$15.00 CAD
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Set of two documents associated with Billie Hilliard, racing attendant at Woodbine Park Race Course.
Item #1 Racing Assn. Attendant’s ID card
Incorporated Canadian Racing Association - 1941 Attendant’ts Identification Card. Issued to William Hilliard. Issued May 14th. Age 41. Employed by Jas. G. Fair of Cainesville Ontario.
Smudges.
6.5 x 10 cm
Item #2 December 22nd 1944 letter from Ontario Jockey Club (Toronto)
Letter on Ontario Jockey Club letterhead, sent by the Pauline ---, Secretary-Treasurer of the Ontario Jockey Club – Woodbine Park Race Course – to Billie Hilliard.
As well as thanking Billie for Xmas card, gives the answer to his question of the fastest ¾ mile ever done by “SHEPHERTON”: 1.10 4/5 carrying 134 pounds, ridden by Bobby Watson at Stamford Park in 1943.
It seems the Billy followed Shepherton for many years, there is a handwritten note added at the bottom of the letter:
“Shepherton was sold to Smallman Stables after Fred Shelke passed away 1946 at an enormous price. Smallman Stable, London Ont. He was a stallion now Shepard’s Polly wins Stake Race Woodbine Park May 1954. The Maple Leaf Stakes a filly by Shepherton”
Comes with envelope.
Vertical and horizontal folds.
Shepperton (foaled 1939 in Ontario) was a Canadian Thoroughbred Hall of Fame racehorse. He was a son of Sun Craig, who was sired by Sun Briar, the 1917 American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt who sired such outstanding runners as Firethorn, Pompey, and U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee Sun Beau. Shepperton's dam was Chat Water, a daughter of Claiborne Farm's 1932 Leading sire in North America, Chatterton.
Shepperton was bred, owned, and conditioned for racing by Hall of Fame inductee Fred H. Schelke. He is best remembered for his back-to-back wins in the Canadian Championship Stakes and became part of the inaugural class of inductees following the formation of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. His profile there says that despite being a "confirmed cripple from birth," Shepperton was "the wonder horse" of his time.
He was not successful as a sire.
