SC Rewind: Barrie Raceway Opens

In this week's edition of 'Rewind', Robert Smith takes a trip back to 1973 and recalls the opening of Canada's newest racetrack, Barrie Raceway. A number of pictures and other related material aid in telling the story. A further reminiscence about Barrie's opening and its early years will appear in an upcoming Rewind.

A view of the brand new Barrie Raceway showing the grandstand just prior to its opening in late 1973. A couple of unidentified horsemen try out the new half-mile track

On the evening of Wednesday, December 19, 1973 Canada's newest racetrack opened for business as previously announced. The original opening was set for December 12th but it was delayed for one week to allow for some last-minute adjustments. For those many people involved it was a time long awaited. The countless steps involved in creating such an endeavor had been long and tedious but now the time had arrived to say the word GO.

Built for winter weather, the kind that so often occurs in this area, the new facility was immediately put to the supreme test. Despite a driving snowstorm, a remarkable crowd of 2,045 hardy souls showed up for opening night. Fans filled the new track to capacity, eager to see the area's newest form of entertainment. By 8:15 the start of the second race, track officials ordered the gates closed because the parking areas were all filled.

A message from General Manager Earl Rowe Jr. as the new Raceway opened

The honour of winning the first race at the brand new complex went to Dukes Jane, driven by Orangeville horseman Bob Lackey for his uncle and owner Sam Lackey. The winner paid a nice $18.70 for a two-dollar wager, setting the trend as several longshots visited the winner's circle on opening night. Following the victory a cooler compliments of Abercrombie Electric was presented to the winner. The purse for the opener was $400 and the conditions for the Trot event was "for non winners of $400 in the last 6 starts or $1,000 in 1973." The winner easily met both conditions and ended up winning her third race in this her 17th start of the season.

Entries in the opener saw one horse from as far away as Cobourg, Ont. The number two horse Dukes Ella perhaps travelled the furthest and unfortunately fate was not on her side as the six-year-old mare finished seventh and last for owners Gutteridge and Heenan and driver Greg Feltis. A careful examination of the program might have indicated a good "hunch bet" as the #1 horse Jessy Royal was sired by Snow Hanover. The young three-year-old filly just missed getting her maiden victory as she finished a bang-up second for owner Keith Bachelder and driver Jim McClure. Two drivers in the opener just may have met before as the Lockharts, Jim and Clarence were up behind the No. 6 and 8 entrants.

In the second race the winner was Chuckle driven to victory by Chas. Lawson. A daily double payoff of $61.90 delighted a number in the crowd. In the third it was Deac Worthy first home in 2:16.4 for driver Jim McClure. In the fourth event, Jack Fox had his picture taken with the winner Armbro Joe. In the fifth Bert Quinlan took the top prize with his Shore Sharp scoring in 2:16.2. All evening the race times were held down due to heavy head winds facing the horses in the stretch.

In the sixth race Wil Lor Andy, piloted by Gary Crowe, got the nod over Nishinbob Chief in a much quicker 2:11.2 which was by far the fastest time of opening night. In the seventh a horse with the interesting name of Problem Drinker was first to the finish wire for Collingwood owner and driver Clarence Lockhart, a gentleman very familiar to veteran area horsepeople. In the nightcap the winner was Carl B Grattan in a very slow 2:19 driven by Bob Scrannage of Wasaga Beach. Wil Lor Butch was second and holding down the show show spot was Quinte Lad handled by Phil Stewart. (Yes, the same Mr. Stewart who often comments on Rewind)

The feature event of the evening which was scheduled as the eighth race was called "The Barrie Raceway Inaugural" and it was a Preferred Trot at one mile for a purse of $700. Perhaps fittingly it was won by a local horse named Prince Henry owned by Mrs. Elmer Trimble of Barrie and trained by her husband Elmer. The driver, certainly no stranger to area race fans, was none other than Charlie Lawson (pictured at right) of Orangeville, a man who had grown up racing at area tracks. Finishing second was with Swift Warrior, Al Nicholls driving and third went to Ropers Rebel and Murray Waples. On hand following the race to present a trophy to Mrs. Trimble and her husband was The Hon. Earl Rowe, Chairman Of The Board of the new Raceway. Mr. Rowe, an icon of Canadian harness racing, was a spry 79 at the time and still very active in training horses at his farm as well as having a keen interest in the affairs of the new Barrie Raceway.

A number of minor problems dogged the track on opening night but most if not all were categorized as "opening night jitters." Track management listed minor problems in two areas; on the track and in the mutuels. Executive Director of the Raceway Wm. Rowe attributed the problems to inexperience of the new and still learning staff. At one point the races were running a half hour late and also longer than necessary lines at the betting windows was a slight deterrent. Mr. Rowe also noted that the seating on busy nights will probably be inadequate; opening night saw many having to stand as all available seating was in use.

A few nights later on December 26th with some of the "kinks" out of the operation, the brand new track experienced its largest crowd and best handle of its short existence. Despite early evening rain a total of 2,150 showed up for the nine-race card and they were in a betting mood as a record $112,063 went through the mutuels which were much more efficient than on opening night. The persistent rain and the resulting thaw left the track in a very "slow" condition but the finishes were close. A mile in 2:13.2 was the best of the night.

Three drivers recorded double-heat victories and a pair of them achieved their wins in successive races. It was Dave Downey taking the third and fourth while Charlie Lawson took top spot in the sixth and seventh. A third driver, Brent Davies, also notched a double taking the first and fifth races. The feature of the evening went to Ropers Rebel who trotted home in 2:18 for Murray Waples. Carl MacArthur and Lewis Hillis rounded out the trips to the winner's circle that evening.

The following is an abbreviated list of operating personnel at the time of Barrie's opening.

Announcer - Wayne Reed
Race Secretary - Marvin Chantler
Starter - Larry Claypool
Public Relations Mgr. - Sandra Turnbull
Parade Marshall - Wendy Cairncross
Paddock Judge - Lorne Hoskins
Controller & Mutuels Mgr. - Claire Hauck

Racing ended for the shortened 1973 portion of the season on December 29th as the largest purse to date of $1,500 was paid out to Ernie Spurr of Alliston, the owner of Scott Meadow. The son of Meadow Battles won the Invitation Pace for Charlie Lawson who was quickly establishing a predictable perch atop the driver's standings at the new oval. Racing resumed early in the new year and the new Raceway was well on its way to a successful start as Canada's newest spot for harness racing.

And so opened Barrie Raceway 45 years ago this month.

A copy of the first race at Barrie on opening night December 19, 1973

Who Is It?

Can you identify this young fellow who was closely associated with the opening of the new Barrie track?

Bonus photos

These two fellow were popular drivers when Barrie opened. Can you name them both? (Photos courtesy of Barrie Examiner Newspaper)

Stay tuned for the correct answers during the coming week.