DRIVER BIOS FROM THE 1950s & 1960s

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Harold J. Story
Born in Argyle, New York on January 5, 1919.
Harold was wounded in action serving in the South Pacific during WW 11 while in the Army, and then decided to give up farming and Saddle Horse trading for a career in Harness Racing.
He drove and won the first race of his career in 1946 at Old Orchard Beach, Maine.
Since then, Harold had raced in California, Florida, Maine and in Canada.
He drove his first sub two-minute mile on September 5, 1952 with "Josedale Alate" at the Syracuse oval.
His top Horses included Josedale Alate, Congress Glove, Mighty Tarr, and Council Way.
Leading driver at both Fox Valley and Bay State in 1966

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Clint T. Hodgins.
Born June 18, 1907 in Clandeboye, Ontario, Canada.
Since the USTA was established in 1939, Hodgins won more then 1,500 races in the 50'S, and 60'S, and no one, including burly Clint, knows how many He won in the U.S. and Canada prior to that date.
He started a string of world-record settings in 1940 with the 2 year old trotting filly "Acrasia", but gained his greatest fame in the post year wars as driver of "proximity", the great trotting mare who re-wrote the record book in 1948-1950.
He also had Adois Butler in 1959, and Bye Bye Byrd until that pacing stallion's retirement.
Major races won are:
American National with Bye Bye Byrd in 1959.
American Trotting Championship with Proximity in 47 & 50
Cane Fut. three times with Adios Butler in 59, Cold Front in 61, and Ranger Knight in 62.
Hanover- Hempt twice in 62 and 63
Reynolds Memorial six times in 59, 60, 61, 67, 62, and 64
Clint held 14 World Records in the 50'S and 60'S

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Robert P. Cherrix.
Born in Snow Hill, Md. on February 15, 1930.
It took Bob just 12 seasons to soar past the million dollar mark in accumulated purses, and what's more astounding is that at the end of his 6th year of driving, his career total was slightly more then $109,000.00
Early in the 1959 season, New York City fans welcomed Bob with a flood of mutual tickets on anything with 4 legs (even those without good ones), and they were right since his first 8 starts resulted in 7 wins.
His fastest mile in the 60'S was at Lexington with "Doc Hobbs" in 1:57 4/5
Leading driver at Rosecroft in 1958.

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Jovis L. Gerry.
Born in Bidderford, Me. on January 23, 1928.
A member of one of New England's Harness racing families, Jovis was pursuing his driving career with great success since he made his first start at the Cumberland, Maine Fair in 1949.
A time study engineer for Saco-Lowell shops at Bidderford, Jovis confined his training activity to week-ends and after work hours, but did all his driving for the racing stable operated by his Uncle, Perl Gerry.
Jovis drove his first winner "Miss Mabel E. Peters" at Cumberland in 1950.
His career highlights include posting 5 wins, and 2 seconds on a Labor Day card at Lewiston.
Maine fans noticed that the Gerry-trained Horses reached the raceways ready to win, and always finished the seasons strong.

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George F. Sholty.
Born on November 2, 1932.
A graduate of Washington Township High, Logansport, Ind. where despite his size, He co-captained and starred as a guard on the Basketball team.
His first win came in 1951, at Frankford, Ind., a 2:13 trip with "George Jr."
His training came with his Family owned stable, and later as a second trainer for Tom Winn, and Gene Sears.
George was just one of only a few drivers in the 60'S to boast of earning a million dollars in purses in a single season.
His first 100+ win season was in 1958, and since averaged more then 140 wins a year in the 60'S.
George's favorite Horses included Air Record, Coffee Break, Chris Time, Vicki's Jet, Delightful Time, and Riviltime.
Leading driver at:
Yonkers, 62
Roosevelt Raceway, 63, 67
Pompano Park, 64
And many racetracks in the Midwest.
Major races included:
Battle of Saratoga in 1966 with Cardinal Jamie, and in 67 with Poplar Evalynda.
Battle Of Brandywine in 1965 with Rivil Time
American National 5 times
Good Time Pace in 1963 with Royal Rick, and in 65 with Bengazi Hanover.

Space does not permit listing  all of the almost 50 Major Races that George Won.

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James A. Morrill.
Born in Hanover New Hampshire on March 1, 1935.
A two-year All State football player at Hanover High, where He lettered in baseball and hockey as well, and captained the football team, Jim Morrill was a natural for Harness Racing.
His Dad, Charles Morrill piled up more then 50 years in the sulky before passing.
Jimmy would say "I was born into it"
His first drive was as a sixteen year old in 1951.
It took him two years to get his first win behind the Mare "Vanity Fair Lee" in the speedy time of 2:26.
He and his Dad combined for a daily double win at Saratoga, with Jim driving the first half.
In 1962 Jimmy purchased a Horse for $400.00, and sent Him to the post for 11 wins the next year.

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Frank Ervin.
Born on August 12, 1904, in Pekin, Ill.
Frank drove his first race  at the age of 16, and that same year 1920, won his first race at Charleston, Ill. with the trotter "Black Diamond".
He recalled driving in a race in which all five harness racing Ervin's were among the starters.
Frank's Harness racing credits are legend.
Had 100+ sub 2:00 wins in the 50'S and 60'S topping all drivers in that catagory.
He trained and drive the first two-year old to win more then $50,000 in one season (Our Time)
Scored 19 straight wins with "Sampson Hanover"; 20 straight with "Expression"; 22 straight with "Yankee Hanover"; and 35 straight with "Bret Hanover".
Frank had more then 1,100 wins in the 50'S and 60'S, and probally twice as many before the formation of the USTA in 1939.
"Bret Hanover" was named Horse of the Year three times.
Major races won (I will just list a few of 100+ wins)
The Acorn in 1948, 54, 55, 57, 61, 65
Battle Of Saratoga in 1965
Cane Futurity in 1965
The Debutane in 1949, 53, 58, 62
Good Time Pace in 1950
Hambletonian in 1959 with "Diller Hanover, and 66 with "Kerry Way"
Little Brown Jug in 1949 with "Good Time", 53 with "Keystoner", and again in 65 with "Bret Hanover"
The Messenge in 1965 with "Bret Hanover"
His fastest time recorded in the 60'S was with "Bret Hanover" at Lexington on October 7, 1966 in 1:53 3/5 TT

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Vincent Aquino.
Born in Buffalo, New York on March 6, 1911.
Music was a major interest with Vince Aquino, who organized his own band at Canisius (Buffalo) High, and toured the Country with major bands.
Experience with polo horses while still in school, he worked as an excercise boy for the famed Kellogg Farm, which led him into harness racing.
By the early 50'S, Vince had acquired both the interest and experience to enter the sport on a full time basis.
His first start was at Buffalo in 1952 and had his first win in 1953 at Wattsburg, Pa. Fair with "True Dillon" in 2:12.
Leading driver at Buffalo Raceway in 1967.

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Ken G. McNutt.
Born in Truro, N. S. on October 15, 1933.
Any boy living in Truro, N. S. had to be at least one of two things. a hockey player, or a horsemen. Kenny was both.
Much of his harness racing background was from observing Joe O'Brien and Angus Allen, both of whom were regulars around the track at Truno while Ken was spending his spare time with a lead-shank or a hockey stick in his hand.
Drove his first race at Blue Bonnets in 1954, and in his 2nd start at the same track, came up with a winner in "Royal Grattan", 2:16 in the mud.
Ken came to the USA in 1955, on vacation, and left the sport for 6 months, working with a boot Manufacturing company. Six months was enough, and he went back into the sport of harness racing.
Was second trainer for Theo Turcotte Sr. for some time, then spent nearly three years with Del Hanges before opening his own private stable in 1963.

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Charles J. Fitzpatrick
Born June 13, 1926 in Worcester, Mass.
Graduated David Prouty High, and Leicester Junior College. Charlie started in Harness Racing as a hobby whose Dad "always owned a horse or two to race on the ice at Brookfield, Mass."
Served with the first Infantry from 1944-1946, earning three battle stars, Sgt. stripes, and the coveted Combat Infantryman's badge, and almost was recalled for the Korean Conflict.
Drove his first race at Roosevelt Raceway in 1949, and won his first race a year later at Bay State.
Career highlights include setting two world records, and winning three $50,000 purses with "Speedy Pick"
Credits Clint Hodgins, Del Miller, and Frank Stafford as having been helpful in his career.
Charles stated that he is proud of the fact that three of his assistants, Skip Lewis, Lloyd Davis, and Bob Parkinson went on to further their career's and open private stables.

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Robert J. Brown
Born in Spring Valley, Ohio on August 14, 1924.
Before entering the sport of Harness Racing working for Bob Seabrook, Robert worked as a brakeman for the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Once firmly established in the sport, he needed little time to reach national ranking, making the UDR list in 1955, and the dash-winner's list in 1957.
Career highlights include setting a track record at Florence, Ky. of 2:01 3/5 with "Shawn Hill", developing the sensational 1966 two-year-old. "C.K. Adios", and leading the drivers rosters at Brentlawn and Kentucky Raceways.
Robert considered Scotty's Colt, Shawn Hill, Mr. Chief Forbes, R.K. Giers, and C.K. Adios the top Horses he was associated with.
Leading driver at:
Brentlawn in 1954
Lebanon 1962

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James J. Tallman.
Born July 7, 1941 in Nicholson, Pa.
Selected to the Scranton County All Star team in football, Jim Tallman graduated from Lackawana Trail High, Factoryville, Pa. in 1961, a year after he posted a sensational .556 UDRS average for his first year of Harness Racing.
After working in an auction house, and saddle horse sale, and driving at the county fairs for recreation, Jim decided to enter Harness Racing on a full time basis in 1964.
His first drive and win came with "Eleanor's Last Boy", at the Afton, New York Fair in 1960.
He won 15 of 16 starts with him that year, and 9 of 13 with "Aunt Hattie" that same season.
Jim long remembers his first two pari-mutual starts, which came at Freehold.
Aunt Hattie had won 13 straight at the Fairs, and as she was on the 'Goofy" side, he asked for, and got the 8 post, and proceeded to win handily. In her next start, she drew the rail, and refused to go to the gate.
Danger came to Jim as he drove Clipper C. who grabbed the lead in a race in the first turn only to break a line. Jim credited Bill Haughton's quick reactions with saving the entire field from piling up.
Leading driver at Vernon in 1966 (tie)

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Sacher S. Werner.
Born in Austria on December 29, 1898.
Sacher Werner's harness racing career spaned over 50 years and two continents.
In his native Austria, Sacher was employed in the purfume business.
He was at the same time, as he described it, "horse crazy", lending him in 1914 to train trotters and pacers as a hobby.
Six years, and a world War later, he made his first pari-mutual track start at a raceway in Vienna.
It still was to be two more years before that first win, scored with "Arnried" at Saint Poeltenm Austria.
His initial start in this Country in 1945 at Roosevelt, came close to finding him watching the race from the first aid station rather then in the sulky. Paddock gate guards, not knowing him, and unable to understand him, enlisted the aid of a German speaking bystander as an interpreterer, as Werner tried to enter the grounds. After a few exchanges, they rushed him to the first aid room, as the interpteter told the guards that Sacher claimed to be a driver, but must have gone crazy after losing all his money. Moments before the race, Paul Keim, assistant race secretary came to his rescue, and by the way, Sacher won the race.
Leading driver at Saratoga in 1955.
Held the world record in 1945 with "tru Single G." at 1 1/8 miles in 2:24

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Keith G. Waples.
Born in Victoria Harbour, Ontario, Canada on December 8, 1923.
Keith drove his first race at Canadian Fairs as a 12 year old.
"Grey Ghost", at Sundridge, provided his first win, and his total wins will remain forever buried in the columns of countless weekly papers in those areas where he drove during his early years.
Fans at Blue Bonnets, Dufferin, Richelieu, Thorncliffe, and Woodbine have seen him capture leading driver honors on many occasions at these major Canadian racing plants.
Fair racing fans have boasted watching him sweep entire cards.
Major wins include:
International Trot with "Tie Silk" in 1962
American Nationa at Sportsmans Park with "Choir Boy" in 1963
W.N. Reynolds with "Drummond R. C." in 1966
Battle Of Saratoga with "Zip Tar" in 1967

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William T. Hudson.
Born on July 14, 1915 at Salisbury Maryland.
Bill Hudson was an all around athletic at Wicomico High, Salisbury, Maryland, from which he graduated in 1944.
Bill went directly into Harness racing following the path of his dad, who drove professionally around the Del-Mar Va. area.
Both his first start with "Silver Coin", at Harrington, and his first win came in 1945.
Typed as an agressive, on-the-go reinsman with a tendency to go to the front, Bill was in demand as a catch driver.
Leading driver at Harrington in 1953.
Major races won are:
Grandview-Ohio Fut. in 1960 with "Jorg MacPherson"
Hanover-Hempt in 1960 with "Hogan Hanover"
NYSS in 1966 with "Molly Brook Dean" (twice), and with "Melrose Josie" in 1967.