Saturday, February 23, 2013

Power Baron



Fourty years ago, in 1973, Hall of Fame horseman Earle Avery of Woodstock made a concerted effort to purchase a young two-year-old Baron Hanover colt after watching him race in Saint John but he was repeatedly rebuffed by the owner who wouldn’t part with him for any price.

 “I really liked the look of him and figured he was going to be something,” Avery said in June 1977. “I wanted him right then and there, but the owner wouldn’t part with him for anything.  And as it looks now, you can’t blame me, can you?  He may be the best ever in the Maritimes.”

The owner was Mike Doyle and the horse - Power Baron.

Avery died a few months after making that statement and, ironically, two years later Power Baron won the Earle Avery Memorial in 1979, equaling the track record of 2:00.4.

This week Patrick Eastwood is the guest writer in the blog and tells the story of the Maritime legend.




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When one reflects back on the horses and character’s that is the fabric from which Maritime Harness Racing is made of, one name that invariably comes to the top of most peoples lists is that of Power Baron.

For those who didn’t have the pleasure of seeing him race, we’ll endeavour to offer some insight into the path he followed and the lofty goals he achieved.  For those who did have the pleasure of seeing him perform, sit back and enjoy a stroll down memory lane as we recall what have proven to be some of the great moments in Maritime Harness Racing history.

The story goes back to the fall of 1972, when Mike Doyle, Don Galbraith, and Willard Jenkins all piled into a car and headed for Delaware Ohio to attend, what was then known as the International Horse Sale.  Among the horses haltered at this sale by the trio was a bay son of Baron Hanover out of the Sampson Direct mare, Dottie Sampson, for the princely sum of $3,200 in what proved to be one of the best investments ever made by a Maritimer south of the border. Upon returning home, the breaking process began and throughout the winter, showing great promise, Mike awaited spring’s arrival with the same anxious anticipation that all yearling purchasers do.


Alas, spring arrived and Power Baron made his debut on June 20, 1973.  Although denied victory in his initial attempt placing third, he wasn’t long finding the coveted winner’s enclosure, breaking his maiden in his next start on June 27th pacing in 2:15. He would find the winner’s circle on 5 more occasion’s during his juvenile campaign from 13 tries, adding two seconds and banking $1,982, with his season’s fastest coming on September 26th , defeating a field of preferred pacers in 2:08.2.

Power Baron’s 3-year-old year began much like the previous season ended, with wins in three of his first four outings while lowering his record to 2:05.4 despite being forced to face the best horses on the grounds.  

A highlight of his sophomore campaign occurred on September 2nd at Truro Raceway as he captured the Donnie Turner Memorial which was then run as an Early Closing event for 3 year olds and was a best, in summary, from three heats not the one heat that is customary today.

Donnie Turner Memorial, Truro Raceway September 2, 1974 $8,298

Power Baron (Michael Doyle)           x-1-x-2-1      2:05.2, 2:12.4
Armbro Octane (Edward Andrews) x-2-x-1-2      2:05.1
Glengyle Byrd (James MacGregor)  1-x-1-x-Dr    2:07, 2:04.3
Grattan Greenwood 3-x-2-x
Neat Baron 2-x-3-x
Right Baron x-3-x-3
Glengyle Moe x-4-x-4
West River Kelsa 5-x-4-x
Darktown Boy 4-x-6-x
Sam Time x-5-x-5
Loose Goose 6-x-5-x
Vince Time x-6-x-6
Breezy Baron 7-x-7-x
Armbro Oration x-7-x-7        

His three-year-old seasonal summary revealed 23-6-7-4 -$15,125.  His seasons fastest occurred in a $5,000 invite at his home track on August 28th when he turned back such Free-For-All stalwarts such as Tavern's Majestic, Scotch Gauman, Neeboots, Bachelor Boy N, Another Macca, Analizor and La Cardy in a 2:03.2 clocking.

His next season began following the same script, as had been written in his previous two, with victories in six of his first seven calls to post, including the prestigious $10,000 Alexander Memorial in 2:02.2 defeating Analizor, Fab, Solar Eden, Royal Relate, Rapid Baron, Jicarilla Byrd, & Ranger Bill. 

Now faced with the daunting task of obtaining starts after his virtual domination of the Atlantic region’s best, owner Doyle chose to test the lucrative waters of Montreal’s Blue Bonnets Raceway.  The predecessor of what became known as Hippodrome De Montreal, he enjoyed much the same success that he did here at home taking a new record of 1:58.4 under the guidance of Gilles Gendron.   At season’s end he had added another $37,935 from 22 starts with 11 wins, 2 seconds and four thirds.

In 1976, Power Baron’s name would continue to rise in both prominence and folklore history as he tasted victory in the longest continuous running Free-For-All of the day, The Monctonian, turning back the likes of Scotch Gauman, Analizor and Ventall Rainbow in 2:04.3.  However, the best was yet to come as Old Home Week ’76 approached and people’s thoughts turned to the storied Evening Patriot Gold Cup & Saucer. 

This coveted prize was on the mind of Mike Doyle as well. 

The fateful day arrived with the track lightning fast as evidenced by the fact that the track record had been lowered earlier in the day by Analizor and then equaled by Radiant Butler in identical times of 2:02.3.  Seven entries faced the starter in Gold Cup & Saucer 17 with Power Baron scoring from post two and grabbing the track as expected when the wings folded.  He lead through fractions of :30.1, 1:00.3, 1:31 and held off Ranger Bill and a fast closing Glentohi N in a track record setting 2:01.4 mile.



The next year was another season of what had proven to be common place and a 2:00.1 victory at EPR on May 28th, the closest he would come to Andy’s Sons’ elusive track record.  
It resulted in him packing his harness for greener pastures again.  

This time it was to the year old Meadowlands complex that would be his playground, where two weeks later he would record his life’s best of 1:58m on June 10th with Saint Johns’ own Jimmy Doherty aboard.  His season summary would read 28-10-4-5 while racking up an additional $47,450 in yearly earnings.

In 1978, Power Baron set a track record at the Cape Breton Sports Club at Sydney in the inaugural J. A. Ferguson Memorial eclipsing J P Ammos’ track record with the 2:02 clocking.  

There also was a victory in the inaugural edition of the Provincial Cup at EPR in 2:02.4.


Another season of total domination in 1979 resulted in his second consecutive J. A. Ferguson victory in 2:02.3 and then came his second Monctonian win in a track record time of 2:01.1.

But he wasn’t finished re-writing Maritime record books yet.

He lowered his own two-week-old track record at Monctons’ Brunswick Downs as he claimed victory in the Brunswicker pace defeating Flying Caper and Ventall Rainbow in 2:00.2, a mark that would stand for all time as Brunswick Downs would fall at the hands of an arsonist in 1981.

The Earle Avery Memorial in Woodstock would result in a record equalling performance of 2:00.4 through a torrential downpour turning back Hall-of-Famer Stanley Dancer and stateside invader Plat Du Jour. 

Before seasons’ end, he would add the B. C. Cruickshank Memorial at Sackville Downs to his list of laurels.  His 1979 line looked like this: 22-8-5-1-$28,225 with his track record performance in Moncton standing as his fastest.

In 1980, Power Baron would add another Monctonian, his third to his resume.  The year would also see Power Baron embark on a new aspect of his career, that being in the breeding shed, standing for limited duty while continuing his racing career.  

The next year would see him devote the entire year to his new calling, but with the old Warrior restless, he returned to the racing wars in 1982 and, while not the Power Baron of old, he still racked up three more victories in 37 tries to give him 69 wins on his career.  

Finally, with 19 starts in 1983 without a victory, it marked the end of his racing career, like an old prize fighter, still with the desire in his heart just not the steam in his legs.

His career summary was 69 wins and $224,289 in earnings with his six-year old record of 1:58m, his fastest.

His legacy in the breeding shed was not a tale of success like his racing career, but still managed to leave the likes of  1985 ASS three-year-old pacing colt champion, Tobique Power p.4,1:59.2f-$78,243, Power Mac p.5,2:00.4f-$29,431, Legitimate Power p.4, 2:02.3h-$29,664 and Repeat Power p.4,2:01.1h-$29,254.   

Power Baron’s last tour of the EPR oval would come as the parade marshall for the 1988 Provincial Cup, squiring Liberal Premier Frank McKenna around the track.

Despite the obvious infirmities that can be attributed to a sixteen-year-old body, when he took centre stage and the lights went down with the spotlight upon him, the old fire was still evident in his eyes.

Refreshing in everyone’s minds, the reasons why his name is still revered in Maritime harness circles to this day.
     
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POWER BARON

B H 1971, Baron Hanover - Dottie Sampson by Sampson Direct
p.2,2:08.2h; 3,2:03.2h; 6,1:58m ($224,289)

1973      2:08.2h 13-5-6-0 $1,982
1974      2:03.2h 23-6-7-4 $15,125
1975      1:58.4f 22-11-2-4 $37,935
1976      2:00.4h 24-10-3-1 $24,105
1977      1:58m 28-10-4-5 $47,450
1978      1:58.2f 29-7-4-5 $47,390
1979      2:00.2h 22-8-5-1 $28,225
1980      2:01.2h 22-8-2-2 $17,820
1981      Did Not Race
1982      2:05.4h 37-3-1-3 $3,769
1983                     19-0-1-1 $488

1973

Broke maiden in second lifetime start 2:15 - June 27
Set two-year-old track Record (2:08.2) at EPR

1974

Set three-year-old track Record (2:03.2) at EPR

1975

Winner $10,000 Alexander Memorial (2:02.2) at EPR
Set four-year-old track Record (1:58.4f) at Blue Bonnets for Gilles Gendron
Set a record at Richelieu Park in Montreal for the most sub-2:00 victories during a race meet at that track

1976

Winner Monctonian (2:04.3) at Brunswick Downs in Moncton


Winner Belvedere FFA (2:02.3) at Brunswick Downs
Winner $5,000 Champlain Pace (2:00.4) at Brunswick Downs
Winner Evening Patriot Gold Cup & Saucer (2:01.4) at Charlottetown

1977

Winner Invitational (2:00.1) at EPR – May 28
Winner (1:58m) at the Meadowlands for James Doherty in Lifetime Mark  

1978

Winner J. A. Ferguson Memorial (2:02) at Sydney
Winner Provincial Cup (2:02.4) at EPR defeating Bombay Gary, Morristown, Double Splendor, Kaweco, Weigh In, J M Gold and Cheviot

1979

Winner $3,000 Earl Deware Memorial (2:01.4) at Brunswick Downs defeating Daily Special
Winner J. A. Ferguson Memorial (2:02.3) defeating Kaweco
Winner Monctonian (2:01.1) at Brunswick Downs defeating Flying Caper and Kaweco  
Winner Earle Avery Memorial (2:00.4) at Connell Park in Woodstock equalling track
Winner $6,000 Brunswick Pace (2:00.2)at Brunswick Downs defeating Flying Caper and Ventall Rainbow -Fastest Mile of 1979 in Maritimes
Winner B. C. Cruickshank Memorial (2:02) at Sackville Downs defeating The Butler Machine, Patton Hill, Kaweco, Good Delight
EPR Horse of the Year - 1979

1980

Winner Monctonian (2:03.2) at Brunswick Downs defeating Saul's Pride, Scottish Heath N, Bedouin, Baron's Image, Special Reward, Kaweco and Pennant Play

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For more blogs on New Brunswick harness racing go to thefrederictonscene.blogspot.ca

For more historical data, pictures and stories please LIKE Fredericton Raceway 125 on Facebook.
 

 

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Blog preview



Although I believe that the sport of harness racing is required to make a significant transformation to change the course of its future, a look back to its gloried past is also necessary to remind one of how great it was and can be.  

If you have been a faithful reader of this blog over the past couple of months, you have probably come to realize that I have an avid interest in the history of harness racing in New Brunswick, especially in Fredericton and Woodstock.

This year commemorates the 50th anniversary of Meadow Skipper’s historical 1:55.1 world record performance at The Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky. 

Earle Avery, the legendary New Brunswick horseman from Woodstock, was the trainer-driver of Meadow Skipper.    


Avery is a member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, the Living Hall of Fame of the Trotter in Goshen, NY and the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame.

Thanks to the generosity of the late horseman’s family, I have been granted access to the personal collections and archives of Earle Avery.  It is a treasure trove full of pictures, historical news clippings and memorabilia that was maintained by his devoted wife throughout his career.

Periodically, over the next few weeks and months, I will be sharing some of this collection through the blog and on Facebook.  I will also make available some newspaper stories on Avery and Meadow Skipper that you will enjoy reading and reflecting back upon. 

In addition, please visit Fredericton Raceway 125 on Facebook where I will also be posting some of Avery’s historical photos and memorabilia.  Just click on the link here and hit the LIKE button.

It’s a great way to remember New Brunswick people and horses from the glory days of harness racing.

EARLE AVERY with GUN RUNNER after winning the Scotland Trot at Yonkers Raceway in 1968.
 
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Mike Stevenson is not only one of Maritime harness racing’s most talented horsemen but is also one of its nicest and most well-liked.  So, it was no surprise that the interview with him, that was posted last week in this space was, by far and away, the most popular yet of all of the blog posts.   It was very well-received in Prince Edward Island and down through the New England states and Florida, where Mike has spent much of his career.  Since last week, there have been over 2,000 hits.

The local newspaper, The Daily Gleaner, plans to run the interview in a future edition and the Saint John newspaper, the Telegraph-Journal, might as well.

The Daily Gleaner has indicated that the four-part series on the history of Fredericton Raceway drew much positive feedback and have expressed an interest in publishing more about the storied past of harness racing in Fredericton and its personalities.

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Speaking of the storied past, some other blogs that you can expect to see over the next few weeks and months include the aforementioned Earle Avery and a look at his harness racing career with an emphasis on his successful relationship with Norman Woolworth and Clearview Farms.

With the 45th anniversary of Connell Park Raceway opening in Woodstock, we will look at the history of harness racing in New Brunswick’s first incorporated town. 

For example, did you know that the famous Island Park racetrack, that was located in the middle of the Saint John River between Woodstock and Grafton, was not the first harness racing track in Woodstock? 

ISLAND PARK

There were two other racetracks prior to that one opening in 1919.  Find out where they were and their history in a future blog.

As well, we will take a look at other historical racetracks in New Brunswick that no longer exist and their tracks records.

There will be stories on the late Bill Quigg and his contribution to harness racing in Fredericton as well as a look at the career of W. Bert Lint in the 1920’s, when harness racing in Fredericton and “community-owned” horses were at their peak in popularity. 

Lint, a local hotel operator, city promoter and very much an avid amateur harness racing driver, campaigned his own free-for-aller Roy Volo and set a world record with another, Chesley H Searcey, one of those “community-owned” horses.

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Another ardent supporter of New Brunswick’s harness racing history, Patrick Eastwood of Saint John, has agreed to be the guest writer for The Fredericton Scene blog next weekend and he will take a look at the career of one of New Brunswick’s greatest horses from the 1970’s, Power Baron.  Patrick’s keen insight and statistical collection has been a great asset to the blog and I am hopeful we can look forward to more written contributions in the future.

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For more blogs on New Brunswick harness racing go to thefrederictonscene.blogspot.ca

For more historical data, pictures and stories please LIKE Fredericton Raceway 125 on Facebook.