Prince of Wales winner draws from experience

FORT ERIE, Ont. --- Instead of hiring a famous hockey player or show business personality to preside over the annual post postion draw for the Prince of Wales Stakes, management at Fort Erie Race Track reached into its own stable area to come up with a distinguished ceremonial celebrity for this year's edition of the track's marquee race.

Sam McComb, who trains a family-owned stable that currently consists of just two horses, did the honors of randomly pulling the slips that assigned the numbers for Sunday's $500,000 race, the 74th edition of what some call the Preakness of Canada.

Why McComb?

Well, for one reason, McComb, a retired jockey originally from Northern Ireland, was the only person in the room who has actually ridden a winner of the Prince of Wales. That came in 1965 when he directed Good Ole Mort to victory in the race's 30th edition.

McComb's Prince of Wales came during the era when the race was a marathon on the grass. It was 1 3/8 miles of turf in 1965 and the distance was later extended to 1 1/2 miles in 1976, where it remained until after several runnings in boglike conditions, the surface was switched to dirt and the distance reduced to 1 3/16 miles in 1988.

While being interviewed by Fort Erie TV analyst Elissa Blowe, McComb recalled that another rider had claimed foul against him but the judges dismissed the complaint.

"It was a happy day for all," he said.

McComb, who recently turned 80 and still looks like he could make riding weight next week, said he recently had another happy day.
 
It came when he passed his automobile driver's test again and was allowed to remain on the road. However, he warned his Fort Erie neighbors to keep an eye out for him on the highway, and joked "I do better galloping horses in the morning than I do in a car."

Asked his opinion or today's Fort Erie jockeys, McComb politely deflected comment. He praised Robbie King Jr., now retired after being the Fort's top rider for two years. He also mentioned Hall of Famer Sandy Hawley, who was not present, but who is remembered for winning the 1988 Prince of Wales on Regal Classic, whose red and gold Sam-Son Farm colors will be worn Sunday by favorite Eye of the Leopard.

Oh yes, McComb said he also plans to enter a horse he trains in a race on Sunday's undercard. Bet it if you like, and If Apogee wins, McComb and his friends surely will have another happy Prince of Wales day for all.

--- Bob Summers