The days of experiencing harness racing at hundreds of Ontario fairs has long since disappeared, but the little town of Ohsweken on the Six Nations Reservation is bucking the trend and will stage a four-race matinee card on Saturday, September 8.
Harness races were always the main attractions at the fairs in towns, villages and small communities across the length and breadth of the province. The races were the grassroots of an industry that blossomed under lights into the country’s leading spectator sport in the 1970s and ‘80s.
Harness racing has long been a tradition at the Ohsweken fair which 151 years ago staged its very first fair in 1867, the year of Confederation when Canada became a nation.
Records do not reveal if there was harness racing in those early days at the Ohsweken fairgrounds, but horses and horsepeople have always been an important part of the Six Nations culture.
The late Fred Hill, a third generation horseman and father of current Six Nations band leader, Ava Hill, was a well known and respected horseman on the Ontario circuit. Fred gained national prominence when he swept the entire card at the 1961 Beamsville, Ont. fair, as he won all eight races.
Six Nations native, Jay Silverheels, who achieved his greatest fame as Tonto in the popular Lone Ranger television series, and is a member of the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame, bred and raced harness horses.
While long distance runner Tom Longboat, who was born and raised on the Six Nations Reserve, was not a horseman, he was one of the most famous athletes in the western world in the twentieth century, and a member of the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame.
Following last year’s re-introduction to harness racing at the Ohsweken fair after a 15-year hiatus, this year’s four-race matinee card with pari-mutuel wagering will offers $16,000 in purses. The Fred Hill Memorial and the Earl Hill Memorial will each carry a $5,000 purse, with an additional three dashes carrying purses of $2,000 apiece. For comments on last year’s races click here.
A cash prize of $200 will be awarded to the driver of the fastest mile; each competing horse will receive a blanket, and there will be a welcoming barbeque for participating horsemen following the races.
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Standardbreds race past fans at the Ohsweken Six Nations fairgrounds on Saturday, September 9, 2017 (Image courtesy Bill Galvin)
Band leader Ava Hill, a fourth generation harness racing enthusiast, welcomes the return of the trotters and pacers to Ohsweken.
Fans look on as a field of Standardbreds heads into the first turn at the Ohsweken Six Nations fairgrounds on Saturday, September 9, 2017 (Image courtesy Bill Galvin)
“Harness racing has been a major event in our community for many years and we are so excited to have it back at the Ohsweken fair," she said. " It has always been important in our community. It brings an excitement back to the fair which can be enjoyed by our community members and the visitors we hope it will attract. Hopefully it will encourage other fall fairs to do the same so that the same excitement can be enjoyed in the southern Ontario fall fair circuit.”
Entries are being taken by Sheri Minler-Grabatin at the Ontario Harness Horse Association (OHHA) office. To get in touch with Sheri, either call 1-866-774-6442 (toll free) or 905-854-6442 (Ext. 222), or reach out by email by directing your inquiry to [email protected]. Entries will close at 12 noon on Wednesday, September 5. The draw for post positions will take place on Wednesday, September 5. There is pari-mutuel wagering on all races and competing horses will receive a blanket. To view the condition sheet, click here. The four races will feature five-horse fields.
Post time will be at 1:00 p.m. and announcer Gary Guy will call the action.
(Bill Galvin)
I agree with Mike. I only
I agree with Mike. I only hope that those in charge of racing read these comments and take positive action on fair racing in the future. Remember that it’s easier to bring ‘horses to the people ‘ than trying to get ‘people to the horses’.
On behalf of all of the
On behalf of all of the horsemen and women who participated on Saturday, I would like to extend a sincere thanks to the organizers and supporters of the Oshweken Fair Racing program. A great time was had by all.
From the delicious bbq to the photos and blanket presentation for each participating horse, the program was run in a first class manner. The track and stabling facilities were also excellent.
The current horse shortage may have caused small fields, and fewer than optimum races, but the goodwill shown by the fair board will certainly be noted going forward.
Fair racing is the true
Fair racing is the true grassroots of racing. It brings racing to the people. OHHA should see about funding fair racing from the government funding to those tracks whose facilities are still viable to hold racing. Have some kind of series at each location with a bonus for the series winner. Have races for Ontario sired horses that are non winners of a certain amount, and this money would go to owners whose horses are not quite good enough for the sires stakes and could use the $ - it would be a win-win situation. Anthony Macdonald has addressed the horse shortage with The Stable, now something has to be done to increase the handle and this would make new fans and attract new gamblers.
I wish I could be there but
I wish I could be there but will be on a roadtrip this weekend. I wish other fairs here in Ontario would take notice & bring back fall fair harness racing to places like Markham Fair, Port Perry, Simcoe, Paris, Orono, Lindsay & so on. If they can do this with a 4 or 5 race card why can't we do this at all the big fairs here? I honestly wish Anthony MacDonald could take this over & do what he's done for racing here in Ontario with like what he's done for "The Stable". He's given racing a much needed boost & this is something that the Ontario Fair Circuit could use here. If they can have $5000 purses for such a small fair what would a big fair like Markham be able to do? $10000 a dash? Some Grassroots for 2 & 3 year olds? When I was growing up Markham would be the "showcase" of the fall fair meet. Sat & Sun in October - 10 dashes on the card - stands packed - the thrill of watching the horses just pounding down the stretch. We need that thrill once again at this track that just sits there & collects dust. There's stables, a nice track, lots of room for people to watch. There can be food vendors, pari-mutuel wagering & more...
Some horsemen here please read this...get a group together so we can bring back racing to it's roots & back to the fall fairs once again...If they can run the PA Fair circuit & do it really well then why can't we do it here?