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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1976-06-17, Page 12GIVE DAD Something to sing about • Stereos • CB Radios • Cassette Players • Televisions Rath. $haek AND TROPHIES 411 Main St. Exeter 235-2261 SON OF RIVA RIDGE sail poses proudly with the Queen s Plate and of 10 investors, Both men and women were on the links this week at Ironwood Golf Course participaitng in two separate tournaments. Larry Bourne's low gross total. of 80 was good enough for him to take that segment of the Men's tournament Thursday evening and Glen Kadechuk, a perennial winner, led the low net with 72. In the Ladies Day, Wednesday, Ellen Knight and Marg Wragg led the low gross and low net categories respectively. Following Bourne in the low gross category were Don Cowan with 84 and Don Gifford with an 84. Gary Leger was second in the low net with a 74 followed by Barry Southcott with the same score. Jim McGregor's 130 easily won him the most honest category, while John Cooper came closest to the Hidden score with a 55. In the Ladies Tournament Anne Romaniuk was second on the low gross behind Knight and Lois Prance was second in the low net category.. according to Brian, "I'm excited and high enough on this colt that I will keep one or two shares myself", he added. The syn- dication should make Canadian horseracing history as the highest priced yearling ever marketed in this country. Brian, who is only 27 years old, presently owns CO thoroughbreds, some of which are presently in Kentucky for breeding purposes, and others in Toronto at Wood- bine Racetrack. In addition to the 'Riva 'Ridge' colt, which will not be given a name until the beginning of next year, he has six other thoroughbred yearlings ready for syndication this year, At his young age, Brian has already had an interesting and amazingly long career in the breeding of throughbred race horses. At 15 years of age, he pur- chased his first thoroughbred, a mare which was pregnant with $750 hard-earned dollars ac- cumulated during a summer of hoeing beans, The mare's foal, "Snappy Senator" was sold for $1800 and went on to win a total of $42,842 for his owners. By the age of 21, he had achieved a goal that many men never reach in their lifetimes, being "worth $100,000 free and clear." In 1970 Brian travelled to Kentucky to learn the horse brokerage business from those who know it best; the gentlemen of blue grass country. He was there for the major portion of the next three years and bred, raised, and sold a colt called "My Archibald" who ran 3rd in the 1973 Queen's Plate. After his education had been completed in Kentucky, Brian returned to Hensall and bought the family farm, converting a Under-14's • win Doug Brooks played stand out goal for the Under-14's who were led by Chris Mittleholtz to a 5-0 victory over Grand Bend in Grand Bend. John Mickle and Doug Hoffman gave Exeter a first half lead when they both picked up goals, Hoffman's goal continues his streak, taking it to five games in a row that he has scored at least one goal. successful dairy business into the present thoroughbred breeding operation, New gadget lets you check your oil without getting out of the car, It attaches below the dash panel, has neoprene tube connected to a probe that replaces the dipstick. What won't they think of next! American Automobile Associa- tion reports that seat belts can save 19 to 50 percent of auto deaths. Use of seat belt with shoulder harness ups this to 60 percent. Crystal ball gazers in the auto industry report that station wagons will get shorter and higher, almost like vans. In Malaya, they send drunk drivers to jail — and their spouses, too. Planning a trip? Check ahead on road conditions. It takes 15 percent more fuel to drive on broken or patched asphalt roads. Before you travel, let our experienced auto mechanics check your car. Drive in to Larry Sniders. Larry Snider MOTORS LIMITED EXETER 235-1640 LONDON 227-4191 Huron County's,Largest Ford Dealer Brian Smillie, owner of Smiling Acres, north of Hensall, one of Ontario's top throughbred breeding operations, announced this week that he is in the process of syndicating his yearling 'Riva Ridge' colt to a group of 10 in- vestors. announcement was made Sunday at a press conference on the Smillie farm. The colt, sired by the famous Riva Ridge, is the only such colt in Canada eligible for the 1978 Canadian classics, including the Queen's Plate, Prince of Wales, and Breeders' Stakes. Smillie has indicated that his horse may also be eligible for such Ainerican Classics as the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes. Syndication will mean that the 10 investors will each be responsible for 10 percent of the costs involved in training, maintaining, and caring for the yearling. Likewise, each investor will receive 10 percent of any prize money resulting from the horses's success on the racetrack. If the horse proves to be as successful as Brian hopes, investors would also take 10 Acres, a thoroughbred horse farm north of Hen- percent of later breeding fees once the horse has been retired Ridge" colt, the only offspring of the famous racehorse eligible for racing classics in 1978. He is presently syndicating the colt to a group from active racing. T-A photo. We recognize that most people who'd like to race their own thoroughbreds haven't the 'necessary capital investment." Smillie commented in explaining his decision to syndicate. "As a result, we've established a program which allows a newcomer to participate as an owner at the highest levels of the sport without the necessity of spending great amounts of money and with the support of knowledgeable, successful horsemen." The colt will be syndicated for $250,000 or $25,000 per share, Riva Ridge descendant • syndicated for $250,000 — Brian Smillie, his yearling "Riva other Canadian who owns Smiling OETYOUR MONEY'S WORTH Chevrolet — Oldsenobile PHONE 235.0660 EXETER, ONT, The Home of Guardian Maintenance' BOWLING CAN BE A FAMILY AFFAIR and so can the name of a team. Family Affair took the Sunday night league honors in the Exeter Bowling League this season. From the left: Gary and Wendy Campbell, Glenn and Laura Stire, and Stu and Mary Sanis. T-A photo. Men and women at Ironwood GUNN HOME HDWE 235-2511 EXETER, ONT, 'Inumataasagensaramasseausmazammaranoai Steer This Way BY LARRY SNIDER • 41 FREE Tank of Fuel with any Barbecue Purchase Single and dual control units, 1 0% OFF All Adidas Products ▪ Shirts' • Shoes • Sweat Suits • Golf Shoes Drive Over the Bridge and on an excellent selection of FATHER'S DAY GIFTS These are just a few ideas guaranteed to please father. SWIMMING POOLS 24' round x 4' deep in stock 15' x 30' oval pool with expandable end We have accessories and chemicals for all your pool needs Jerry MacLean & Son AUTOMOTIVE LTD, Exeter , 235-0800 Our Store Is Big Enough To Serve Your Needs.,,, But Small Enough To Be Friendly 1975 OLDSMOBILE Delta Ro)tale, four door hardtop, 455 engine, power steering, power brakes, radio. License JFN738 1974 OLDSMOBILE Cutlass, two door hard- top, 350 engine, power steering, power brakes, radio and radial tires. Licence HNK740 1974 DODGE MONACO four door sedan, V8, automatic, power steering, power brakes, radio, rear defogger. Only 20,000 miles. Licence DAD630 1974 CHRYSLER Newport four door sedan, fully equipped. Licence JBR519 1973 PLYMOUTH Satellite four door sedan, V-8, automatic transmission and radio. Licence DFZ179 1973 MUSTANG Mach 1, 351 V-8 engine, automatic, power steering, power brakes and rear defroster. Licence CZV831 1973 CHEVROLET Belair, four door sedan, 350 V-8, automatic, power steering, power brakes, radio and vinyl roof. Licence DHL944 1973 PLYMOUTH Fury 11 two door hardtop, V-8, automatic, power steering and brakes, radio, vinyl roof and rear defogger. Only 35,- 000 miles. Licence DFY904 1973 MONTEGO four door sedan, 302 V-8, automatic, power steering, power brakes,. radio and Michelin radials, Licence DHH444 1972 IMPALA custom two door hardtop, 350 four barrel engine, automatic, power steering, power brakes, radio, fender skirts, vinyl in- terior and radial tires. Licence DFW496 1972 IMPALA sport coupe, 350 V-8, automatic, power steering, power brakesand radio. Only 42,000 miles. Licence DFY528 $4395 '3295 '2795 '2695 '2560 '2695 '2595 '2495 '2595 '2295 '1995 MANY OTHER GOOD VALUES TO CHOOSE FROM Snell Bros. Limited ORMWRIIILV.1.MMATMIEMniMilEVEREMMENM.Minn FATHER'S DAY 5068-259-4 Specials 'DISSTON' GRASS SHEARS Just the thing to make Dad's garden -chores easier. Cordless, hand-held shears cut 3" swath, 6000 cuts per minute. DEPENDABLE 'DISSTON' QUALITY Change from hand shears to upright In 15 seconds to lake the drudgery and stooping Os! e1 Dad gtlratA trimming. CONVERTIBLE GRASS SHEARS 3' cut. Rechargeable Power Pack. ill 88 Grand Bend Guide, June 17, 1976 By FRED YOUNGS There was this girl in my high-school in Kitchener who Was good in track, Very good, in fact. She holds or held cer- tain records in hurdles for women, She never said much about her being in track and field, never talked about her ambitions but I always had some sort of an inkling she would like to be in and was competing towards the Olym- pics. I don't see this girl anymore; were never more than acquaintances, except for now and then when she passes me on the street. I say hello, and she does too. I don't know if she will make it to the Olympics this year or if she is try- ing and she doesn't know I'm working for a weekly in Huron County, but that is all beside the point. I always had a quiet respect for her. I never said much about it to anyone but there was always an undercurrent of respect; deference to her ability. She was certainly ad- mired throughout the school but admiration and respect are different things. I knew something about her that few others knew, outside her circle of friends, You see, I used to be a caretaker at the school. Part-time, I would go about after the classes were out and clean the rooms for the next day and she would always be there. She would set the hurdles up in the hall, and starting at one end, run the course to the other end of the hall; where she would turn around and trot back, hands jiggling at the sides and her mouth partially open and she would do it again. Over the hurdles, to the end of the hall and back again and over the hurdles and back again. This was in the winter. In the summer she was outside, where I wasn't a witness to her rituals but I knew that they went on. Indeed, she was dedicated and in the truest essence she was an athlete. She was dedicated to her art form and she had to train to maintain her art form. But for what? For the school? My jaundiced opinion of school spirit requires me to believe not. And there was little glory because high school athletes are little more than passing heroes; vilified by juniors and mocked for their dedication to the archaic institution by seniors who long to depart and forget. No, none these I hope. I like to think she did it for herself for a sense of pride in her ac- complishments and because she knew the quintessential raison d'etre of athletics. Because she believed in the com- petition; because she knew she could better herself. I hope it was pride and I believe it was pride that drove her over the hurdles even after I had finished work and gone home and she was about the last one in the school. ++++ And then there is this. I sit and write about the pride of this girl. Her drive and her ambition, and my unflagging belief in the righteousness of what she was doing. All this while in Montreal Alan Eagleson flogged his prized posses- sion Bobby Orr like so much beef on the hoof. While Eagleson and his charge dominate the news my peers are salivating on every turn of events and projecting and con- jecturing on each detail that they lend too much importance to in order to build a controversy around the signing of Orr. All this while across Canada hundreds of other athletes who do not play hockey or any of the professional sports; who do not have gimpy knees and mammoth egos; whO do not pretend they are the singularly divined individuals who will lead the masses from boredom to ecstacy train and hope. And they get nothing for'it. In fact, these athletes have been training all their lives for two things; the Olympics and the trials leading to them. Naturally, their participation in the games is contingent upon their ability to outdo their opponents in the trials. For the majority of them, there will be no glory because they will not take one of the coveted medals. If the athletes do not obtain the penultimate level . . the gold medal, there is little for them whether or not they take a silver or bronze. But they will be amongst a select few who even considered aspiring for the chance to compete. + + + + In 1952 the Tillsonburg Livingstons went all the way in the Olympics, taking the gold medal in basketball competi- tion. This was not a conglomeration of the country's best brought together for three months to train and play; it was men from Tillsonburg who played basketball very well, and won at it. Red Curran was a member of that 1952 team. Red is a big man He has the kind of hands that when you are in- troduced and shake hands, yours seems to be swallowed up and disappears. But he is also a gentle man. He was at the Exeter Lion's Sportsmen's Dinner this year, in amongst Glen Weir and Peter Dalla Riva and Jim McKenny. He was mostly a forgotten man. No one knew, no- one remembered what they did in 1952, 24 years ago this year they stood Canada on its ear and all Canada loved them. None of the Tillsonburg Livingstons know what it is to make $500,000 a year. None of them can conceive of independent wealth. But they have attained something Bobby Orrs and 0. J. Simpsons can never hope to attain. They have played and won against the best from the rest of the world. Not in an exhibition match but in an atmosphere so charged with competition it makes the NHL seem sophomoric. Curran, a forgotten man, still carries the intense pride and honor that carried he and the other Livingstons to the top, if only brief- ly. He has played for more than money as the athletes at the XXI Olympiad will play for more than money. Despite what has happened with our first Olympics; the deficits, work slowdowns and innuendoes of scandal we can be proud and we should be proud. The deficit is here and it -won't go away of its own volition; the work is almost com- plete and if the scandals are unproven we should and will remain justly proud. There is no alternative but to watch and admire what is being done. Not for the games com- mittee, not for Drapeau and not for the Olympic foundation but for the atheletes who have been dedicated enough for their entire life to work towards this one year, this single event that may or may not give them a moment's satisfac- tion. If they finish out of the top three it will mean they have nothing to live with but the memory of having been one of the best in the world but not quite the very best. They will not have contracts and money to salve their memories. There will be nothing but the memories and the pride. The pride is what drove that girl in my high-school. It is what drove Red Curran. And they will have the pain of being forgotten while those who serve the team owner take the glory that should be their's and the money that is a sur- rogate for the pride and ambition of the true athletes, The Olympians, men and women of titanic importance and little recognition, serve Canada. They serve us and do so with a grace foreign to the superstars and their pompous agents. Our hearts belong to them because they serve Canada. They play for us.