Jean Lawson, 92, Remembered

Trot Insider has learned that Jean Lawson, wife of veteran horseman Roy Lawson, passed away on August 25, 2009. Jean, who had an influence on the standardbred racing industry for over 70 years, was 92 at the time

of her passing.

Trot Insider received the news of Lawson's passing this week via a remembrance piece from Paul MacCharles, who's word appears below.

Jean was the wife of the veteran horseman Roy Lawson, one of Ontario's pioneers of modern day night racing. Roy started driving for his father at the age of nine at Penetange Racecourse. Jean fell in love with Roy and the horses. She owned her own horses and owned horses with Roy from the age of 21 until Roy's death in 1983.

The pair had many well known horses of different eras in the 1940s, including Jerry Grattan and raced Wanda Harvester. In the early '50s they raced Thorncliffe and Dufferin Park in Toronto. When old Woodbine was converted to a harness track, they were the first people to stable there. In the mid-'50s they raced Connaught Park and Blue Bonnetts and Three Rivers along with good friends of the era Jim Weiner, Bill Habkirk, Hampton Hoover and Theo Turcotte. Also, when Woodbine was dark, they raced the Ontario fair circuit. In the early '50s they raced Penny Patch, Jean's all time favourite. In the late '50s they raced Red Chief, Gunner Axworthy and the Lee Harvester mare Lila Lea Henley.

In the early '60s, the pair raced the Peninsula Stakes winner Dream Acres Guy and the Dufferin County winner Jennys Joe. In 1961, good friends Les Erhlick and Jim 'Red' Holmes were talking about starting a horsemen's association and Roy was all for it. Jean volunteered to canvass people to join. She spent endless hours travelling around to get people to come aboard with the idea. The Ontario Harness Horse Association turned out a success for so many years.

On opening night of Mohawk Raceway in 1963, the Lawsons raced Denny Barnes and finished second. The second year Windsor Raceway was open, Roy decided to sell his farm in Midland, Ont. and move to Windsor, but Jean got severe health conditions in Windsor from the air, so they decided to move to the Campbellville area. At the time, the pair were racing Superior Eddie, Prima May, etc.

Roy had small stable, but for a time he was leading driver at Garden City, but he lost the title for not having enough drives. Keith Waples commented once to the Midland Free Press that Roy could drive with anyone. His talent was noticed by Success Acres, which offered him a job. He turned the offer down, but recommended his childhood friend Cecil Champion, who had much success.

In the early '70s, the Lawsons decided to try something different. They moved from the Ontario Jockey Club to race the Buffalo/Batavia circuit. They had many trotters, with the standout being Cabin Fin, who raced in the Invite

In the mid '70s, the Lawsons were back on the OJC circuit with Cabin Fin, Mr DJ, Gala Star and Rick Coaltown, among others. Shortly after Flamboro Downs opened, they sold their place in Campbellville and moved their horses to Flamboro Downs and lived in Waterdown. On opening night, their filly Royal Bess emerged victorious.

In 1976, the Lawson family had the good Ontario Sires Stakes filly Miss Dream Acres, who won the OSS at Flamboro and recorded several place finishes. Also that year, Roy was stricken with cancer. Jean had to give up the horses to help Roy with his health (there son took over the horses). In 1980, after Roy had his second surgery, he was back training and driving with Jean at his side.

The duo won the Flamboro Breeders with Dream Acres Brandy. Roy drove occasionally then until the fall of 1982, when cancer struck again. Roy put up a battle right to the end. After Roy's death, Jean raced her horses in the early '80s. Swift Shot GB, Starlit Way and Paola were among those horses.

In the mid to late '80s, Jean had many nice horses with her son. Those horses included Sham Shu Rose and Seven B Willy, who set the Canadian season record on a half-mile track in April 1986 over Flamboro in 1:58.1. Other horses of note were Keystone Kelly and Bucketfull, Direct Brad and Armbro Dick, etc.

In 1993, Jean' son, Brian, had a terrible horse accident where he fractured his skull, sustained multiple fractures and suffered cognitive brain damage. He was in the acquired brain injury program in Hamilton for two years. Jean dispersed all of her horses, except her pet, Acton Angel.

When Brian was able to start back in the business, he started with Acton Angel and Easter Weekend. Jean enjoyed going to races so much that they bought a few horses and ended up with nice stable. Twin B Twister, Balanced Account and Ask For Trouble were amongst the horses.

Jean would be at the races at Flamboro every day, except when one of her horses was racing on the Woodbine Entertainment Group circuit or in New York state or Pennsylvania. She could be seen in the afternoon at Flamboro and at WEG tracks at night. She last raced Im A Contender at Batavia Downs in 2005.

I knew her since I was a little boy, as my father had a horse with the Lawsons in the '50s. Besides the horses, she was a well known artist with different showings in the Waterdown and Burlington Library. Jean will definitely be missed by myself, many horse people and especially her loving son.

(Paul MacCharles)