SC Rewind's Robert Smith takes a look back at the first Canadian driver to win The Little Brown Jug
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The day of "The Jug" is fast approaching. This year's edition, which is the 64th renewal, is scheduled for Thursday, September 24. First contested in 1946, the fabled Little Brown Jug has been a favourite of all fans of harness racing forever but somehow it occupies a special place in the hearts of Canadian horsemen and fans alike.
Throughout recorded history Canadian horsemen have been at or near the top of all of the sport's premier events in the U.S. In the case of The Jug, it took a few years to get a Canadian reinsman into the coveted winner's circle.
If someone were to pose a multiple choice question as to who was that first Canadian born driver to win the Jug, what answer would you choose? (a) Herve Filion (b) Keith Waples (c) Joe O'Brien (d) John Campbell (e) Ron Waples (f) Johnny Chapman (g) none of the above.
If you got the correct answer...Congratulations. If you didn't choose (g) you join me in disliking multiple choice questions. The problem is always the same...every one seems to be right.
In this instance "none of the above" opens the door to the correct answer which is Morris "Morrey" MacDonald of Strathroy. He turned the trick in 1954 as the Jug celebrated its ninth birthday. He drove the speedy Adios Harry to a three heat victory which ended in a three-horse race off on that August afternoon many years ago. In so doing he etched his name into a most famous record book.
"Morrey" as he was frequently called, was certainly no "fluke". He was indeed one of the top horsemen of his era. His driving career began at the youthful age of 12 at the Muncey, Ont. Fair. In later years he told a reporter "I remember the day well, but I don't recall the name of the horse !" I do hope he had his mother's permission and a note for his teacher the following day.
His driving accomplishments soon elevated him to a place of prominence in Southwestern Ontario and in the mid 1940's he crossed the border into Michigan where he started to compete on a regular basis at Northville Downs as night racing began. In the fall of 1939 he accomplished something that only a handful of Canadian drivers had done to that point. He recorded a sub 2:00 mile as he piloted Dazzle Direct in 1:59 3/4 at Lexington. Owned by J.C. Ridley of Detroit the speedster was bred and raised by John Brigham of Parkhill, Ont. Quite a feat in those days.
The Jug winner Adios Harry was an extremely fast horse but along with his extreme speed at times came some serious problems with his manners and on the track behaviour. The horse was owned by the father and son team of J. Howard and Luther Lyons of Harrington, Delaware.The Lyons were accomplished horsemen and son Luther did a fair amount of driving, but the challenges "Harry" presented were believed beyond his expertise. Thus was made the choice to enlist the services of Morris MacDonald. With MacDonald at the controls Adios Harry was transformed from a speedy but erratic performer to a world champion. His list of accomplishments did not end with the Jug win. In his career which spanned several seasons he went on to set 16 world records, some of them with the master reinsman Morrey in the bike. At one time he even held the record for a mile and a half.
Morrey MacDonald was an extremely entertaining, colourful, vocal and sometimes outspoken individual. He had opinions on many subjects and was most often willing to share them with anyone who cared to listen; bashful he was not. He will also be remembered for some very witty quips and quotes which I will discuss some time in the future.
Morrey drove many fine horses as well as being the breeder and trainer of literally "tons" of good ones. He also introduced several well trained horsemen such as his son Gene who eventually moved to New Jersey and worked at The Meadowlands as an official. Also on the list of protégées is Bill Gale, a top driver for several decades, as well as Louie Clark, a long-time conditioner and later Windsor's paddock judge.
Was it fate, destiny or just a matter of coincidence? The first Canadian born driver to win the Jug at Delaware, Ohio just happened to have first seen the light of day at the little Middlesex County Town of Delaware, Ontario.
Morris MacDonald passed away at the age of 73 in 1980. In addition to son Gene, Morrey and his wife Vera also had two daughters - Mary Ellen Pincombe and Norma Talbot, both of whom I believe still live in the Strathroy area.