Last Comment: May 21, 2021 6:50 am ET | 9 Comment(s) | Jump to Comments
In this week s edition of Rewind Robert Smith recalls a very important date in the history of Canadian harness racing. It was 60 years ago that nighttime racing finally came to the Province of Ontario. On the evening of May 17, 1961 with a post time of 8:00 p.m., it all happened at Western Fair Raceway in London, Ontario. A few recollections of the times and some old photographs help to recall this very special moment in our sport s history.
(Photo by Claus Andersen courtesy of Canadian Sportsman)
For many years, in fact for several decades, everyone involved with harness racing in Ontario longed for racing under the lights to make its way to the Province. It seemed like every other area where the sport was conducted it had already arrived. In 1940 nighttime racing debuted at two New York State tracks; first at Roosevelt and a short time later that fall at Batavia. The next year Saratoga joined in as
Last Comment: March 12, 2021 2:23 pm ET | 11 Comment(s) | Jump to Comments
This week s Rewind offering is the monthly edition of Years Ago and focuses on names, faces and happenings from the decade of the 1960 s. A wide range of topics are featured as well as a few old photos related to the themes. I hope that readers will find some familiar names and even faces associated with that time in history.
1960 - Record Number Of Entries At Richelieu Park
A packed house at Richelieu Park watch the races on a Sunday afternoon (Harness Horse)
Provincial Raceways the operators of Richelieu Park Raceway have announced that a record number of entries have been received for this year s stakes program. As of the entry deadline which was April 15th, a whopping 944 entries have been received which topped the previous high by over 200 entries. The upcoming meeting will start August 1.
It appears in its entirety below.
Last week’s ‘flashback’ blog had me thinking about where and when I first remember seeing old harness racing programs and taking a huge interest in browsing through them. It would be almost 40 years ago where I’d be on the road with my aunt Sadie and late cousin Steve . Sadie had made a stop in town and while Steve and I waited for her in the car – we opened up the glove box to find a few old race programs rolled up – likely stashed away there by my late uncle, Ed Doyle. I remember looking though them – saying the names of the horses and drivers – what a find! – while Steve couldn’t quite understand my excitement.