Andy Robinson – Wpg Tribune June 22, 1923
By Bob Gates
“One of the finest trainers in the racing game.” R. J. Speers – Edmonton Bulletin, January 29, 1932
“The grand old man of Western Canada’s old guard of training.” Winnipeg Free Press, May 21, 1936
“Andy Robinson knows more about Western Canada racing than any other man. He has probably won more races than any other owner or trainer and with never a blemish on his record during his long career.” Edmonton Journal, August 15, 1938
Newspaper quotes from the 1930s paint a pretty good picture of Andy Robinson.
Andrew Jackson Robinson was born in Fergus Ontario on February 3, 1869, but would eventually set his sights on Canada’s west. His 50-plus year career saw him get his start in Brandon in 1896, from there it was on to Calgary in 1913, then Edmonton in 1920. Andy would eventually find his way to Winnipeg where he made his forever home at old Whittier Park racetrack in St. Boniface.
How far back does Andy go? Well he remembered when they raced on the frozen Red River in Norwood, and he saw his first King’s Plate in 1891. So we are forgiven if his name is unfamiliar.
Andy moved to Winnipeg in 1940, but he was a regular on the Prairie Racing Circuit. In the 20s, 30s and 40s he spent time at all of the major predecessors of Assiniboia Downs, River Park, Whittier Park and Polo Park racetracks.
As a young horseman Andy first raced here in 1897. An early memorable win took place at the old half-mile exhibition track in the Peg. Andy’s horse, Logdern took the top prize in a $2,500 purse way back in 1901.
In those early days of racing on the prairies, Andy had no peers. Newspapers made repeated reference to the idea that the racing season could only get underway once Andy and his horses arrived. Runners that wore Andy’s colours included Mad Somers, Hainault Maid, Broadway Breeze, Yorkie Prince and Magdu Don.
Andy never won the Canadian or Manitoba Derby, but he had horses that competed in those classics. In the first five years of the Winnipeg Futurity, Andy’s Mad Somers won in 1931 and in 1934 he trained the winner Broadway Breeze.
Andy was married for more than five decades, yet never took a wife. At least there are no records to confirm that Andy married and there was no mention of a wife in any the countless newspaper articles which featured the kindly, simple man. It’s hard to believe that the lifelong racetracker who lived and ate with his horses never attracted the ladies. Go figure!? Andy had a lifetime romance with horses that included a five-decade marriage to racing.
Racing according to the Dean of trainers:
”Listen to me. These horses nowadays are mollycoddled like poodle dogs. They’re no better for it… Boy, I said cool off that horse, not run him to death. What do you want to do? Catch him pneumonia? ”
On the “new” twilight racing – “ It’s better for the horses. It’s much better than racing in the heat of the afternoon.”
Andy’s thoughts from 1941 are even more significant when you consider he was 72 at the time. He always gave his horses the winter off, turned them out everyday, regardless of the weather and started training on March 1st no matter what.
But you can’t tell the story of Andy Robinson without talking about his special relationship with a gelding named Sunny Marcus.
Andy and Sunny’s story wasn’t the first such tale, nor the last. There is almost something mythical about this time period, Spud Murphy had Joe Geary and Slim Keith had Contributor. As long as thoroughbreds race, the bond between humans and equines will go on until the end of time.
Sunny and Andy raced together for nine years. The gelded son of Marcus was as honest a thoroughbred as they come. He was the height of consistency and Sunny was Andy’s horse. When times were lean, Sunny provided the oats and hay for the barn by virtue of his victories.
Andy Robinson – Edmonton Journal July 15, 1940
All was well In Andy’s world until July 1940. Andy was racing in Edmonton when an American, Guy Phellis did the unimaginable, he dropped a claim for Sunny. Phellis was totally unaware of their history. He simply saw a good consistent horse, albeit a ten-year-old one, and thought he was worth the $400 price tag.
They say Andy got wind of the claim and it is quite possible that Sunny did as well. Sunny lost that day; it was the first time in his last 20 starts that he finished out of the money. Immediately after the race Andy took his four-legged friend and hightailed it back to the safe confines of his barn. A crowd began to gather at Andy’s barn, looking to retrieve Sunny. Andy was defiant “ Nobody is taking Sunny from my barn.” Andy knew being ruled-off was a possibility, but didn’t care.
Talks ensued into the evening before a compromised was reached. Andy would give up Sunny provided his groom would accompany the horse to Saskatoon, the next stop on the circuit. In addition, Andy saw to it that some special hay he had purchased for his pal would be taken along as well.
The agreed upon plan called for Phellis to enter Sunny in a claiming race at Saskatoon with the understanding that Andy would be able to claim old Sunny back. And that was exactly how the story played out. Sunny was home.
In the spring of 1941 Sunny and Andy were stabled at Whittier Park. Andy had entered Sunny in the fourth race on May 31, 1941. The 6½-furlong affair had the 11-year-old gelding right there with the leaders when tragedy struck. Sunny’s aging tendons could go no further.
Winnipeg Tribune May 29, 1941
Andy lost his friend that day on the fringe of the track. Sunny was laid to rest amid the poplar trees on the banks of the mighty Red River behind old Whittier Park racetrack.
Andy had broken the old backstretch adage: “Never fall in love with a horse.” Sunny Marcus left an empty stall in Andy’s barn and took a piece of the old man’s heart that spring afternoon at Whittier.
When Andy had returned to Winnipeg in 1940 he settled in at Whittier Park racetrack. His move from Edmonton to Winnipeg was made easier by R. J. Speers. Andy’s accommodation at Whittier Park had everything he needed, his three-room suite in the winter barn included shower, “tub bath,” hot and cold running water and private toilet facilities. “This is the best home I’ve had since I first started racing away back when…”
The winter of Andy’s life was tough. Semi-retirement had been more or less forced on him. Looking after Speers’ yearlings at Whittier Park and his “caretakership” of the once grand facilities in St. Boniface kept him going for a time.
Andy Robinson – Wpg Tribune May 4, 1948
The raging flood waters of 1950 sealed the fate of Whittier Park and displaced Andy and his pet cat from his home. When the waters receded he returned to his humble abode whose walls were adorned with photographs from another time. At this point the grandstand, paddock, jocks room and offices were gone. The once manicured lawn and grounds of Whittier were in tatters.
Andy’s health deteriorated slowly, and he ended up in a nursing home. It was widely believed that Jim Speers saw to it that the Dean of trainers was looked after.
There was no fanfare when Andy passed on March 26, 1957. Maurice Smith of the Winnipeg Free Press put it this way.
“Dean of Racing on the prairies, Andy Robinson died yesterday after as short illness… Andy raced and trained horses all over the North American continent before setting down in Winnipeg many years ago… Those who knew Andy Robinson well will deeply mourn his passing because in the words of Lou Davies, General Manager of the R. J. Speers Corporation “he was a man beloved by all who were fortunate enough to know him.”
Andy was laid to rest at Fairview Cemetery in the R. M. of Roland.
Andrew Jackson Robinson headstone, Fairview Cemetery, R.M. of Roland
Rest in peace, Andy!