Bill Quigg

When William (Bill) Quigg wasn’t busy managing his successful publishing company, he could usually be found at the race track.   His family says his greatest pleasure in life was being a member of the Fredericton Raceway harness racing community and that pleasure became a passion during the 1960’s. 

Bill Quigg was a local businessman who, along with his wife, Margaret, established Commercial Publishers and a weekly newspaper, The Capital Free Press, in 1949.  Capital Free Press went on to become a large printing company in town and provided the race programs at Fredericton Raceway until it closed in 1991.  During the lean years of the 1960’s when money was tight at the track, the race programs were often printed at no charge.

It was during those lean years that Quigg and fellow businessmen and interested horsemen formed Wilmot Downs Ltd.

Wilmot Downs Ltd. included Robert Calhoun, George Woodside, Herb Gill, Herman True, Ron Burgess, John Savage, Bill Barker, Don Belmore, Cliff Young and Quigg.  They were responsible for maintaining the sport during that era, leasing the track from Fredericton Exhibition Ltd. and operating Fredericton Raceway until 1974. 

For its efforts to preserve harness racing during that time, Wilmot Downs was recognized with an induction into the Fredericton Raceway Wall of Fame in 2010.

However, Quigg was more than just a businessman.  He was also an active horseman and together with long-time friend, Ross Millet, owned the “Millet and Quigg Stable”.  Together they raced some very successful horses during that time including Silver Sister, Dan Scott, Lloyds Star, Shermar Shirley, Miramichi Joe, Miramichi Peter, Miramichi Bruce and Miramichi Elmer.

And then there was Quigg’s favorite horse – Elmwood.

Elmwood (Time Table-Woodland Ruth) was a champion two-year-old homebred racing for Dr. George Irving of Moncton on the Atlantic Sires Stakes (ASS) circuit in 1967 against rivals Miramichi Dot, Restigouche Abbe, Brenda’s Rose and Darn Good Candy.   He concluded his freshmen season with a record of 17-6-5-1.  The beautiful black colt caught Quigg’s eye after finishing second to Miramichi Dot in both heats of an ASS event at Fredericton during FREX week.  

Quigg and Millet set out to purchase Elmwood during the off-season and campaign him as a three-year-old in 1968.  Philip Sowers was assigned to train and drive Elmwood who became known for his toughness, timid starts and an ability to ‘smoothen out’ the further he went.

After a sophomore campaign that saw him make 40 starts, he had 14 wins, 10 seconds and seven thirds.  His money earnings were $8,049.   Among his wins was a victory in the Lofty Hardy at Truro in 2:08.4, the fastest by a Maritime-bred three-year-old colt that year.

Bill Quigg, Margaret Quigg, ELMWOOD, Philip Sowers, Ross Millet

Elmwood continued to campaign for the stable over the next few years in the Maritimes and the eastern United States, earning $27,672 along the way.  In 1970, he took a lifetime record of 2:06.4.

Bill Quigg passed away shortly afterwards at the age of 61.  He and Elmwood were inducted into the Fredericton Raceway Wall of Fame in 2008.

Quigg’s harness racing legacy has been carried on by his family.   His wife and son, Herbert, maintained the racing stable for a number of years after his death and Margaret also assumed his place on the Board of Directors of Wilmot Downs Ltd.  She continued to attend the races in Fredericton right up until she passed away in 2005 at the age of 91.  Herbert’s wife, Diane, was promotions director at Fredericton Raceway for a number of years.  Bill’s daughter, Barbara, was one of the first official licensed charters under the USTA and is a prominent citizen in Fredericton. 

The Bill Quigg Memorial was first raced at Exhibition Park Raceway in 1973 and remained there – with the exception of 1975 when no race was held – until 1977.  Since 1978, the Bill Quigg has been held at Fredericton.  It is the longest running stake in the Maritimes and was the first to establish a separate division for fillies in 1990. 

Fittingly, the first Bill Quigg Memorial winner was co-owned by his former partner, Ross Millet. 

Prior to the race Millett had said, “Bill Quigg was my partner in harness racing for years. I would love to win this race in his memory.” 

Millet was the co-owner of Forever’s Pride - along with William (Buddy) Wolfe of Fredericton - who equaled the Maritime-bred record for three-year-olds in 2:05.2 for driver Boyd Tremere in the inaugural race.  Darky Adios, who was not eligible to the race, had set the three-year-old record four days previous. 

Fredericton native Bobby Stevenson won with Shawfield Bras D’or in 1974 in times of 2:07.3 and 2:06.4 by a combined 22 lengths over Rainbow Time and Mike Downey.  It was the only time the race was conducted with two heats.

BILL QUIGG MEMORIAL WINNERS

1973*     Forever’s Pride - Boyd Tremere - 2:05.2

1974*     Shawfield Bras D’or - Robert Stevenson - 2:07.2 – 2:06.4

1975       Not raced

1976*     Hub City Champ - Boyd Tremere - 2:06.3

1977*     Prime Prospect - Rod Jamieson - 2:11.4

1978       Adoras Valentine - Phil Pinkney - 2:07

1979       Kilkerran Ella - Doug Walsh - 2:03.2

1980       Kickback Dick - Steve Mahar - 2:05

                A T Ervin - Jimmy Watkins - 2:05.4

1981       Chets Pride - Daniel Gass - 2:03.1

1982       Opinion’s Rae - Doug Walsh - 2:04.3

1983       Gemini Risk - Wally Hennessey - 2:02.3

                Flying Down - Steve Mason - 2:03

1984       Dunachton Dandy - Richard Gallant - 2:01.2

                Melanie Down - Steve Mason - 2:01.3

1985       Island Fella - Clark Smith - 2:01.3

                Glengyle Major - Jody Hennessey - 2:01.3

1986       Balmaghie Breeze - Steve Mahar - 2:03.4

                P H Colin - Steve Mahar - 2:02.3

1987       Gemini Jade - Steve Mahar - 2:01

                Dunachton  Major - Russell Burgoyne - 1:59.2

1988       Kilkerran Fury - Emmons McKay - 2:00.2

                Doubly Blest - Clare MacDonald - 2:01

1989       Boston Fenway - Albert Bernard - 2:03.2

                P H Dougie - Doug Walsh - 2:01.3

1990**   Burden Of Freedom - Steve Mahar - 2:00.4

                Island Kysaac - Gilles Barrieau - 2:02.3

                Diplomat Katie - Russell Burgoyne - 2:00

1991       Christopher C Down - Steve Mahar - 1:58.4

                Kilkerran Ingle - Emmons McKay - 2:00.1

                Wittenburg - David Pinkney - 2:01.2

1992       Sir Elmo - Russell Burgoyne - 2:01.2

                Some Nice Ketch - Russell Burgoyne - 2:00.3

1993       Harborvue Jacob - Danny Romo - 2:07

                West River Diesel - Clare MacDonald - 2:05.3

                Woodmere Hunny - Gilles Barrieau - 2:09.4

                Molzan - Donnie MacDougall - 2:10.3

1994       Rum Toddy - Danny Romo - 2:00.4

                Stargaze Down - Gilles Barrieau - 1:58

                Dexters Jane - Earl Smith - 2:01.3

                P H Dawn - Danny Romo - 2:01.4

1995       Mynahvizzone - Brian Moore - 2:01.4

                Calgary Flutie - Danny O’Brian - 2:00.4

                Jasper Moon - Paul Rogerson - 2:00.4

                Gemini Gazelle - Paul MacDonald - 2:01.1

                Island Paragon - Albert Bernard - 2:01.4

1996       Alfred Alfred - Steve Mahar - 2:01

                Island Quentin - Jody Hennessey - 1:59

                Could Be Magic - Earl Smith - 2:00

                Meductic Molly - Steve Mahar - 1:59.3

                Island Quisite - Danny O’Brian - 2:00

1997       Woodmere Fortune - Gordon Hennessey - 1:59.2

                Chatham Hoochee - Gordon Hennessey - 1:59.4

                Woodmere Topcat - Todd Trites - 1:58.1

                Island Reba - Garry MacDonald - 2:01

                Blu Meadow Magic - Paul MacDonald - 2:01

1998       Island Storm - Garry MacDonald - 2:04.3

                Island Sean - Danny Romo - 2:05

                Miss Courtney Lynn - Gilles Barrieau - 2:06.2

                Miss Flamingo Too - Danny Romo - 2:07

1999       Argo Flutie - Sean Shannon - 2:06

                Buster Buttons - Darren Crowe - 2:02.3

                Arcanes Falcon - Clark Bustard - 2:06.3

                Island Tradition - Clare MacDonald - 2:04

                E Js Pride - Ernest Laffin - 2:06

                P H Happy Cat - Todd Trites - 2:05.1

2000       Flex Appeal - Rod Jamieson - 1:59.2

                Remo - Gilles Barrieau - 1:58.3

                Island United - Clare MacDonald - 2:01.4

                Mighty Sassy - Paul MacDonald - 2:01.3

2001       Saulsbrook - Todd Trites - 1:59.4

                T K Skye - Danny Romo - 2:01.4

                Firms Phantom - Danny Romo - 1:59.1

                Island Vanessa - Danny Romo - 2:03.3

                Cookies Lighting - Gilles Barrieau - 2:00.1   

                Pinch Of Nutmeg - Phil Pinkney - 2:01.3

2002       Quick Flow - Gilles Barrieau - 1:58

                Island Windstorm - Earl Smith - 1:58.4

                Charlottes Best - Gilles Barrieau - 1:57

                Charlottes A Team - Danny Romo - 1:59.4

2003       Elm Grove Jake - Steve Mahar - 2:00.2                                   

                Clinton Debriefed - Gilles Barrieau - 1:56.4

                Britts Brat - Steve Mahar - 2:02

                Charlottes Liz - Todd Trites - 2:01

2004       Lotta Speed - Sam Hodgin Jr - 2:00

                Dunachton Gale - Phil Pinkney - 1:56.4

                Mr. Domi - Calvin Isenor - 1:57.1

                Fundy Breeze - Clare MacDonald - 2:00

                Roady Ryan - Wayne Watson - 2:02

2005       War Banner - Gilles Barrieau - 2:01

                Flaming Moe - Gilles Barrieau - 1:57.2

                Fern Hill Queen - Terry Gallant - 2:00

                Howmacs Dragon - Earl Smith - 2:00

2006       Super Sidney C - Clare MacDonald - 2:04.2

                Elm Grove Action - Mike Stevenson - 2:05

                Pee Em Ess - Todd Trites - 1:59.4

                Gordies Last Call - Gilles Barrieau - 1:59.4

                Cruising Thunder - Danny Romo - 2:00.4

2007       Force Ore Finesse - Phil Pinkney - 1:56

                Country Estate - Darren Crowe - 1:59.2

                Special Guest - Clare MacDonald - 1:58.2

                Gracie Girl - Todd Trites - 1:58.3

2008       Ride The Lightning - Danny Romo - 1:57.3

                Riccarras Sun - Brian MacPhee - 1:56.3

                Tobins Paradise - Todd Trites - 2:01

                For The Luv Abunny - Danny Romo - 1:58.2

2009       Woodmere Bigsplash - Todd Trites - 1:59.1

                Calmlee Jason - Calvin Isenor - 2:01.3

                Seawind Motion - Terry Gallant - 1:59.2

                R Es Miss Mcardle - Todd Trites - 1:59.2

                Orally Yours - Gilles Barrieau - 1:59.4

2010       Mr. Salming - Gilles Barrieau - 1:57.2

                Unstoppable Speed - Brian MacPhee - 1:58.2

                R Es Miss Jen - Gilles Barrieau - 1:59.3

                Scootingforsuccess - Gilles Barrieau - 1:58.4

2011       Pictonians Souwest - Mike Stevenson - 1:58.1

                Putnams Art - Bernard McCallum - 2:01.1

                Pictonians Matador - Mike Stevenson - 1:58.1

                Honey Do Jigtime - Clare MacDonald - 2:00

                Force Of Fire - Henry Smallwood - 1:58.4

2012       Mr. Thompson - Mike Stevenson - 1:56.2

                First Art Down - Gilles Barrieau - 1:55.3

                Touch Of Lightning - Earl Smith - 1:56.4   

                First Lady Of Art - Todd Trites - 1:57.3

                Malabrigo - Marc Campbell - 1:57

                Independent Gal - Marc Campbell - 1:58.4

                               

* - held at Exhibition Park Raceway

** - first year colts and fillies separated

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FR horses racing this winter

Some horses and horse people with local connections have been enjoying some success over the winter months at racetracks across North America, including a pair of four-year-olds who raced at Fredericton Raceway last summer for owner-trainer-driver Percy Jones of Temperance Vale.

A Weekend, a son of I Am A Fool, won at Pompano Park in Florida in 1:55.4f on March 27 for leading dash-winning driver Bruce Ranger, lowering his record by more than eight seconds.   

To watch the race, click here and select “prev” to go to the month of March.   Select the March 27 date and a box will open and then click on Race 1.

A Weekend was a lightly raced freshmen in 2011 who showed some promise after being race-timed in 2:02.2.  He won his first start last year for Jones in 2:04.2 but suffered through a sophomore slump with only one win and one third in nine starts, mostly at Fredericton.

He has been on fire since qualifying at Pompano in February and shows a summary of 5-1-3-0-$4,850.  Besides winning in 1:55.4, he has been race-timed in 1:54.1 and 1:54.3 on two other occasions.

Indigo Artist was a winner at Pompano this past Wednesday night in 1:55.3f for Kevin Wallis, also lowering his record by more than eight seconds. 

To watch the race, click here and select the April 10 date.   A box will open and then click on Race 2.

It was the first win of the year from four attempts for Indigo Artist, who finished third for Wally Hennessey the week before.   The son of Arturo had a solid season last year for Jones with a summary of 12-2-5-3-$3,479 and was one of Fredericton’s top sophomores.

A Weekend ($7,000) and Indigo Artist ($1,500) were both puchased at the 2011 New Jersey Classic Yearling Sale.

Jones is also racing a green four-year-old trotter named Medgar Hall.  In only his second lifetime start last week, Medgar Hall finished fourth, race-timed in 2:01.4.  The son of Tom Ridge is a half-brother to Ma Chere Hall, who set a track record of 1:54.3 for two-year-old fillies last summer at Vernon Downs in the $202,500 Kindergarten Classic.

Medgar Hall is racing on Monday night at Pompano.

Jones will be returning to Fredericton with his horses in a couple of weeks.

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Margo Fisher’s four-year-old trotter, Alana Bananna, has been racing well at Flamboro Downs for Patrick Shepherd, the track’s leading percentage trainer. 

Alana Bananna has a summary of 11-4-4-1-$21,900 this year and sports a new speed badge of 2:00.4h taken on April 3 at Flamboro Downs.  Watch the race here. 

Alana Bananna, a son of Angus Hall, has earned $56,015 in two seasons racing in Ontario.

Fisher’s five-year-old White Gear is winless in four starts this year for Shepherd but in 2012 he won seven races including a lifetime best of 1:54.3f at Georgian Downs and had earnings of $44,585.

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Money Maven, a four-year-old trotting son of Revenue S, is winless in six starts this year for owner Everette Hanson of Maugerville but won a qualifier at Woodbine this past Monday in a lifetime best of 1:57.3s.  Money Maven earned $50,565 last year as a sophomore and took a record of 1:58.3s.  Watch the race here.  He was a $2,200 purchase at the 2010 New Jersey Classic Yearling Sale.

Hanson’s Tornado Tim, the fastest trotter ever developed in Fredericton, has one win in seven starts this year, that coming at Flamboro (2:02.2) on February 16.  Watch the race here.  Tornado Tim, who finished second in 1:59.2 in his most recent start yesterday at Flamboro, has a lifetime best of 1:55.1 taken in 2011, and $128,630 in lifetime earnings.

Both Money Maven and Tornado Tim are trained and driven by Danny O’Brian.

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Horse Racing New Brunswick has announced its 2013 racing dates.  Harness racing is tentatively scheduled to get underway at Exhibition Park Raceway on April 20, 2013 at 1:00 pm according to the racing calendar found on their website.  Qualifying dashes are scheduled for Monday, April 15 at 5:30 pm.

Fredericton is scheduled to open its season on Saturday, May 11 at 1:00 pm.

 

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

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