Next Monday, July 1,
the 58th running of the Walter Dale Memorial will be held at
Fredericton Raceway. It is the longest
running free-for-all race in Atlantic Canada.
The $3,000 inaugural
race on August 9, 1956 was a two-heat affair won by the mare, Jerry’s Nightmare,
in consecutive heats of 2:06-2:09.
Local hopes were held
by Slicker Tass and trainer-driver Bruce MacDonald of Lincoln but they only
managed second place finishes in both heats.
Slicker Tass and MacDonald are members of the Fredericton Raceway Wall
of Fame.
Below is an account
of that race that was in The Daily Gleaner newspaper the following day.
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A
dark horse, Jerry’s Nightmare, owned by Ike McCully of Truro, NS and driven by
Clayton MacLeod, showed her heels to some of the fastest harness horses in the Maritimes last night to win
both heats of the $3,000 Walter Dale Memorial Stake at Fredericton Raceway.
Twice,
the six-year-old mare turned on a burst of speed coming around the paddock turn
and into the stretch, with Bruce MacDonald’s Slicker Tass hot on her heels, to
cross the wire in 2:06 in the first dash and 2:09 in the finale.
The
2:06 mile by the fast pacing mare, sired by Abner T Clegg, cracked the post-war
record of 2:07 for the Fredericton track set in 1950 by Private George. She also lowered her own record from 2:09 and
paced the second fastest mile in the Maritimes this year.
Over
3,500 fans packed the stands and along the railing at the local oval to witness
the event, named in honor of Walter Dale who in 1937 established a Canadian
record here when he toured the oval in 2:02 ½ for the mile. It was also a big night at the mutuels with
over $30,000 wagered on the eight heats.
The
two wins for the Nova Scotia mare was one of the biggest upsets of the
season. With Slicker Tass and Dave
Gratton, owned by L and G Stables of Halifax and driven by Lloyd Walker, the
favorites at the mutuels, Jerry’s Nightmare paid $87.80 to win to 22 backers in
the first heat and $8.50 in the second.
Although
the 2:09 mile was disappointing in the second time out for the free-for-allers,
Jerry’s Nightmare legged the second half in a terrific 1:01.1 for the fastest
half mile of the season in the Maritimes.
In
the first mile, Dave Gratton moved from his pole position with Jerry’s
Nightmare scoring from the sixth, right behind him, while Slicker Tass pacing
two on the outside, trying for the top.
The field hit the one-quarter pole in 30 seconds and at the half with
Dave Gratton in the lead, they were clocked in 1:03.4.
Flaming
Way, owned and driven by Lorne Fletcher of Springhill, pulled out from seventh
and last position in a bid to catch the leaders at the half and Slicker Tass
once again attempted to make the top but Dave Gratton, with Jerry’s
Nightmare breathing down driver walker’s neck, were pacing too fast.
Down
the backstretch the field bunched up and at the three-quarter mark MacLeod took
his mare out in front and charged down the stretch pursued by Slicker
Tass. MacDonald couldn’t get the needed
speed out of his bay gelding and finished second, a half-length behind the
winner.
Ann’s
Dream, owned by J.K. Curran of Summerside, PEI and driven by Frank Robinson,
placed third with Dave Gratton back in fourth.
Flaming Way was fifth, Abbot Maplecroft (Ned Lindon) was sixth and
Josedale Double Hal (Milton Downey) was seventh.
Scoring
from the fourth position in the wind-up, Jerry’s Nightmare moved swiftly across
the track and into the number one spot along the rail, with Dave Gratton behind
her, and stayed there until the finish.
As the field left the wire for the final half, it picked up speed.
Once
again they bunched up at the paddock turn, but Jerry’s Nightmare was pacing
fast in first spot and this time beat Slicker Tass by a length at the
wire. Flaming Way nosed out Dave Gratton
for the show place then Ann’s Dream, Abbot Maplecroft and Josedale Double Hal.
 | |
| ABBOT MAPLECROFT and Bob Clowater |
For
owner Ike McCully it was a big night.
His mare earned him $1,500 and a horse cooler donated by Dr. J.T.
Atkins, secretary of the race committee of Fredericton Exhibition, sponsors of
the race.
A
total of $10,345 was wagered at the mutuels on the two dashes, $5,682 in the
opening heat and $4,662 in the second.
* * * * *
Leading up to the
race next week, I will be adding pictures and notes of various winners of the
Walter Dale Memorial through its 58 year history on Facebook at Fredericton Raceway 125. Please check daily.
Thanks to Doug
McCarty for his research on Walter Dale history.
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For more historical data, pictures and stories please LIKE
Fredericton Raceway 125 on Facebook.
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