was my first
The Year 1968 was my first experiance with harness horses.Four of us crawled under
the fence facing the beaches.I was very nervouse we get caught we ran in the first
barn we came to and pet all the horses it was great. We stayed about an hour then we
crawled under the fence and went home.On the next day two of us myself and Garry Redpath
went looking for jobs I got a job working for Roy Lawson we raced a good troter called
Thorne Hanover he had about 9 starts and was never worst than third that winter Garry got job working for Bill Carroll we were really excited we were making big money
we got paid $50 aweek And $15 for a paddock we were in heaven. It was so much fun
being around the old horseman and hearing there stories of the 50;s Thanks Ken Weese
Newport Duke may have been
Newport Duke may have been about the last of the "Travelling" stallions .In the early days stallioneers as they were called, travelled the countryside with their prized stallions and visited farms where mares resided .Ron Stevens a well known horseman from Dresden was the "keeper" of Newport Duke and he at one time logged a lot of miles transporting this speedy son of Adios wherever his "services" were required .Morris McDonald was the owner of this prolific horse .
I raised foals sired by both
I raised foals sired by both Direct Noble and Thoughtful and I raced a horse named Chippi Lynn who was sired by Newport Duke!!!!!
And I helped break The McNab as a yearling at the Belleville Fairgrounds.
The service fees were pretty steep when everybody was racing at the "One Day Meets" for $100 to $150 a dash!!!!
Robert, that list of
Robert, that list of stallions brought back some memories. Camp Hanover, Direct Noble, Newport Duke were on just about every program page of every racetrack you went to. It would be interesting to see some stats as to numbers of their off spring and their racing success.