Ydown. From the first the exhib-

PAGE EIGHTEEN

First Exh

1

Fur Coats And. Warm Underwear Featured In Store Sales For Meet

(By LIZ-COL. D. A.

MaexmNoN. ps0.)

Up until 1890, the ,City of Charlottetown and its environs was without a race track. In the early part of the 19th century saddle, races

were held on the St. Peter's Road. were small.

Distances varied and the purses

There were, however, more than n dozen race tracks in various parts of the Province, the nearest to the City being Upton Track, o\vn- ed by Dr. J. T. Jenkins, and some l0 .iiiles further was Cymbria Track,

now Parkvicw. Even Tignish and

Swirls, at respective ends of the

Iii-ind. had their T339 ifaf-‘KS. and tne Summcrsidc track was the scene

of one of the greatest gatherings of

people ever brought together when

the Hernando-Black Pilot race was staged there in 1888.

Held In min Hall '

The Queen's County Exhibition was held in those days Drill Hall, Charlottetown, and a bridge extended across Govern- ment Pond from the Drill Hall to the western bank of the pond where the cattle and other live- stock exhibits were kept.

Far-sighted nicn in the com- munity recognized the need for n combined race track and exhibit-I ion grounds. There was a lot off agitation and several meetings] were held in i883 and a bill was‘ passed by the local Legislature, granting a charter to the Char- lottcio\\'n Driving Park and Pro- vincial Exhibition Association with a capital of $25,000, the shares be- ing $100 each. They were nearly all taken up by business men and others in Charlottetown, and by farmers and stock raiser! in sev- eral parts of the Island.

Kensington Road Site

considerable discussion, the present site on Kensingtonl Road was decided on. lt was» largely covered with woods. The race track was laid of? from plans received from the National Trot- ting Association, Hartford, Conn. The various buildings were "put under construction, and it may be remarked that the MainBuild- ing, which was burned down some years ago, was built from plans

After

in the 1

i and outgoing “specials? Celebrated Sires

The building of the new nce |irack caused a greater develop- ment of interest iii harness horse racing and was the cause of the late W. A. Brennan of Summer- side sending to the celebrated l’alo Alto Farm, California. for two standard bred stallions, Parkside and Ballston. 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 best 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 flash to carry them to the wire in the lead as records commenced to drop well below the three-minute mark.

At the opening meet and for two or three years afterwards the high-wheel sulky was in vogue and some drivers were wont to put the butt of the whips inside the revolving spokes and create a noise that would accelerate their steeds. There was a lot of scoring and manoeuvering and it usually

used for a similar structure in one of the largest exhibition cen- tres of Ontario.

The present grandstand was built as a double-decker. It took two years to complete the track and buildings. and the first com- bined exhibition 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 Brunsa wick and Nova Scotia. Visitors who had travelled much said it was the finest exhibition plant and race track they had ever seen, and that impression was no doubt a true one.

Government assistance was given ‘towards the prize list for horses, cattle, sheep and poultry and rigid requirements for breeds were laid

ition prospered and the wise rules set up by directors were the means of developing breeds that have raised the standard and made this Island famous for its types of livestock. The Main Building housed the exhibits of vegetables and fruits and thous- ands of products of skilled handi- craft workers and weavers who spent many long evenings fash- tloning them, hoping for a prize which was then a very treasured lthing. - - I First laces

. The first horse races held sf. ‘that opening meet in 1890 were limited to three classes on each of two afternoons. Purses were lirom $100 to $200, yet there were Ieveral mainland entries and reading the reports we find that the public was quite enthused and the races considered a great suc- less,

The early part of October was Ionsidered by the directors the Inost desirable time to hold the show, as the fruits and vegetables {would be at their best. Later it was changed to the last week of September.

Old Timers tell us that Exhib- ltion days were usually cold, and Ill the stores advertised bargain sales of fur coats, warm under- {wear and such seasonable require- lnents.| All merchants got ready pnd all hotels for those gala days Ind incoming trains were packed with people to see the show. Trains were usually held till 7 ficlock in the evening and it was ne of the sights for the youths

bit

THE GUARDIAN, CHARLOTTETOWN

ion Races Were Held

e

Horses Parailing Before Judges’ Stand And Old Double Decker -Yesteryear“

move ‘around from one meet another.

In those days time made by a

ible to the 2.30 class.

with 2.59% at

town, Moncton, Halifax,

to‘

2.1911. And the fastest horse owned and bred in the Maritime Provinces in 1897 was

Saint John, N. B.—time 2.l8l,f|.

Pilot. 3.30111. dorfl Bros., North River, P. E. I.

Fast Heats

Track trotting records for the Maritime: came down slowly be- tween the years 1897 and

that it took a big cut. pened in the frce-for-all trot st Charlottetown Exhibition when

toolgAen or tvrcive scores before, the word "go" was given. Thel most noted starter was Dr. J. H.‘ Reed, brought here from Guelph, Ontario, and his booming voicei could be heard quite as clearly‘ as our present sound system.

The upper deck of the old grandstand was a favorite placei for young men and their sweet-' hearts as it afforded more priv- ucy. Due to a certain amount of swaying. the directors feared it might be an element of danger and in the early 1900's the grand- stand was cut down to its present size.

Greatest Era j racing was in Q est era in the years 1892- . Tracks were in operation all over the Maritime: and the Halifax Exhibition races extended to seven or more afternoons. Ship- ping costs were very low and that

f those days to see the incoming

made it easy for horsemen tol

Sydney, etc.

The records were much im- proved by the introduction of the bike sulky in the middle 1890's. Most of the bikes were made by attaching bicycle wheels to the former high-wheel sulkies, but soon manufacturers were turning out a special and much faster type.

Turf Records

dlancing over the turf records, for the year 1897, we find that the record for trotting mares was made at Charlottetown Sept. 23 of that year by Minota, owned by J’. R. Lamy. Amherst-—2.19‘/e. The

‘ gelding record for Maritime trot-

ters was also made at Charlotte- town Sept. 23, by Montrose, own- ed by Reddin Bros, Charlotte- towm-ZZOWA.

The fastest seventh heat ever made by a trotter on a Maritime track up to Sept. 23, 1897, was Warren Guy's at Charlottetown-

A Flelil at the llalf-Toilay

Bill Sharer-i. driven by Peter Car-

roll, stepped his third heat in 2.11%. which, among other great performances that season, led to l his being sold to the American trainer, Tommy Murphy, for $25,- 000

in United States funds, the

Canadian trottcr or pacer.

That record stood until Aug. 10, 1931, when it was lowered to 2.10% by Abbe Worthy, 2.04% (Hood). It was equalled on Aug. 16, 1936, by a little mare from Newfoundland, Harvest Melody (MacKinnon), that won the sec- ond heat of the 2.19 trot in that time. Two afternoons later Silk Girl 2.08% won the first heat of the 2.15 trot from Harvest Melody in 2.09% and let up a new track record. Silk Girl lost the next two heats and race to Harvest Melody.

A short time later-Labor Dly, Sept. 6, 1936-—it was lowered to 2.09% by Hestherbell (MscKln- non) and later on to 2.07% by Allowny (Ryan). That time was also equalled by Watchim (Hood) and Lee Brewer (Moreside) and finally set et 2.07% by Wstchlm (Hood) on Aug. 16, 1945.

— Plain‘ Records

The pacing record was also s long time in coming down from the 2.17% mark by Ada Mac (D. Steele) in the 1990's to 2.12% by Fem Hall (Cameron) st the Pro- vincial Exhibition. Charlottetown, Sept. 29, 1920. Three years liter John Willard. lltttnl behind the great free-for-etler John B. Brad- en set the record st 2.08% and it was not until Aug. 19. 1931 that Elli! H» driven by Billy Keyel. reduced it to 2.08.

It stood there until 1932 when In the hectic free-for-sll that is still remembered by harness horse 18M. Neil Frisco (flood) won the first heat ii-i 2f07%. He was a very entitle hone and wns distanced the second hut. Marjorie M. (Jabnlee) winning in 2.07% end ttelng the record. She also ‘won the race.

'9'! Alllust 24, 1933. Calumet Bro nle (Hood) won the first host

' J free-for-sll in 2.07%, shlh

Special 7 horse in a race was not only his .1 Blend, owned by E. LeRoi Willis, be remembered, Aug.

record but his classification and if he won in 2.30 he was only elig- Dodflinz of time, particularly on the smaller tracks, was much resorted to and it was usual for horses starting out in the game to be labelled country tracks, which made them eligible to the three-minute class, Timers had to stick to time actually made at larger tracks. such as Charlotte- Saint John, New Glasgow, Fredericton.

Special Blend was sired by Black straight heat owned by Docken. Tramp

1918, and it was not until Oct. 1, 1920 i That hap- _

largest amount ever paid for a

I jorie M, Darkcy Gratian (Conroy? ~ ~ wife celebrated their

winning the race in 2.08, 2.08%. In a free-for-all that will long

24. 1934,

'l‘oll Gate (Sivecnoy) was a winner, Guy (Crummer) 22-2.

‘other starters. Time 2.0631, 2.051’, 2.06 l-2, all three heats the previous track record.

was also a stand-out. Its five that time in Canada and every heat was a terrific battle with Bud Wenger (E. Avery) winning the trio from Calumet Budloniz, Der- mat, Mariorie M. and Toll Gate. Time 2.05%, 2.0515. 2.06“). The 2.05% ls the present track record.

Great Relnsmen

This would be a good time to mention some of the great reins- men who drove horses from the first meeting ln 1890 to 1910. Very few of them are with us today. One is Danny Steele. now racing

bettering? Nicholson, Hammond Kelly, Jack

At the great Provincial Exhib-l roll, ltion in 1936, when a new averagel Thomas time for heats trotted and heats’ llenry Hooper, Jack Irving, Frcd paced was set up, the frec-for-ail‘ Warren, D. L. Wilbur, Prof. S. A.

entries were the best paccrs at? passed on.

are Johnny McCobe, '\vho with his 50th wed- ding anniversary recently, Fred Cameron and Peter Conroy, who is a great help to the younger

the‘ drivers and trainers at the track. Four, P. S. Brown. R. J. Steele, LeRoi

Willis, Frank Boutillier, Dr. Jack

Henderson, Lou Cox. Peter Car- Alder Black. John Steele, Dean, l-l. C. Lydiard.

llockfort, Tommy Raymond, have

Just after the depression of i932. business began to pick up and the directors of the Exhlbitlonfl gaining confidence, enlarged their

bringing in new and better acts. and specialties. Evening were put on with the assistance of the Charlottetown Riding Club. whose members, properly attired and with perfectly turned-out mounts, performed in a brilliantly lighted ring in the centre ficld. This lighting arrangement xvzis designed by specialists from New York and readers who ‘hink back

;\*ory fine show.

As the night shows continued to draw larger and larger audiences. greater efforts were made to bring

‘in acts of continental fame and it

can be truly said that every worth-while act shown in the larger centres nf the United States

tor Canada with the exception of Hlhe Zaccinnies Cannon Act ep-

pearcd here. A most popular feature was the introduction to the audience of the singer Charlie Chamberlain, who,good naturedly answered all encores and helped in no small measure to add pop- ularlty to the evening's entertain- merit.

Old Home Week lnstltutcd

Combined harness racing, vaud- i exhibitions »

cville, midway and continued until 1939. War broke out just a few weeks after the Exhibition of that year and the luilitary forces took over and continued in charge of the plant until the spring of 1940. As no Exhibition grants were available, it was decided to brighten the picture by having an Old Home

In!

AUGUST 1a. I949

1890C

I racing and midway. In order to get public opinion behind it, s petition was drafted Ind the Hon. George D. Deal“,

a was the first to affix the signature

of DeBlois Bros, Ltd. With that potent backing, over 1,500 ligneQ and Old Home Week was on it; way, with the slogan “Be It Ever So Humble, There's No Place Like» Home."

lt proved a wonderful suociss, drew enormous crowds, which every year became greater and greater. The following year, the Provincial Exhibition was joined up with Old Home Week and that too, helped to swell the sttentL. unce until in the years 1944, 1945 and 1946 they broke all Maritime records for afternoon or evening outside entertainment. No expense or effort was spared to put on races and spectacles that would’ thrill, please and entertain,

Early in 1947 the then manage- ment transferred their interests to the present directors who have lo worthily maintained the Exhibit- lon features, the standard of rac- ing and entertainment, and have also added night racing, now so popular.

ln the long history of the lx- hibition Association, dating back to its first opening in 1990, thy following have been presidents: C. C. Gardiner, Benjamin Rogers, RR. FitZGcraIdfGBOFEE E- Hush- es, F. L. Haszard, J. J’. Davies, Frank R Ileertz, James Paton, Lt.-Col. D. A. MacKlnnon and H. J. Kennedy, the present office holder.

The secretaries have been A.B. Warburton. Charles Smallwood. J. W. Boulter, and the present office holder, G. H. Buntsln.

JUHNNVS"

\

MAYFAIR (

The Right Place

“Old llome Week” i

Y ‘ v l l ' Corner Prince 1b Kent Sts.

To Eat

0si>00é~d0i~0ki

r: with Nell Frisco, 1hr-

Motnr Problems

Heavy summer travel Our highly accurate handled by efficient

travel months.

169 liont Strut

fcrmlne quickly tho source of motor trouble Drlvo in for n thorough car check-up, to keep your car rolling during these pleasant

HORNE morons

at Old Orchard, Maine. Others will agree with us that it was 1i Week, with vaudeville, harness i

I l l I 4

-__ F.

f \\\ ‘ ~\ ,

t‘ Q

Are In Seasonl

is hard on motors. testing machines mechanics will do-

Pllllns 010 or I107