The Mutchmor Park Racetrack
When I was born in 1950 I lived with my grandparents on my mother's side (Sidney and Helen Sims) in a large house at 965 Bronson Ave. I had only lived there a few years when my father became employed with the Department of National Defense, and we moved to Washington D.C.
Here is part of the obituary of my great grandfather "James Sims" who build the Bronson Avenue house in 1885 and became one of the first to reside in the Glebe. I was wondering if you new or have any idea where I might find more information about the mentioned racetrack. Or, if anyone has further information on the Sims family of Bronson Avenue, Ottawa.
OTTAWA CITIZEN OBITUARY: July 23, 1926
James Sims, pioneer Ottawa South resident
and prominent horseman passing away
late last night at the age of 74.
He conducted a flourishing cartage business
in Ottawa South, much of his work being done
by contract for the Ottawa Improvement Commission.
He was the first resident on Bronson Avenue,
south of the railway tracks and one of the
first to reside in the Glebe, where he built
his present home in 1885, and resided for the
balance of his life. At that time, the district
was bush and farm land, the only other building
in the vicinity being Foster's old tannery.
The late Mr. Sims is well remembered for his
stock of beautiful horses, which were said to
be the best in the district. He was also a
prominent figure at the old racetrack on Bronson Avenue
between Second and Third Avenues,
where he rode his buggy to many a victory.
Thanks for this. Your great-grandparent's home is now gone, replaced by the Colonel By Towers Apartments, at the corner of Holmwood and Bronson.
The track where your great-grandfather raced was called the Mutchmor Driving Park. In about 1870, Ralph Mutchmor and partner E.C. Barber rented 48 acres of the Glebe lands that formed the western part of the Clergy Reserve granted in 1837 to St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church here in Ottawa. The Driving Park covered the lands west of Bank Street to Bronson Avenue between Glebe Avenue (formerly Carling Avenue) and Fifth Avenue (formerly Mutchmor Street).
The park drew Ottawa residents out to see horse races both on an oval track and on a longer hunter's course marked out with water jumps. The hunter's course was quite large, enclosing the entire acreage. It is also my understanding that Ottawa residents would take their horse and buggies out for a recreational 'Sunday Drive' at the Mutchmor Driving Park when formal races were not being held. The smaller racing oval was on the eastern portion of the property, bounded by present day Percy Street on the west, First Avenue on the north, Bank Street on the east and Fifth Avenue on the south. Stables were built along Fifth Avenue near Bank, and the partners also constructed the Turf Hotel in 1872 on Bank Street near Fifth to accommodate racing patrons.
The Queen's Plate, Ontario's equivalent to the Kentucky Derby, used to move around the province from town to town. Although it is now run exclusively in Toronto, it was run twice at Mutchmor Driving Park, in 1872 and in 1880.
The thirteenth running of the Queen's Plate took place on May 31, 1872. In a field of six horses over a mile and a half, Fearnaught, ridden by Richard O'Leary, and owned by Alex Simpson of Toronto, won the 50 guinea prize in a time of 2:54.5. Governor General Lord Lisgar made the presentation on behalf of the Queen.
By 1878, the park was reported to be hampered by bad management. In 1880, the lease on Mutchmor Park had passed to the sheriff of Carleton County, W.F. Powell, a prominent racing enthusiast. The twenty-first running of the Queen's Plate took place here on June 29th, 1880. Bonnie Bird, owned by John Forbes of Woodstock, and ridden by Richard O'Leary (the same victorious jockey of the 1872 contest) took the 50 Guineas in a five horse race in a Plate record time of 2:47.
By 1890, the Mutchmor Driving Park lay overgrown and deserted. In March, 1891, the Trustees of St. Andrew's Church submitted a block survey plan to Ottawa City Council laying out the road allowances for a residential subdivision of the 48 acres.
So it is likely that James Sim's buggy racing victories took place on the racing oval at Mutchmor Driving Park between 1870 and 1890. I had formerly assumed that the oval was used for thoroughbred racing, as in the Queen's Plate format, and am pleased to learn that buggy racing was also accommodated here.