Earl(e) Bradford Avery (February 4, 1894 – November 6, 1977) was a driver and trainer of standardbred racehorses who was inducted into both the Canadian and United States Harness Racing Halls of Fame.[2][3]
| Earle Avery | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Harness racing driver, trainer, owner |
| Born | February 4, 1894 Knowlesville, New Brunswick, Canada |
| Died | November 6, 1977 (aged 83) Woodstock, New Brunswick, Canada |
| Career wins | 4,000+ (includes 1,252 USTA) |
| Major racing wins | |
| American Pacing Classic (1955, 1964) Empire Pace (1959) Hudson Filly Trot (1961) Lady Suffolk Filly Trot (1961) American Trotting Championship (1962) Poplar Hill Stakes (1963) American Trotting Classic (1963) Hempt Memorial (1965) Bluegrass Stakes (1966) U.S. Pacing Triple Crown wins: William H. Cane Futurity (1963) | |
| Racing awards | |
| Grand Circuit Award of Merit Medal (1972)[1] | |
| Honours | |
| New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame (1976) Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame (1977) United States Harness Racing Hall of Fame (1978) | |
| Significant horses | |
| Meadow Skipper, Egyptian Princess, Muncy Hanover, Porterhouse, Gun Runner | |
Racing career
editHe earned his first win on August 19, 1919, at Island Park race track in Woodstock, New Brunswick. Although he would become very successful racing in his native New Brunswick and at New England tracks, Avery would continue to personally operate his 600-acre potato farm for the next 29 years. In 1948 he relocated to the United States to pursue a career in racing on a full-time basis. In 1951 he was the leading driver at Laurel Raceway in Maryland. Having worked off and on for a number of years for Norman Woolworth's Clearview Farm, in 1955 he accepted Woolworth's offer to take over as full-time head trainer and driver. While Avery had success with many horses during his seventeen years with Woolworth's stable, the best was the great runner and outstanding sire, Meadow Skipper.[4]
Retirement
editFollowing Earle Avery's announcement that he would be retiring from racing in October 1972, he was honored by the racing community and its fans with an Earle Avery Night at Yonkers Raceway.[5] He retired to his hometown in New Brunswick where he died at age 83 in 1977.[6]
References
edit- ^ Woodstock Bugle article on Earle Avery by Steve Belding published April 19, 1975 - reprint by Brent Briggs Retrieved October October 7, 2016
- ^ Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame bio for Earle Avery Retrieved October 7, 2016
- ^ U. S. Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame bio for Earle Avery Retrieved October 7, 2016
- ^ United States Trotting Association February 22, 2014 article titled "Earl Avery Award winner named" Retrieved November 1, 2016
- ^ New York Times September 27, 1972 article titled "TROTTING WORLD TOASTS AVERY, 78" Retrieved November 1, 2016
- ^ New York Times November 8, 1977 obituary titled "Earle Bradford Avery , 83; Standout in Harness Racing" Retrieved November 1, 2016