SC Rewind: Years Ago - 1970s

In today's Rewind Robert Smith takes a trip back to the decade of the 1970s as he issues the monthly edition of Years Ago.  His short stories and old photos capture the times, the people and the happenings from this period in time which was about 50+ years ago.  

1970 - Fresh Yankee Entered In International Trot 

Fresh Yankee and driver Joe O'Brien appear in this promotional photo prior to competing in the 1970 International Trot at Roosevelt Raceway 

Fresh Yankee, the great seven-year-old trotting mare owned by Duncan MacDonald of Sydney, N.S., was about to make yet another appearance in the prestigious International Trot at Roosevelt Raceway.  This marked her fourth try and she was yet without a victory.  Her win in the Canadian championship held at Richelieu Park a week earlier earned her another start in the big race.  In 1967 with Sanders Russell driving she finished second to Roquepine in a driving rain in her debut.   In 1969 with Joe O'Brien driving she was third to Une de Mai.  In 14 starts this season she had seven wins and seven seconds including victories in Europe at Munich and Sweden.  

The daughter of Hickory Pride out of Pert Yankee,  bred by former New York Yankee great Charlie Keller, was a bargain purchase as a yearling when she was sold for the meagre sum of $900.  Her fabulous racing career took her literally all over the globe and she was successful in every season of her lengthy participation at the highest level of competition.  

Note: Soon after this photo was taken Fresh Yankee won the 1970 edition of The International Trot which carried a purse of $125,000. It was her first and only victory in this prestigious event. 

1973 - Fifty Years Ago: Canada's Fastest Race Recorded At Blue Bonnets 

It's been a little over 50 years (August 26, 1973) since Armbro Nadir set a new all time speed mark in Canadian harness racing.  The three-year-old son of Airliner,  driven by 31-year-old Nelson White,  stopped the timer in an amazing 1:56.1. 

The winner, Armbro Nadir was parked the entire mile as was the second-place finisher Rob Ron Ritzar driven by Keith Waples. At the wire Armbro Nadir, affectionately known as "Ralph", pulled to a one-length margin for the victory. The favoured Ricci Reenie Time finished third. The last horse in the field, J.D. Jester was individually timed in 1:57.1, so the entire field of nine horses finished within one second of each other.

Present for the race were 20,105 fans who wagered a whopping $1,056,555. On the track a world's record was tied and a new track and Canadian mark was set. The fractions were :28.1; :57.4; 1:26.4 with the mile in 1:56.1. These fractions were pretty much unheard of at this time. It was just 14 years prior to this back in 1959 that Canada's first "Miracle Mile" was recorded by Mighty Dudley at the other big Montreal oval, Richelieu Park. Coincidentally "Dudley's" driver that day was Keith Waples who was present for this event as well.

Driver Nelson White has Armbro Nadir (7) out in front and just about to the wire a winner in the 1973 Prix D'Ete at Montreal's Blue Bonnets Raceway.  His closest pursuer is Rob Ron Ritzar (9) and Keith Waples. Third at the rail is Ricci Reenie Time (8) for Sonny Dancer.  It was Canada's fastest race ever at that time. 

1974 - First O.S.S. Event Held At Garden City 

On the evening of Saturday June 1, 1974 the long wait was finally over. A crowd of 6,577 fans gathered at Garden City Raceway near St. Catharines to witness history in the making. The first ever Ontario Sires Stakes event was a major part of that evening's 10-race card. The somewhat logical choice for the inaugural event was the three-year-old colts and geldings division. A total of 22 entries had made their final starting payment which meant that the group would be split into two divisions.

Up for grabs was a total of $67,522 divided in half with each race winner to receive the tidy sum of $16,880.50. Those were numbers that previous Ontario colt owners racing at home had not seen too often. Most if not all of the participants easily recalled the day when the figure being offered for a single win would have been considered a decent season's earnings. The beauty of it all was that it had just begun.

In the opening division somewhat of an upset occurred when the circuit's top dash winning and money leading driver Ron Feagan unleashed his colt Robra Glider at the head of the stretch. From fifth spot he finally overtook the pacesetting favourite J R Blaze right at the wire to gain a neck victory. The photo showed J R Blaze and Greg Wright second with J C Volo owned by Donald Campbell of Wardsville and driven by Wm. Hicks third. Time of the historic mile was 2:04.3 as the son of Meadow Gene - Rich Melody made his season's debut for co-owner Bruce Smith, who shared ownership with driver Feagan. Outstanding at two, this was the colt's first start of the 1974 campaign. 

The second division was won by Terry Parker,  the eventual leader of this division who banked $63,866 that first season as an indication of the earnings potential in this new endeavor.  He was owned by Clint Hodgins.  In today's dollars that is equal to about $385,000. 

The OSS is now in its 50th season and still going strong.  Thanks to the many people who worked so hard to get it started back in 1974. 

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This winner's circle was a happy gathering on June 1, 1974 as the first O.S.S. event became history. The Hon. John Clement on the far right welcomes Robra Glider and co-owner Ron Feagan to make a trophy presentation. Assisting is Garden City hostess Pat Cranston. Unfortunately I do not have a name for the winning caretaker.

1979 - Frank Niebergall: Still Training At Age Seventy-Five 

One of Western Canada's longest serving horsemen Frank Niebergall had never missed a prairie harness racing season since 1939 and that's an incredible 40 years! At the age of 75 he had set aside his driving whip and helmet but not those used for training.  He was still training a five-horse stable but left the driving to younger hands.  

Fans at Calgary's Stampede Park had seen a few swift horses from the Niebergall stable score some nice victories during the 1979 season with a few different drivers.  Glenn Grundy was doing some of the driving until he was forced to book off a drive behind Della Belle as he had one of his own in the same race.  Then it was Doug Stout's turn and he scored another win for the veteran trainer.  The wily trainer even drew praise from race secretary Purvis Lawrason who wondered how this fellow could get horses ready to race in early March when others in warmer climates could not. 

"Frank still jogs all the horses," his wife Ida said in a recent (1979) interview with writer Doug Abraham.  "He starts jogging in the winter around the streets of Neudorf and the golf course in a cutter."  The cutter was actually a caboose on sleds.  He was still shoeing his own horses at the age of almost 80, until a heart attack curtailed his activities.  

The following historical information was retrieved from local records in his native Neudorf, Sask.:

He was raised on the family farm situated south-east of Neudorf, Sask. approximately three miles north of the Qu'Appelle valley.  In 1929, when he and Ida were married, they built a house 1/2 mile north of his parent's homestead. Frank is best known for his raising, training and racing 'standardbred harness horses'. Frank suffered a heart attack and died in Regina Hospital on August 12, 1984 at the age of 80. 

Note - For many years Mr. Niebergall was said to have put the tiny Neudorf, Sask. community on the map but in later years Brian Propp, a star N.H.L. player, shared that distinction with him. 

1979 - Tijuana Taxi Sets Track Record At Yonkers 

On the evening of June 30, 1979 Ontario owner Mel Barr of Ottawa, Ont. experienced quite a thrill with his headline pacer Tijuana Taxi.  With Canadian-born driver Jim Miller in the sulky, the three-year-old son of Fulla Napoleon set a new all-time speed record for the Yonkers half miler when they registered a mile in 1:56.3.  This blazing mile replaced the existing record which also belonged to a Canadian-owned speedster.  In 1974 Armbro Nesbit and Joe O'Brien toured the Yonkers oval in 1:56.4. 

The track record was set in the $129,772  Hugh Grant Pace. Accomplishing a win in this event was no easy task as Tijuana Taxi started in the second tier from post 10.  As so often happens racing luck plays a role in gaining a victory and in this race the luck came early.  On the first turn the favoured Happy Motoring, fresh off a win in the Cane Pace,  went off stride and dropped out of contention.  The horses that moved to the lead eventually tired and Tijuana Taxi moved swiftly from fifth spot to pass every horse in front of him and gain the victory.  Most Happy Collins hung on for second. 

Tijuana Taxi with Jim Miller driving is shown winning  at Yonkers which was part of an outstanding 1979 season.   

Quote For The Week, once again more of a short story.  - Former baseball great Ralph Kiner, who later became a long time announcer, uttered this when an unusual play happened in a game he was covering.  "If only Casey Stengel was alive today,  he would be turning over in his grave!" 

Who Is It? 

Can you identify the driver in this photo? A glimpse of a large Roosevelt audience can be seen in the background.  

Where Is It?

Can you identify the location of this track in Southern Ontario? A portion of the old wooden grandstand is visible but it burned down many years ago and was replaced with a more modern structure that is still standing and in use to this day.  The clue to this one is that racing is still held at this location on a regular basis.  Give it a try.  You're looking at the first turn.