The I Love Canadian Harness Racing Fan Club received loads of entries for the Memorabilia Story Contest and we would like to thank everyone who submitted entries and photos.
It was great to read so many unique and heartwarming horse racing experiences and about the keepsakes people have to help them preserve the memories. While it was very challenging to select one winner, the judges selected Jackie McManus from London, Ontario for her story and photos.
Jackie purchased her first Standardbred yearling in 2002 and owned horses until a few years ago. Her best horse was Keystone Samurai, a Camluck filly bred by Hempt Farms that was purchased in Harrisburg and won an Ontario Sires Stakes as a two-year-old and two OSS events as a three-year-old.
Jackie operated a part time business as an equine photographer and designer until a few years ago and also designed trophies for the Ontario Sires Stakes for a number of years.
She recently returned to her trained profession as an accountant but watches the SC website on a regular basis and visits Ontario racetracks with her husband and his family who have raced standardbreds since the early 1960s. She enjoys going to The Raceway at Western Fair District and Grand River Raceway.
“Once horses are in your blood, they always will be,” says McManus, who was thrilled to win the Memorabilia contest.
Congratulations Jackie and thank you for sharing your Memorabilia story.
From a very young age I frequented racetracks with my dad at every opportunity. Our “home” track was Western Fair Raceway but we travelled across Ontario to Greenwood, Garden City, Barrie, Orangeville, Goderich, Elmira, Windsor and those tracks that still remain. I started collecting anything to do with horses and racing as a child and still have a box full of old newspaper clippings from the early 70s and 80s including everything printed about Niatross.
The internet (eBay) brought a whole new meaning to collecting. I now have well over 100 unique, rare and old pieces from around the world including, but not limited to, horse shoes (Balanced Image, Somebeachsomewhere), magazines (1938 Newsweek - Greyhound), vintage ads, decanters, books, games, wall plaques, videos, clocks, plates, toys, programs (inaugural North American Cup) and jewelry (custom 1961 Brandywine 14k pendant).
There is a piece in my collection that is not significant to anyone but me. It is a pass to Flamboro Downs from 1975, the year the track opened. It was given to me by “Santa Claus”.
It was no surprise to my dad that after I finished school and established myself in a career I was back at the tracks, but this time as an owner. I never got a picture of my dad in the winner’s circle with any of my horses, something I always wanted, but I still have all my memorabilia to remind of where it all started and with whom.
Here are some excerpts from some “Honourable mentions.”
Tara Spach, Lancaster, Kentucky
I was not raised with horses, let alone racing Standardbreds. I have always loved horses, the typical Breyer Horse girl, growing up. When I met my husband, Ken, he took me to The Red Mile for my first harness race. We sat on the rail, getting up close and personal with the horses and I was hooked!
I have coolers from The Red Mile, various clothing items, stadium seat cushions, board game, decanter, novelty items, horseshoes and awards from my top race mare and my Castleton Farm tack trunk and racing colors.
Leonard Pecker, Chertsey, Quebec
An Afternoon with Herve Filion at Pocono Downs
He (Publicity Director, Pocono Downs) told me that Herve Filion would be at his table in the dining room all afternoon and invited me to join them. Imagine the star struck feelings I had to think of having lunch with Herve Filion. Keep in mind that I used to travel on Boxing Day every year to watch the 7 Filions race in one race at the old Connaught Park in Aylmer, Quebec.
This was better than a dream come true. Herve and I talked all afternoon in English and French. I met his son Brandon who was driving that day. Herve and I talked about the Filion family especially Yves and Sylvain. Herve poured me coffee all afternoon as we were handicapping the races. I mentioned to his son how big Herve was in racing circles. Brandon did not really grow up knowing the success that Herve had other than what he read and heard.
The day ended with me catching a large exactor while Herve never cashed a ticket.
Susan Hughes, Little Britain, Ontario
My most treasured are of San Pail and Randy Waples. Included in 15 scrapbooks of Pail are...Win pictures, programs, USA trips, every story written in The Trot, The Sportsman, SC web pages, congratulations and comments made by his fans on his Facebook Page, pictures of Pails fans dressed in his backpad colour at each of his 3 wins in the Maple Leaf Trot, newspaper publicity...Pail was Talk of the Walk...Winning the Breeders Crown against the overseas horses.
The glamorous memorabilia, 3 years of O'Brien Awards and The Dan Patch Awards
Displayed in rooms are Pails horseshoes, halter, SC posters, buttons, calendars, hats, painted glassware by Marni Koelln, numerous pictures by Dave Landry, Claus Anderson, Brian Acton, Clive Cohen. Pails BC win picture with over 200 fans that is enlarged on canvas. I can't thank The Big Boy, Randy Waples & Rod enough for my keepsakes and memories forever.
Trish Dooling, Paradise, Newfoundland
They say that you never forget your first horse, and I never will. I grew up around the track but it wasn't until my later years I made a purchase, Yuste. A little mare who couldn't keep up in Charlottetown made her way to "the rock" She never made headlines, or broke any track records but I can say she had some great drives. Thanks to some driver showcase days she was steered by some of the best, Jody Jamieson and Brad Forward. She was Ken Oliver's "practice drive" before he went on to win the 50th Gold Cup and Saucer race. She might be the little horse that had no hope on the bigger tracks, but she was also my superstar that I made the best memories with. I always have my best friend watching my back.
