Polo Park circa 1950 (ASD archives)
By Track Historian Bob Gates
Good morning! It’s early on a Saturday and I find myself in my usual spot, sitting at our dining room table. As I prepare to write this week’s blog story, I stare out the patio doors, alone in my thoughts and my mind starts to wander aimlessly. It isn’t long before an image of “Old” Polo Park becomes so real, it’s as if I could reach out and touch it.
Today, I’d like to take you with me on a trip back in time to the racetrack that was on the outskirts of our fair city. I still marvel at the idea that Assiniboia Downs has been in operation for 67 years and yet its predecessors River, Whittier, and Polo Parks only ran thoroughbred race meets for half that time. So, Downs patrons have every right to be proud of the longevity of the “other” Portage Avenue racetrack.
Anyways, I digress, let’s get back to Polo. It seems to me the best way to revisit Polo Park, without the use of a time machine, is to peruse old programs of the day. Surprise, surprise, I just happen to have a few of those kicking around.
Much to my amazement, I have about 70 of these babies in my collection of racing memorabilia. There’s a couple from the 1920s and 40s, while most are from the 1950s. I have chosen five of them to flip through and check out names of horses, owners, trainers and jockeys.
Familiar horses from the period were tough to find, after all for the most part these names haven’t been spoken in 75 years. While the same could be said of the two-legged members of our memories, their legacies had a slightly longer life span.
The race programs of the day provide the necessary portal to the past and will form the basis of our timeless trip. Of the few days selected, one has the 23rd running of the Speers Handicap (September 11, 1948), another was given to me by Downs patriarch Albert Edward “Bert” Blake (June 26, 1950), two feature the Canadian Derby (September 6, 1952 and July 1, 1954), and the final one contains the 26th running of the Winnipeg Futurity (July 2, 1955). All right let’s go! Set your mind free of all clutter, and imagine old Polo Park…
Fort Garry, Sept. 11, 1948 wins the Speers (Freed Family)
Saturday, September 11, 1948
Program Price: Fifteen Cents
The feature race of the day was the 23rd running of the $3,000 added Speers Handicap over a mile and 70 yards. Frank Kilroy and Max Freed’s Meadowbrook Stable’s Fort Garry prevailed in the classic despite having to lug 128 pounds around the racetrack. Not to mention, facing two foes who had beaten him recently. Perhaps, Maurice Smith of the Winnipeg Free Press said it best “… over a stretch of three or fours races between the same horses, class will eventually tell.”
Owners on the day included: L. P. Jacques (owner of Joey). W. G. “Billy” Trevenen, C. C. Koltes, and Alberta’s Lee Williams and T. H. “Tommy” Morrison (held jockey Hugo Dittfach’s book).
Trainers: A. G. ”Andy” Smithers, R. W. “Bud” Mathes, M. R. “Dick” Carey, C. J. “Cece” Filby. Harry Giddings (trained no fewer than eight King’s Plate winners).
Jockeys: Cliff Potts, Emil Roy, Paul Bailey, Jimmie Schmied and Jimmy Sivewright.
Program Quotes:
“When buying Pari-Mutuel Tickets, have the correct amount; no change will be made by the ticket seller.”
“Notice – It is a serious statutory offence to engage in hand-booking, pool-selling etc., on a race track, and any breach of the law will result in a summary prosecution of the offender.
The public is also reminded that it is a similar offence to make wagers in any other manner than through the mutuels and failure to comply with the regulations will lead to expulsion.”
June 26, 1950
Monday, June 26, 1950
Program Price: Fifteen Cents
This program came to me by way of “Bert” Blake who threw a saddle over two horses that day. He had two-year-old filly May Star in the third race and Brandon’s H. V. Currie’s Princess Pilot in the sixth. Princess Pilot finished fifth and May Star faired only marginally better, finishing fourth.
Riding honours for the day went to Don Miller, Vic Bovine and Anthony Licata (father of former Downs jockey Frank Licata) who all scored two wins each.
Owners on the day included: Les Lear, N. D. “Neil” Campbell W. J. “Bill” Yates Whittier Park Stock Farm and J. A. “Jimmy” Charlesworth.
Trainers: Joe Wynant, L. E. “Lorne” Dupont, D. H. “Duke” Campbell, M. R. “Dick” Carey, and R. J. “Bob” Watt.
Jockeys: Emil Roy, Gladstone’s Ray Stewart, Roy Russell, Art Stein and Rex Leavitt.
Program Quote:
“ALL NET PROFITS OF THIS 14 DAY MEETING WILL BE GIVEN TO THE MANITOBA FLOOD RELIEF FUND”
Derby Day Progam, September 6, 1952
Saturday, September 6, 1952
Program Price: Twenty Cents (Note: Five Cent Price Increase)
It was Derby Day at Polo and we’re talking the Canadian Derby. The feature race on the card was the 23rd running of the $5,000 added Canadian Derby which had 13 horses go to post with two E. P. Taylor horses running as an entry. The starting gate only had room for 12, so one of the field had to start from outside the gate.
The victor, Lord Strome was bred by Jim Speers’ Whittier Park Stock Farm and had been sold to Mrs. Joe Tomlinson just two weeks prior to the Derby. Lord Strome, an “ungainly, long-legged” two-year-old, had not lived up to expectations. As a result, he was considered expendable by Speers, but Strome proved everyone wrong on Derby Day, with the exception, of course, of his new owners.
Owners: Bert Blake, E. P. Taylor, Captain Stanley Harrison, Charlie Krupp and F. M. “Tiny” Holden.
Trainers: Bert Blake, R. J. “Bob: Watt, Harry and George Howell, D. H. “Duke” Campbell and Rex Ireland.
Jockeys: Roy Russell, young apprentice Tommy Stadnyk, Nick Cizik, “Scotty” Craigmyle and Dave Giacomelli.
Derby Day Program, July 1, 1954
Thursday, July 1, 1954
Program Price: Twenty Cents
The 25th running of the Canadian Derby saw Whittier Stock Farm’s filly Treherne nose out eastern invader and heavily-favoured Hi Laude. It was the richest Canadian Derby to date with $9,790 being the winner’s share of the $10,000 added purse. The winner’s circle had Duke Campbell, manager of the Whittier Park Stack Farm and trainer Bud Mathes smiling from ear to ear.
Once again, there weren’t a lot of horse’s names that seemed familiar, but the winner of the final race of the day #3 Gesundheit got my attention and when coupled with second place finisher #8 Vuvette, returned a $165.10 Quinella.
Owners on the day included: L. J. Marsh, D. E. Ormiston (florist), F. M. Clark Sr., Meadowbrook Stables and W. G. “Billy” Trevenen.
Trainers: “Bert” Blake, R. J. “Bob” Watt, A. G. “Andy” Smithers, G. Magnusson and R. W. “Bud” Mathes.
Jockeys: Jimmy Fitzsimmons, Harvey “the Pumper” Duncan, Dee Gates (no relation), Nick Cizik and Ken Coppernall
Who Remembers? When the Downs played host to the Annual Scottish Games that was usually held on July 1st. Well that tradition started at Polo Park.
Program Quotes:
“CHILDREN UNDER 16 WILL NOT BE ADMITTED”
July 2, 1955 Program
Saturday, July 2, 1955
Program Price: Twenty Cents
The 26th running of the Winnipeg Futurity was the feature race of the day. Starter George Dunn sent away 16 two-year-olds in the Futurity with four horses having to start outside the gate. There was one three-horse entry, 1, 1A and 1X and three two-horse entries, 2 and 2B, 3 and 3C and 4 and 4D. On this day, Meadowbrook’s Dandy Thought came home in front.
Meanwhile Rimbey Alberta’s “Bud” Mathes was making his presence known. Bud’s horses won the sixth and seventh races on the card. First up was his ten-year-old mare, Last Drink who won her sixth race in seven starts. While his nine-year-old chestnut gelding, Cloudchaser won his fourth straight race of the meet.
Owners on the day included: Carey Bros., D. H. “Duke”: Campbell, R. G. Ormiston (florist), Sam Riddle and F. Fileccia.
Trainers: C. J. “Cece” Filby, Les Lear, W. Marsh Sr., L. J. Marsh, and L. E. “Lorne” Dupont.
Jockeys: Nick Cizik, Jimmy Fitzsimmons, Ron Archer, W. Marsh Jr., and Lloyd Cowie.
And that concludes our visit to Polo Park racetrack. My almost trance-like state begins to fade and the reality of the day returns. Our trip to Polo is but a memory and I am back, sitting at the dining room table. I look around and am surrounded by old Polo programs with my pen in hand and wonder…
Where have all those years gone!?