Times-Advocate, 1988-05-18, Page 5n
the
Street
By Jim Beckett
Exeter's official guardian of the white squirrel population has been
toldhe is not wanted on the Johnny Carson show by Fred
DeCordoba, the show's producer.
A few months ago Andy DeBoer had written the show offering
to appear and let Americans knowabout our unique??? squirrels: In • a
essence, the reply was "thanks but no thanks."
Fortunately, DeBoer is not a high-ranking government official or
an international incidcnt might have happened when he was snubbed
by the producer. In the past few weeks, many of our politicians have
recommended various types of drastic action that should be taken
against France regarding the squabbles over international fishing,
boundaries. We could have, attempted something similarin the face
of this rebuke.
If we wanted to, Exeter could get righteously upset and retaliate
against Carson. We could boycott his popular show until the produc-
er reconsiders and invites Andy to appear.
Another vindictive move would be to write the Carson show and
tell the powers that be that if our squirrels aren't important to the
Tonight Show, we will not be inviting Johnny Carson to any events
in Exeter this year.
We could have had him officially opening the annual Lions Club
fishing derby which was held Saturday.
He could have been one of the featured attractions at the annual
Heritage Days celebrations which will be coming up soon.
We were even seriously considering inviting the star to officially
cut thc ribbon on the new apartment being built just across the hall
from my office.
* .* * * * * * *
A conversation with Dave Hewitson, Hcnsall's B.I.A. chair-
man, will be of interest to anybody who loves a bargain.
Sct aside Saturday, May 28 to visit the fourth annual Community
Yard and Garage Sale in Hensall. The activities start at 8 a.m. with a
firemen's breakfast for those of you who hate to shop on an empty
stomach. Check the advertisement in next week's T -A for complete
details.
- * * * * * * * *
The -Exeter B.I.A. has purchased a membership in a group called
"Coalition Against Sunday Shopping." They believe this will help
reinforce continuing opposition to recent provincial legislation.
* * * * * * * *
Believe it or not, this is a true story. Some time ago one of Exet-
er's leading figures in the transportation business arrived home and
was met by his excited wife who promptly informed him a gopher
had somehow got into the house.
It took only a few minutes to convince Wilmer Dalrymple to
come over and remove the unwanted visitor. So far the story is fairly
routine but this is where it gets better.
Thc husband, not one to miss the opportunity for a joke told his
wife he believed there was another gopher loose in the house because
he was sure they usually travel in pairs.
The fun started a little while later when loud screams started com-
ing from the downstairs washroom. Thc'wife was hysterical and the
husband was killing himself with laughter.
Wilmer was called back to work his magic in catching the animal
which turned out to be the husband's old raccoon hat which mysteri-
ously made its way to a corner of the bathroom. -
Back
in •time 1
10 years ago
• Picket lines began to swell at Fleck Manufacturing when 70,
members of the United Auto Workers joined female strikers in their
protest. The UAW members, employed at Chrysler of Canada, came
in two bus loads—The 10 -week-old strike began when female
workers, receiving between $2.85 and $3.25 an hour, sought their
first contract.
• Dorothy Edmonds cut the ribbon to officially open the Lambton
Heritage Museum, located five miles south of Grand Bcnd. More
than 500 people were on hand to see the opening ceremonies.
20 years ago .
• Huron riding Liberals decided overwhelmingly to give SHDHS
teacher Matt Edgar another attempt at dethroning the Progessive
Conservatives when they named him federal candidate.
It was notcd that there was a "new enthusiasm sweeping the party
ranks due to the dynamic personality of Prime Minister Pierre
Trudeau".
• A photo appeared in thc T -A showing a young Perry Pooley and
several friends waiting anxiously to receive an autograph from
Darryl Edestrand of the St. Louts Blues. The picture was taken
Owing an EMHA banquet.
SO years ago
•
• In May 1938, Levitt's Theatre in Exeter featured "The Bucca-
neer" with Frederich March and an all-star cast. The film was billed
as "a fast-moving action sea pitcure". If that didn't tickle your fancy,
"Victoria the Great" was also running "with a cast of thousands".
• "We are very grateful to Mr. F. W. Hess of Hensall, who gave us
the following information," theT-A reported. "On Sunday, it was 30
years since the first new gasoline automobile was brought to Zu-.
rich."
• An advertisement for V's Beauty Salon stated: "The Fashion
Experts of London, Paris, New York, Hollywood have announced
that shorter hair in 1938 will be worn by fashionable ladies. It is now
definite that a return to smarter styles are favoured."
70 years ago
•Conscription for the First World War was, by May 1918, a major
problem for farmers in the•area who were trying to plant crops. The
government of the time was conscripting young men between the
ages of 19 and 22 to go and fight in Europe..
A Carni organization called' Unity" wrote in a letter to the Exeter
Advocate: "A writer in Parkhill states that the town has.only one
young man of this age physically fit. A Strathroy correspondent says
the same. Exeter and other towns arc in a similar position, from the
simple fact that nearly all the young men in the towns have either
enlisted or been drafted."
The writer of the letter hoped to have farm boys exempted from
the draft. Directly under the letter was printed a list of"District Casu-
alties".
The paper was filled with war news from Europe with headlines
like: British positions in Somme region improved in local engage-
ment and Expected German offensive may not begin for a fortnight.
•
At Sudbury Downs
Times -Advocate, May 18, 1988 Page 5
Jim Wallace takes over as general manager
By Ross Haugh
Going north, instead of heeding
the advice of Horace Greeley to go
west has proved very beneficial for
former area horseman Jim Wallace.
Only three months ago. Wallace
was named general manager of the
Sudbury Downs race track opera-
tion by owner and president John
Mcisaac.
This appointment came almost
14 years after Jim Wallace headed
to Sudbury for the first time for
summer racing after spending the
previous four or five years cam-
paigning in Calgary, Winnipeg and
Edmonton.
Each year, Wallace elected to go
elsewhere with his public stable of
standardbred pacers and trotters
when Western Fair Raceway took
time out.
Sudbury Downs officially opened
on June 4, 1974 and Wallace has
the distinction of winning the first
pari mutuel race in the•northern
Ontario city of 91,000.
His first win at Sudbury came
behind Pink Panther who was
owned at that time by Dr. James
Lamb of Orillia. Lamb became in-
volved in the racing business while
attending medical school at the
University of Western Ontario in
London.
For the next years, Wallace com-
muted from his home in Crediton
to Sudbury. Along with his wife
Arleen, Jim moved north perma-
nently in 1981 and continued to
operate a successful stable includ-
ing horses owned by John McI-
saac. •
Mclsaac still going strong at the
age of 83 is the owner of mining
company and established Sudbury
Downs as sort of a hobby and a
place to race his own horses.
Sudbury Downs is located just
off Highway 144, about 17 miles
north of Sudbury and is a half -mile
track with a speed rating of 2.05,
the same as WFR in London. Wal-
lace classes his track as " one of
the best half milers in the prov-
ince."
In 1987, Wallace was the second
leading driver at Sudbury Downs.
Robert Jenkins Jr. has token over
as trainer and driver for McIsaat
since Wallace has moved into the
front office.
One of Mclsaac's best pacers,
Shannon Brown chalked up his
fourth straight victory on May 7.
The pacer Waspurchasedby Jim
Wallace in Delaware, Ohio.
Wallace, a native of Nova Sco-
tia, got his start in the racing busi-
ness, mucking stables and doing odd
jobs for horseman George McLeod
while going to public school. He
also delivered groceries in an ex-
press wagon drawn by a retired race
horse.
He came to Ontario to join the
army in 1956 and for the next three
years was stationed with the RCR's
at Wollesley Barracks in London.
After getting out of the army in
1959, Wallace started a public
stable at Western Fair Raceway and
other southern Ontario tracks.
About his new job, Wallace told
this reporter in Sudbury last week, "
It's a completely new ball game as I
now wear a different hat. Previously
I was a trainer and driver, now I'm
the chief cook and bottle washer
looking after all aspects of the oper-
ation."
He continued, " I started by tread-
ing lightly, but am learning quick-
ly. It's like going to school again. I
do miss the training and driving, es-
pecially in the wanner weather.
Wallace added, " It takes a lot of
time and effort to make the track
survive. Wc arc in a unique situa-
tion, being all by ourselves with
the only track in northern Ontario.
We don't have other tracks to share
horses with like they do in say,
Godcrich and Clinton. Wc also have
to fight with the loueries for the en-
tertainment dollar..
Sudbury Downs operates each
Wednesday and Saturday evenings at
7.15 p.m. from March until the end
of November. Due to lower minuet
handles, Sudbury Downs is classed
as a 'B' track. -
During 1988 so far, attendance for
the twice -a -week meet has averaged
688 with an average mutuel handle
of $54,155.
Crowds are smaller on Wednesday
night. About this, Wallace ex-
plains, "Wednesday is considered the
last day of the week up here and
miners don't get paid until Thurs-
day.'
This statement was borne out on
Wednesday, May 11 when this re-
porter was there. Despite special
CKSO radio promotions and spon-
sored races , the crowd was only
577. The wagering totals for this
night were $54,565, an average per
capita of over $90 which is high in
Sudbury.
With a total of 250 horses stabled
at the track, Wallace says, "It's pret-
ty tough to operate two nights a
week with only 160 horses qualified
and ready to go. We had 36 shipped
in fast week from the west and I
would like to get than many more
from the south."
Currently campaigning at Sudbu-
ry Downs are Gary Stoddart of
Goderich and John Shepley from
London.
Of the current 160 qualifiers, 66
are claimers at $1,750. Minimum $9,450 on Satuidays.
purses are $700. Purse totals for 10 The track has a five-year contract
raccs on Wednesdays are $8,250 and which guarantees the horsemen 57
SECRETARIAL HELP - Administrative secretary Christine Gervais
checks with Sudbury Downs general manager Jim Wallace.
it s
Your Busine
•
CHECK PROGRAM - Sudbury Downs publicist Ron Barr, assistant race
secretary Arleen Wallace and general manager Jim Wallace check over a
race program. -
percent of the track's share of the
wagering. -
Trotters are in short supply at
Sudbury with only six qualified and
have to be mixed with pacers to fill
a race.
Wallace's wife Arleen is also in-
volved in Sudbury Downs with nu-
merous jobs.
She is a cleaner on the back-
stretch, assistant to the racing secre-
tary and tour director.
Arleen also assists with condition
sheets for the upcoming races and
gets entries idy for the Sudbury
Star.
Tours are held each Tuesday and
Friday mornings. Visitors see the
backstretch, see a horse being shod,
a visit to Montego Farms swim-
ming pool for horses and the grand-
stand. If groups are smaller they
also get to the judges stand.
Tour sizes range from 12 to 50.
About tours, Arleen Wallace said,
"A few days ago we had 50 public
school students aged eight and nine
yam,.
Arleen is the daughter of Jim and
Murdena Glover of Exeter.
A number of improvements are
planned for this summer at the Sud-
bury track. Ditching and paving of
the road to the track is now under-
way.
One 'of Jim Wallace's top priori-
ties is to install an elevator to take
patrons to the Paddock Club dining
lounge on the third floor. Thc din-
ing lounge accommodates up to 350
customers.
Plans are also in the works for
televised simulcasts from other
tracks, especially th Breeders Crown
and Ontario Sire Stakes.
This week when Labatt's Brewer-
ies announced a three-year commit-
ment to sponsor Ontario Sire
Stakes, Subury Downs publicist
and race announcer Rob Barr said, "
This is great news. We anticipate it
will generate new fan interest and
increase attendanc here."
Ontario Sire Stakes races are
scheduled for Sudbury Downs on
June 16, July 9, August 3, August
31, September 10 and September
17. They will be three-year-old filly
trot, three-year-old colt pace, two-
year-old filly trot, three-year-old colt
trot, three year-old filly pace and
two-year-old colt pace, respectively..
Jim Wallace agreed that OSS rac-
es would help the track adding, "
These raccs always attract a better
class of horses."
• In addition to the six nights of
Sire Stakes, Sudbury Down has two
special features during 1988.
More than 300 officials from thc
world junior track and field champi-
onships will visit the track during
their stay in Sudbury in late July.
Purses arc increased to 825,000
for the Mid Canada Televsion pace
scheduled for the Labour Day week-
end.
-A WINNER - Arleen and Jim Wallace present an award to Robert Jenkins as the winner of the tenth race at Sud-
bury Downs, May 11.
$ 2 TICKET PAY s
SHOW
W IN PLACE
1 22jjN• •N{
.. N
A GOOD INVESTMENT - Brett Knights Star driven by Robert Jenkins won the tenth race at Sudbury Down's,
May 11. Arleen Wallace makes the presentation. At the back left are ?-A editor Ross Haugh and wife Irene.
•