History of Walter Dale

The Ghost Of Walter Dale

It has been said that ‘The Ghost of Walter Dale’ haunted the Fredericton racetrack for years after. the legendary horse set a Canadian record of 2:02 1/2 back on September, 1937.

For over 42 years after that top horses from all over came to Fredericton to break the track record but each timed failed in their attempts and one had to wonder if perhaps the legendary horse would ever give up his hold on the record.

But 25 years ago a pretty roan horse named Daily Special finally lifted the curse and paced the oval in 2:02.1 for owner David Kileel and driver Mike Downey. Only one week earlier the same combination had just fell short in their effort when they missed by only 1/10 of second and some thought ‘The Ghost Of Walter Dale’ had struck again.

Of course the track record has fallen many times since then and just like the significance of Walter Dale’s record performance at the time, Fredericton Raceway has been home of other history making events.

One of the most memorable came on July 19, 1982 when Clipper Seelster ushered sub-2:00 speed into Maritime horse racing when the late Willard (The Whiz) Carr drove his charge to 1:59.3 victory.

The race, which was a regular overnight event, caught many off guard and when news broke through the Maritime racing community it was thought that Clipper Seelster’s stable mate, Columbo Seelster, had broke the elusive barrier. At the time Clipper Seelster was a relative unknown horse and Columbo Seelster was one of the top free-for-all horses in the Maritimes.

Clipper Seelster is now a legend in Maritime racing because of that one magical win. Ashley and Joan Sloat have enjoyed success in the Walter Dale Memorial Pace over the years including their win in 2000 with Look Maynard.

But it was another one of their horses, Shannon Commander, who established a major milestone when he won the Walter Dale in 1993.

The five-year-old went an incredible mile in 1:55 and became the first horse to pace in 1:55 over a half-mile track in the Maritimes. It was also a track record that still stands to this day.

Fredericton Raceway has always played a large role in Maritime horse racing lore and one can go all the way back to 1923 when thousands of people turned out to watch a match race between the fastest stallion, mare and gelding in the world.

Single G, Margaret Dillon and Sir Roch were brought to Fredericton by Byron Phair with T. V. Monahan of the Queen Hotel looking after most of the local arrangements. It was the biggest race card in the history of the sport in the Maritimes in that era with horsemen traveling for days to attend the event.

It was estimated that close to 20,000 people crowded the Fredericton track to watch Single G takes two heats in 2:04 ¾ and 2:05. The miles were the first under 2:05 in Fredericton and the two heat times were a Dominion Of Canada record.

Back then Fredericton Raceway was known as “Canada’s Fastest Half-Mile Track.” Royalty also paid a visit to Fredericton Raceway on July 28, 1959 when Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip watched their first harness race and had their picture taken with the horse Abbeland, who won a special race that day for Wib Jardine of Chatham. For years the race was thought to be haunted by “The Ghost Of Walter Dale.”

No locally owned horse could win the Walter Dale for the first 35 years until Big Bucks Bomber turned the trick in 1990 for owner Sandra Foley. Since then four other Fredericton owned horses – King Tyler, Shannon Commander, Woodmere Topcat and Look Maynard – have won the longest running free-for-all event in the Maritimes.

The curse has been lifted.

Lifetime Records

WALTER DALE’S LIFETIME RECORD 230 starts – 113 wins – 46 seconds – 27 thirds

• 1956 – JERRY’S NIGHTMARE – Clayton McLeod 1 – 1 2:06 – 2:09
• 1957 – CONVAIR – George Mauger 1 – 1 2:07 – 2:07.1
• 1958 – MAJOR’S KING – A. James Lang 1 – 2 2:09 – 2:08
• 1959 HAL’S MAN – Clayton Killam 1 – 4 2:06 – 2:06.2
• 1960 BOB LEE BOY – George Mauger 1 – 1 2:09.1 – 2:09
• 1961 DEE’S BOY – James MacGregor 2 – 1 2:09 – 2:07.2
• 1962 BOB BROOK Greg MacDonald 1 – 1 2:04 – 2:03.3
• 1963 BOB BROOK Walter Craig 1 – 1 2:06 – 2:05
• 1964 SOBERITY – Bert Bramble 3 – 1 2:06 – 2:06.3
• 1965 ANDY’S SON – Jimmy Moore 1 – 1 2:06.3 – 2:06.3
• 1966 BORDERVIEW ROY – Dave Coadic 1 – 2 2:06 – 2:06.2
• 1967 MIDNIGHT BOLD – Don MacNeill 1 – 1 2:06.1 – 2:05.1
• 1968 BORDERVIEW BOB LEE – Jimmy Moore 1 – 3 2:06 – 2:07.3
• 1969 F T J – Herman Renaud 2 – 1 2:04.4 – 2:05
• 1970 FIREBOLT – Willard Carr 1 – 1 2:04.2 – 2:04.3
• 1971 FIREBOLT – Harvey Cormier 1 – 1 2:04.4 – 2:05.1
• 1972 brETE FOREVER Joe Goguen 1 – 2 2:06.2 – 2:05.3
• 1973 ANALIZOR Joe Goguen 2:05.2
• 1974 NEE BOOTS – Jody Hennessey 2:04.1
• 1975 ANALIZOR – Joe Goguen 2:03
• 1976 BARON’S SENSATION – Wayne Whebby 2:02.4
• 1977 WIDOWS JUD – Wayne Sbrrague 2:03.3
• 1978 SARTORIS – Joe Goguen 2:04
• 1979 SCOTCH GAUMAN – Bill Nicholson Sr. 2:03.1
• 1980 METEOR HANOVER – Marcel Barrieau 2:05
• 1981 brENNANT brLAY – Wally Hennessey 2:00.4
• 1982 SAULS brRIDE – Joey Smallwood 2:02.1
• 1983 COLUMBO SEELSTER – Willard Carr 2:00
• 1984 GEMINI RISK – Wally Hennessey 2:01.2
• 1985 GEMINI RISK – Steve Mahar 2:00.2
• 1986 BURNERS DELIGHT – Wally Hennessey 1:59.3
• 1987 SUTHEN GUVNA – braul MacDonald 1:58.1
• 1988 COURTNEY BAY – Steve Mahar 1:59.1
• 1989 HAWK KILLEAN – Earl Smith 1:59.3
• 1990 BIG BUCKS BOMBER – Marcel Barrieau 1:59
• 1991 BIG GENE – Dave brinkney 1:58.3
• 1992 KING TYLER – Steve Mahar 2:02
• 1993 SHANNON COMMANDER – Garry MacDonald 1:55
• 1994 CHATHAM LIGHT – Gordon Hennessey 1:57.1
• 1995 HAbrbrY FAMILY – Danny Romo 1:57.1
• 1996 COMEDY HOUR – Gilles Barrieau 1:58
• 1997 COMEDY HOUR – Gilles Barrieau 1:56
• 1998 WOODMERE TObrCAT – Todd Trites 1:57.2
• 1999 EURIbrIDES – Garry MacDonald 1:57.2
• 2000 LOOK MAYNARD – Gilles Barrieau 1:57.3
• 2001 MCGETTY – Dr. Ian Moore 1:56.4
• 2002 FAMILIAR FACE – Steve Mahar 1:59.2
• 2003 BLACK BOWTIE – Steve Mahar 1:57.1
• 2005 br H BREAKAWAY – Todd Trites 1:55.1
• 2006 DRINKING GAMES – Todd Trites 1:57.3
• 2007 DUNACHTON GALE – brhil brinkney 1:55.3
• 2008 ASTRONOMICAL – Dr. Ian Moore 1:55.2
• 2009 ALL STAR DRAGON – Gilles Barrieau 1:57
• 2010 PH BESTMAN – Todd Trites 1:55.3
• 2011 SERIOUS DAMAGE – Ken Arsenault 1:55.1
• 2012 MCAPULCO – Brodie MacPhee 1:54.2