Standardbred Driver & Trainer Stew Firlotte was involved in harness racing for over 30 years. He started out by grooming horses in 1970 and six years later opened his own public stable. The initial $1,500 investment put up by him … Continue reading
Category Archives: Standardbred Drivers & Trainers
Silent Charley Sweet
Legend – Driver/Trainer A native of River Philip, N. S., Charley Sweet campaigned more than 100 horses during his career, and set 28 track records on the pace and trot at such Nova Scotia tracks as Inverness, Sydney, North … Continue reading
Jim Kealey
Legends – Driver/Trainer & Standardbred Jim Kealey & Battle Axe James Kealey, who was born in Manitou, Man. in 1889, was described by turf writers as one of the best known, most respected horsemen who did more than … Continue reading
William H. (Billy) Keys
Legends – Driver/Trainers William H. (Billy) Keys & David J. McClary The first person to drive a standardbred horse to win at a mile in less than two minutes was David J. McClary, a native of London, … Continue reading
David J. McClary
Legends – Driver/Trainers David J. McClary & William H. (Billy) Keys The first person to drive a standardbred horse to win at a mile in less than two minutes was David J. McClary, a native of London, Ont. He … Continue reading
William (Bud) Fritz
Standardbred Drivers & Trainers There was a time in the 1980s and early nineties that the name of William (Bud) Fritz was synonymous with harness racing in Ontario. The Fritz stable came as close to dominating the province’s sires … Continue reading
David Pinkney
Standardbred Drivers & Trainers David Pinkney’s accomplishments in harness racing are extraordinary given the limited opportunity available in his native Maritimes. The native of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, was born in 1932 and amassed 3,243 official victories. But there are … Continue reading
Vernon Weston (Vic) Rowntree
Legend – Driver/Trainer For more than 45 years Vic Rowntree ranked among the finest trainers and drivers during the pioneer days of standardbred racing in Canada. Born in Weston, Ont., he trained and drove the champion race-winning pacer of … Continue reading
Harold Francis Wellwood
Legend – Driver/Trainer Born in 1906 in Raleigh Township near Merlin, Ont., Wellwood began a 65-year career as a standardbred trainer and driver about 1920. After a modest beginning on the Ontario fall fair circuit in the 1920’s and … Continue reading
William (Bill) Wellwood
Standardbred Drivers & Trainers If great horsemen are born, not made, then William Wellwood is living proof. Over almost forty years he forged a reputation as one of the most astute horsemen, not just in Canada, but on a … Continue reading
