Families gather to honor loved ones at What Cheer

by: Tara Spach IaHHA

On Saturday (7/8), crowds gathered not only to enjoy a day of competitive racing, but to honor harness racing’s family members that have passed.

Charlotte Hamilton Memorial

The “Charlotte Hamilton Memorial” was featured in race two, for two-year-old pacing colts. Daughter of Royce and Vesta Carey, Mrs. Hamilton was born with harness racing in her blood. That passion continued as she and her husband, Jerry, trained and raced horses of their own. Passing down the love of the sport, Mrs. Hamilton enjoyed traveling to help daughter Kim with her stable at Quad City Downs. In 2000, Mrs. Hamilton was presented with the Red Smith Award for Outstanding Caretaker of the Year by Harness Tracks of America and Hanover Shoe Farms.

As the race started, Moon Kid Photo (Chad Svendsen) quickly took the front, with a 29 second flat sprint to the quarter-pole. 59.0 to the half and 1:30.2 to the three-quarters, Moon Kid Photo was still on top as they turned for home. But Boom Boom Bullseye (Cory Larson) had the eye on the prize, as pacers hooked up, battling for the wire. In a photo finish, Boom Boom Bullseye hit the mark, capturing the win, pacing in 2:02.0.

 Returning to the winner’s circle, Boom Boom Bullseye was joined in the blanket presentation by Mrs. Hamilton’s family, who had traveled from Ohio, Minnesota, Illinois and Iowa to honor her. Making the presentation were: Husband Jerry, her four children: Kim Hamilton, Mitch Hamilton and wife Janet, Rick and Lesa (Hamilton) Peters, Mike and Tracy (Hamilton) McVey. Also in attendance were her grandchildren and great grandchildren: Nick Roland and Jessica Johnson and son Ethan Roland; Will and Gretchen Roland and children Delanie and Jackson; JD and Tessa (Roland) Perris and daughters Charlotte and Evelyn; Cole and Leah (Roland) Tokle and daughter Macy; Kelsey McVey and Jon Moehler, Dan and Maddi MCVey and Spencer McVey. In addition to the blanket, the family of Charlotte Hamilton presented the winner with a tote filled with the “essentials”; sponge, black tape, tongue ties and double snaps, items that Mrs. Hamilton always had in her bag when she attended the races. In honoring her grandmother, this excerpt from an essay was shared. Written by Tessa Roland when was a young teenager, it is titled “My Personal Hero”:

“Horse Heaven, this is what we all call Grandma’s Farm. Her caring attitude and work ethic make it the place to be if you are a horse or person in need of TLC. Every bump or bruise gets noticed and attended to. You always feel welcome and at home.

The food is plentiful and really good. The hugging and backrubs are doled out freely.
You are probably wondering if I am talking about horses or humans, the answer is BOTH. If the home cooking and TLC isn’t enough, wait until you see her in action helping three different stables race an average of a dozen horses in one day. If you forgot something, chances are good Grandma has it in her ‘Bag’ (this is the purse she lugs around that doubles as a catch all/carry all and weighs about 20 pounds.) No horse leaves the barn that isn’t ready and has been checked and rechecked to make sure everything is safe. We always breathe a sigh of relief when Grandma gets there.”

Charlotte Hamilton’s presence was felt in race eight as well. Daughter Lesa Peters bred and raised Trembletown, with granddaughter Tessa Perrin owning the two-year-old Western Terror filly.

 

Royce “Red” and Vesta Carey Memorial

Three-year-old trotting fillies competed in race three, the “Royce “Red” and Vesta Carey” memorial. Mr. and Mrs.Carey were married in 1933 and had two daughters, Roseann and Charlotte. They farmed in Columbus Junction, Iowa until they began training standardbreds full time, racing in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Arizona and Ohio.

In 1962,Mr. Carey was the first driver west of the Mississippi to win a USTA driving title. And Mrs. Carey was one of few women to hold a trainers license and to develop some great racehorses.

Known for their generous natures, Mr. and Mrs. Carey helped many people in the business during bad times, giving them work and a place to live. Mrs. Carey was known for her buckets of chocolate chip cookies that could always be found around the coffee pot.

Done Dancin (Royal Roland) left from the gate, trotting up to take the lead. On top at the quarter in 31.1, and the half in 1:03.1, Done Dancin was waltzing past the three quarter in 1:33.3. Tracking from third, Game On Sweet Lynn (Chad Svendsen) had other plans, waiting until the lane to make a move. In a battle for the finish, Game On Sweet Lynn wasn’t playing any games as she trotted in 2:06 flat for the win.

Celebrating Game On Sweet Lynn’s new lifetime mark, Charlotte Hamilton’s family and friends joined her in the winner’s circle for the blanket presentation.

 

 

Robert J. Duncan Memorial

Race seven featured the “Robert J. Duncan” memorial for three-year-old trotting fillies. Born in Columbus Junction, Iowa, Mr. Duncan served in the United States Marine Corp from 1954-1957. After serving his country, Mr. Duncan married Maxine Cross and they had a daughter, Cindy Jo. Farming in rural Ainsworth, Iowa, Mr. Duncan became the auctioneer for the Wapello Sale Barn, selling livestock and working the ring for over 20 years.

Mr. Duncan grew up an avid harness racing fan, as his father, Harry M. Duncan, was a long time race announcer. Mr. Duncan and his daughter traveled to many races over the years. Cindy recalls “we always had to arrive at least an hour before race time with our clipboards and pens, to be ready to study each race and pick our horses”.

As the starter set the gate in motion, SV Blushing’s Moni (Royal Roland) trotted out from the rail to take the lead. Setting the fractions in 30.3, 1:01.0, and 1:32.0, SV Blushing’s Moni was still full of trot as she rounded the final turn. Crossing the finish line in 2:03.1, SV Blushing’s Moni not only grabbed the money for first place, she also picked up a new lifetime mark.

 

 

Katherine Carey Memorial

The “Katherine Carey Memorial” was held in race eight. Matriarch of the Carey racing family, Mrs. Carey had a life-long love of horses and the sport of harness racing. Her family continues to breed and race on the Iowa circuit and beyond. Husband Keith (Dudley), son Jeff and grandchildren Curtis and Mary (Carey) Kilberg are actively building their broodmare band and their racehorses can be seen at all tracks on the circuit.

Curtis Carey had Trembletown ready to compete in this two-year-old-pacing filly division. Bred and raised by Lesa Peters With Nick Roland in the bike, his instructions were to take the front and don’t look back. Charging from the gate, Trembletown handedly took the lead, cutting the mile in 31.1, 1:03.0 and 1:34.2. With no competition in sight, Trembletown cruised to the line for her first lifetime win, victorious in 2:05.1.

As Trembletown made her way to the winner’s circle, the Carey family gathered to celebrate the winner. 102 year-old “Dudley” Carey, patriarch of the Carey clan, was center stage for the blanket presentation, along with son Jeff, grandchildren Mary and Curtis and great-grandsons Kolton and Kaysen.

 

Bob and Marilyn Stapp Memorial

Race ten was named in honor of Bob and Marilyn Stapp. From Columbus Junction, Iowa, Bob and Marilyn started out by helping Royce “Red” and Vesta Carey train standardbreds, which led to owning and training their own horses. The Stapps competed at the fairs in Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and Illinois, as well as pari-mutuel tracks in Chicago and Quad City Downs. Bob served as Director of Hawkeye Colt Association and was active in promoting harness racing.

As the three-year-old trotters lined up behind the starting car, RD Work Go-N-Spi (Kathy Raymond) made a dash for the lead. Still up as they passed the half, Airman’s Jackpot (Royal Roland) charged up to take over, leading the field by eight lengths as they made the three-quarters. In full command of the track, Airman’s Jackpot destroyed the field, winning in 2:10.1 by eighteen lengths.

During the blanket presentation in the winner’s circle, daughter Julie (Stapp) Edmundson and husband Alan, presented the winning team with a check for $100 and a note to please stop and enjoy some ice cream after the races. This was a favorite practice of her parents and remembered with fondness that they knew every ice cream stop in Iowa.

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