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lH.arness Horse Racing 'Always Popular Sport

I was late in mo when arowda born the three Maritime Prov- laces gathered at Charlottetown for the first race on what was to become an Internationally known tack.

Since that October afternoon the improvements on the Exhibition Grounds and driving track have been maintained at a gradual pace. New programs and enter- tainments were introduced over the years and periodically new buildings were erected on the grounds.

In recent years there has been a steady building program under- way. New stables and barns for horses. cattle and all classes of livestock were erected and onlyl last year the directors erected an- other magnificent new building.

This has the combined function of being used as an exhibition

Monday. June I. 19”

Old Timer! tell us that Exhib- itions days were usually cold. and all the stores advertised bargain sales of fur coats. warm under- wear and such seasonable require- ments. All merchants got ready and all hotels for those gala days

and incoming trains were packed with people to see the show. Trains were usually held till 7

o'clock in the evening and it was one of the sights for the youths of those days to see the inconying and outgoing ”speclala."

CELEBRATE!) SIRE!

The building of the new race track caused a greater develop- ment of interest in harness horse racing and was the cause of the late W. A. Brennan of Summer- side sending to the celebrated Palo Alto Farm. California, for two

building during the summer and a rink during the winter monthsu It is known as the ('olisciim anril will add a great deal to the al-- ready famous grounds.

The President of the Exhibitionl

Association is Dr. J. P. Lantz. The manager and vicc-president is H. J. Kcnnedy. Cmdr. G. H. Buntain is the secretary treasurer while the race secretary is Frank Acorn. Otlior directors are R. R. Bell. George A. Callbeck. Robert Chap- -'pell. G. Gordon Hughes. R. A. Bor- den. I". R. Mcl.aine. Dr. H. H. Pierce. R. A. Profitt and Cecil J. Stewart.

But now to return to the year 1388 and review step by step the development of the Driving Park and Exhibition Association.

The history of the Chailottetown Driving Park and Provincial Ex- hibition Association datas from 1890 until the present. The achieve- ments range from the clearing away of a woodlot on the Ken- sington Road in 1888 to an ever ex- panding program of building and racing which has succeeded in giving Prince Edward Island one of the finest exhibition and Driv-

Parlts in Canada.

im there was lttle along lie Kansington Road where the Exhibition buildings now stand ex- eept a woodlot. But the founders of the Exhibition wisely knowing that there was I need for a com- bined exhibition and driving Park bowed down the trees and with- in two years were able to stage Iieir first racing meet.

It was not the first racing meet to be held in the Province. There were more than a dozen race tracks on the Island at the time with the track at Upton owned by Dr. Jack Jenkins being the closest to the City. The Hernando-Black Pilot race at Summerside in 1838 brought together one of the great- est, gatherings of pcople ever as- Iembled in the Province.

IELD W DRILL HALL

standard bred stallions. Parkside and Rallston. The former became one of the great Island sires. sharing honors with others like Dean Swift. Administrator. All Right. Hernando and Brazilian.

Breeders became aware that to produce trotters and pacers to compete with those of the other Provinces and the United States they must have blood of the booty strains. True. there had been other good foundation stock. but it did not apparently have the speed or it did not pass on to its progeny the necessary dash to carry them to the wire in Rio lead as records commenced to drop well below theythree-minute mark.

At the opening meet and for two or three years afterwards the high-wheel sullry was in vogue and some drivers were wont to put the biiit of the whips inside the revolving spokes and create a noise that would accelerate their steeds. There was a lot of scoring and rnanoeuvering and it usually took ten or twelve scores before the word ”go" was given. The most noted starter was Dr. J. 1!. Reed. brought here from Guelph, Ontario. and his booming voice could be heard quite as clearly as our present sound system.

The upper deck of die old grandstand was a favorite place for young men and their sweet- hearts as it afforded more priv- acy- Due to certain amount of swa ing. the directors feared it migt be an element of danger and in the early 1900': the grand- stand was cut down to its present sze.

GREATEST BRA

Harness racing was in the great- est era in the years 1892-1905. Tracks were in operation all over the Maritime: and the Halifax Exhibition races extended to seven or m or e afternoons. Shipping costs were very low and that made

The QIIFPIVI County Exhibition was held in those days in the Drill Hall. Charlottetown. and a bridge extended across Govern-

ment, Pond from the Drill Hall to yible m the 230 ch” Dodlhl at

the western bank of the pond

where the cattle and other live--

stock exhibits were kept. niunity recognized the need for a

ion grounds. There was a lot of agitation and several meetings were held in 1888 and a bill was passed by the

lottctown Driving Park and Pro- vincial Exhibition Association with a capital of S25.00(l. the shares be- ing 5100 each. all taken up by business men and

farmers and stock raiser! in sev- eral parts of the island.

KENSINGTON ROAD SITE

Aitcr consiilcralile dis-ciisslon. the present site on Kcnsinginn Road was decided on. it ixas largcly covered with woods. The race track was laid off from plans rcccivcd i'i'om thc Notional Trot- ting Associaiion. lizirtford. Conn. The various buildings were put under ('ftllStFllf'll()lI. and it may he remarked that the Main Build- ing. which was burned down some yczirs ago. was built from plans Iiscrl for a similar striictiirr in one of the largcst exhibition con- tres of Ontario.

The present graiidslaiid was built as it double-dccker. it took two years to complete the track and buildings. and the first com- bined Cxhibition and race meet was held in October. 1890. it was a great occasion. with people at- tending from all parts of the Pro- vince and also from New Bruins-

Vtcls and Nova Scotia. Vislinrs Ilo had travelled much said it was the finest exhibition plant

and race track they had ever been. and that impression was no doubt a true one.

Government assistance was given towards the prize list for horsc" cattle. sheep and poultry and rig teqiiirements for breeds were In down. From the first the exhih ition prospered and the wise role not up by directors were tltr liens of developing breeds thr IIVI1fIhed(tlIo lllllffgflilulnd man?

alend anions pes o The Mail In! din it Oh exhibits eifuyegetablev

ad Eg evenings fashioning ng for a urine which was then 0 treasured thing.

Far-sighted men in the com- -

combined racc track and exhibit-.

local Legislature.- granting a charter to the Char-ll,

'”””-V "" "”'”'ihikc sulky in the middle iaso's. othcrs in Charlottetown. and by;

it easy for horsemen to move around from one meet to another.

In those days time made by a horse in a race was not only his record but his classification and if he won in 2.30 he was only elig-

itime. particularly on the smaller tracks. was much resorted to and -it was usual for horses starting out in the game to be lobelled with 2.59h at country tracks. which made them eligible to the lthree-minute class. Timers had to stick to time actually made at larger tracks. such as Charlotte- town. Moncion. Halifax. Saint ohn. New Glasgow. Fredericton. .Sydncy. ctc. .

The records were much lm-l proved by the introduction of the

Most of the bikes were made by attaching bicycle wheels to the former high-ii-lieel sulkies. but; soon maiiiIiaciiii'crs were tiirningj out a special and much faster type.

TURF RECORDS

l Gliiiicliig over the turf records. for the your 1897. we find that the record for trolling mares was made at Charlottetown, Sept. 23 of iliat year by Minota. owned by .l, R. Lamy. Amherst-1.19Vs. The lgeldlng record for Maritime trot- 3ters was also made at Charlotte- town Scot. 23. by Montrose. own-

town -- 2.20V4.

The fastest seventh heat ever made by a trotter on a Maritime track; up to Sept. 23. 1897. was Warren Guy's at Charlottetowne 2.l.9'ls. And the fastest horse owned and bred in the Maritime Provinces in 1897 was Special Blend. owned by E. LeRoi Willis. Saint John. N. B. - time 2.l8V4. Special Blend was sired by Black Pilot. 2.3154. owned by Docken- dorff Broa.. North River, P. E. I.

!'Al1' IEATI

Track rotting records for the Maritlmes came down slowly be- tween the years IB97 and 1918 and it was not until Oct. 1. 1920 that it took a big cut. That hap- pened h the free-for-all trot at Charlottetown Exhibition w h e is Bill Sharen. driven by Peter Car- roll. stepped his third heat in 1.1lV4. which. among other great performances that season. led in his being sold to the American trainer. Tommy Murphy. for S25.- iloo in United States funds the largest amount ever paid for a Canadian trotter or pacer.

That record stood until Aug. 10. 1931. when it was lowered to 1.l0Va by Abbe Worthy. 2.0-W: (Hood). It was equalled on Aug. 16. 1906. by a little more from Newfoundland. Harvest M e l o d y tMacKinnon). that won the sec- ond heat of the 1.1!! trot in that time. Two afternoons later Silk Girl 3.0895 won the first heat of the 2.15 trot from Harvest Melody in 1091.6 and set up a new track record. - Silk Girl lost the next two beats and race to Harvest Melody.

A short time later - Labor Day Sept. I. 1936 -- it was lowered to 2.0tWa by Heatherbell lMacl(in-i non) and later on to 2.07!-. by! Alloway tRyan). That time was. also equalled by Watchim ilioodli and Lee Brewer tMorcsldcI aml' finally set at 2.075: by Watchiin (Hood) on Aug. 18. 1945. -

PACING RECORD!

The pacing record was also long time in coming down fr. the 2.l7lr'4 mark by Ada Mae ii. Steele) in the 1890's to 2.l2'.s by Fern Hall (Cameroni at the Pro- vincial Exhibltion. Charlottetown. Sept. 29. I920. Three years later John Willard. sitting behind the great free-for-allcr .lohn R. Brad- en set. the record at 2.08-1; and it was not until Aug. 19. 1931 that Eula H. driven by Billy Keyes. reduced it to 2.08. 3

lt stood there until 1932 when in the hectic frce-for-all that is; still remembered by harness horse fans. Neil Frisco (Hood: won the first heat in 2.0734. He was a very . erratic horse and was distancedl the second heat. Marjorie M.l Llabaieel winning in 2.07i'4 andi tieiiig the record. She also won: the race.

cd by Hcddin Bros. Charlotte-

On August 24. ism. f'aluiur-t

This holiday

Charlottetown fore.

return egaiii.

”-iMii.roN's OLD SPAIN

5 I 13.3,”

1355 - 1955 WELCOME!

will be more visitors to

We bid them welcome and trust their stay will be. en- ieyeble and tliei they will

season there

than ever be-

Brownle (Hood) won the first heat in the free-for-all in 2.07M. shar- ing honors with Neil Frisco. Mar- Joria M.. Darliey Grntton (Conroy) winning the race in 2.08. 2.08ll.

In a free-for-all that will to n gt

l l he remembered. Aug. 24. 1934.

Toll G ate (Sweeney) was a

straight heat winner. Guy the

Tramp (Crummer) 2-2-2. Four: other starters. Time 2.06”i'i. 2.il51,i,i 2.0615. all three heats betteringi the previous track record.

At the great Provincial Exhib-l ition in 1936. when a new average time for heats trotted and heainl paced was set up. the free-for-all was also a stand-out. Its fiic entries were the best pacers : that time in Canada and evc heat was a terrific battle with Bi Wenger 1E. Avery) winning the trio from Calumet Budlnng. Dc - mat. Marjorie M. and Toll Gate. Time 2.0534. 105'-'1. 2.0ti'tz. Tie 2.0515 is the present track record.

Just after the depression of ISVJ. business began to pick up aid the directors of the Exhibitiin gaining confidence. enlarged lllPT program of entertainment yeai':..i bringing in new and better sis and specialties. Evening shows were put on with the assistan e of the Charlottetown Driving Cir . whose members. properly attired and with perfectly turned-out mounts. performed in a briliIant'y lighted ring in the centre ficldl This lighting arrange tent was. designed by specialists rom Ncwl York and readers who think back-I will agree with its that it was .7 very fine show. 3

As the night sliows continued to! draw larger and larger audicnccs.y greater efforts were made to brirllz 5 in acts of continental fame and it i can be truly said that every' worth-while act shown in the larg-L er centres of the United States or Canada with the exception of

Continued on page 15 4

Horses Paracling Before Judges' Stand

Ancl Old Double Decker - Yesteryear

First Exhibition Races Were Held In

A

October

LET US HELP YOU PAINT THE TOWN

OUR GOOD WISHES FOR A GAY AND SUCCESSFUL CENTENNIAL

SHERWIN-WILLIAMS 00.

OF CANADA LTD.

"CH WN'S HOUSE OF &LOR" 131 Gt. George It.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL

OUR CITIZENS

We look back with pride on past achievements and

forward with confidence on this the 100th Anniversary

of the City of Cliarlolieiown.

The PURE MILK Co. Ltd.

l 191 GT. GEORGE ST.

Congratulations Citizens,

Welcome Visitors:

ON

- C HARLOTTETOWN'S 100th

ANNIVERSARY

STEAii'S PHARMACY

q 128 Kent st.

P

Aerial View Charlottetown Driving Perii and Provincial Exhibition Grounds

"lee You At The FAIR”

i955 .- can

The Charlottetown Driving Park . and Provincial Exhibition Association

TENNFAKL OLD HOME-EWEEK i955 August Hill. to gust incisive . .

Congratulate

CHARLOTTETOWN

mmmmmmmnm

ioo i:l1

ANNIVERSARY

tin A1955 1