SC Rewind: Years Ago - 1950s

This week's Rewind looks back at the decade of the 1950's as Robert Smith recalls many names, happenings and recollections from that time period in his regular monthly Years Ago feature.

1953 - Mr. Galvin Sets New Canadian Record 

In 1953, Russell Miller of Dutton, Ont. brought out a great young two-year-old pacing star named Mr. Galvin.  He was a standout from day one and rewrote the record books with his winning times and repeated victories at both Canadian and U.S. tracks. 

Owners Jean and Russell Miller of Dutton, Ont. appear in the winner's circle at Ridgetown along with their colt sensation Mr. Galvin and driver Alfred Moore.  On this occasion their sensational performer won the Supertest Stakes for two-year-old pacers in the record mile time of 2:09.4. This established a new Canadian record for age and gait.  The Supertest logo appears on the front of the judge's stand as four officials watch the action. 

Mr. Miller was quickly establishing himself as a skillful developer of young horses.  This victory marked the third time in a span of just seven years that a horse from his stable had won this annual race.  His previous victories were with David Dillon in 1947 and Little Joe Can in 1948. The purse in 1953 had risen to $3,368. 

Mr. Galvin was bred in the U.S. but foaled in Canada.  In January of 1951, Miller purchased the mare Claire Abbe from his close friend W.J. Galvin of Wilmington, Ohio in foal to Chief Counsel for $400 and the colt was foaled on May 5, 1951. The youngster was named after the man Mr. Galvin, who unfortunately died in 1952. He was an immediate star on the race track at both two and three and through his four-year-old season was out of the money on only three occasions. To this point he had 34 wins, six seconds and three thirds in 49 lifetime starts. The 1955 season saw him take a new lifetime mark of 2:02 at Buffalo Raceway which equalled the world record for a four-year-old gelding on a half-mile track.

1955 - Dufferin Park Closes Forever 

A field of horses reaches the finish line at Dufferin Park.  Racing conditions were often treacherous during the winter months but the races were not often cancelled.  

On the afternoon of Saturday, March 19, 1955 the final day of harness racing took place at Dufferin Park. The day began with a daily ritual as track owner Fred Orpen played the National Anthem in his office. The organ music was piped throughout the premises for one last time.  A hat belonging to his late father still hung on a hall tree in the office. It would appear that no one in attendance except perhaps the owner Mr. Orpen knew that this was the last day for the harness folks. In October, an announcement was made that the fall harness meeting was being cancelled. 

The sale of Dufferin came as a surprise to many. As recently as 1949 Mr. Orpen had publicly stated "Even if somebody offered me a million dollars, I still wouldn't sell the place." In a span of five or six years the property value rose sharply. Orpen also cited the absence of male heir as part of his decision. 

The days races consisted of five races each consisting of two heats. The total purse outlay for the day was $2,800 with the two feature races, a Trot and a Pace each carrying a purse of $700. The Trot was won in straight heats by the 10-year-old mare named Ginger Up, driven by Keith Waples. Both heats of the Pacing feature were won by the nine-year-old mare Nancy Patch, owner driven by Allan Walker of Owen Sound. While Allan was renown for his ability in developing trotters, he will forever be linked to the pacing horse that won the final race at Dufferin Park. 

A group of hardy souls gather at Toronto's Dufferin Park to attend a day of harness racing.  The normal racing season went from about November through the winter until late April.  The grandstand was completely open and on many days only the bravest of racing fans watched the action from there.  

An old Dufferin Park ad from about 1949 shows the slogan "Where Good Friends Meet."  Interesting to note that a full course noon dinner could be enjoyed for just 50 cents. 

Closing Note: I doubt there are too many people left that attended racing at this fabled spot. 

1958 - Curran Stars At Connaught Park 

A very young 21-year-old Ross Curran appears in the Connaught Park winner's circle after a victory with Simcoe Grattan.  He was joined in the winner's circle by the horse's owner, C.W. Hodgson of Haliburton.  His winning time of 2:16 4/5 was not unusual for that era. 

On the evening of June 6th a number of very close finishes had not only the fans but the racing officials buzzing.  An unusual number of races required long delays as the judges viewed the photo finish prints of several races in succession.  One judge was heard saying "the photo finish camera ranks greatest among them all when it comes to inventions." 

In the featured event fans were excited for a different reason as the lightly backed Leezoff, owner driven by local favourite Dr. John Findley, won his fourth straight and paid off at $18.30 for a two dollar wager.  This race named "Champlain Invitation" carried the evening's highest purse of $400. 

In other news,  64 drivers at the current Connaught meeting all signed up for membership in the United Harness Horsemen's Association (UHHA).  Several benefits were to be provided to all members including insurance coverage.  The policy was paid for and carried by the Connaught Park Jockey Club.  This organization at about this time also became involved in the organization of a series of races for two-year-old pacers with purse money provided by a one percent take out of the wagering at both Richelieu Park and Blue Bonnets.  It was estimated that a purse of as much as $20,000 may be up for grabs.  Recent organizational changes in the UHHA saw Hector Clouthier become the second V.P. and Jack Waples appointed to the board of directors. 

1958 - Windsor Ont. Banquet Held At Chuck's Tavern 

Back in the mid to late 1950s as interest in harness racing in the Windsor and Essex County area was increasing an association of interested participants was formed.  They held several meetings and hosted an annual gathering at a Windsor diner.  The tavern owner Chuck Dunlop was also an aspiring owner and racing enthusiast. On January 27, 1958 one such gathering was held and a short report from a Harness Horse publication is shown below:

Night harness racing is needed to spur interest in the sport in the province of Ontario, Arthur Reaume, M.P. told a gathering of 135 horsemen and their wives and guests at the annual Essex County Harness Horsemen's Association banquet in Windsor, Ont., on January 27. In addition to the Canadian horsemen present there were many visitors from the states of Michigan and Ohio. After the dinner movies of the 1957 Hambletonian and Little Brown Jug were shown.

Among the prominent guests at the banquet were: Mrs. Arthur Reaume, Mr. and Mrs. Jack  McIntosh of Wheatley,  Mr. and Mrs. Lorne Johnston from the Dresden area,  Mr. and Mrs. J. Dean, who have a training site near Kingsville and Kenneth Richardson, owner of Success Acres Farm, Sunbury, Oh.

CANADIAN NOTES - 1958 

This winter there are more than 150 head of Standardbreds being trained in Essex County, the Sun Parlor of the Province of Ontario. Three years ago there were less than 25 in training. Kenneth Richardson, master of the Ohio nursery Success Acres, has sent two colts to the Windsor, Ont., trainers, Bruce and Bryce Fulmer. The youngsters are the three-year-old Success Babs, a pacer by His Honor-Countess Grattan, and the two-year-old Success Roger, a trotter by Cannon Ball out of Tamara. The Fulmer brothers are prepping eight head at their Windsor half-mile oval.

Above is a picture of Windsor area trainer Bruce Fulmer with Success Joan being prepped for the upcoming racing season.  Bruce and his twin brother Bryce had one of the early training centres located just outside the city of Windsor.  

Quote For The Week: More of a short story than a quote.  

Many years ago while listening in my workshop to a radio call-in show, I remember the following little story.  A medical doctor was taking questions and he told a caller "If only I could write a prescription for laughter,  I could really help a lot of my patients." He went on to explain how being happy and able to laugh regularly is so beneficial to good health.  

Who Is It?  

Who is this young fellow?  Among his many duties I wonder if he was in the cap selling business?  

Who Else Is It?  

On the left is Connaught Park parade marshal Mary Callahan and on the right is Roger LeBourdais, sales rep. for Molson's Brewery.  The question is,  Who is the man in the middle? 

Blast From The Past 

With Labour Day just passed the return to school is part of the late summer and early fall season.  The above photo was taken 100 years ago in 1924 and told a tale of the times.  With the school in the background, the entire eight grades along with their lone teacher make up this iconic picture.  This old "schoolhouse" as they were often called,  stood for parts of two centuries but disappeared many years ago.  Our schools of today are quite a bit different to say the least.