Saskatchewan's Mystery Mare
Who was this mysterious mare that come out of Saskatchewan and "carried the brand mark of the
Canadian Prairies on her right front shoulder"?
In spite of uncertain pedigree and age, she would register over 112 wins, a dozen or more pacing records
and a world record at Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Ruby P began her brilliant racing career when most standardbreds are ready to retire, at the advanced
age of seven in 1925. The beautiful daughter of Symbol P finished 1 - 1 - 1 on June 10th at Regina,
Saskatchewan, for her driver Shaw in a half mile test (times not reported). After a few unsuccessful starts,
she took her first record of 2:16 1/4h at Balcarres, Saskatchewan, on June 25th in a torrid five - heat
struggle where she was 1 - 1 - 5 - 4 - 4 to Babe Direct.
Her other win that first year, was at Brandon, Manitoba, for catch driver Smith in 2:17 1/2 in the third heat
of a $500 2:20 event.
The roan mare posted a 6 - 0 - 1 summary that initial racing year when she had eight starts of 26 heats.
38 wins in 1926
The year 1926 would see Ruby record an amazing number of wins, 38 in all. She had 23 hard fought turf
battles of 74 long heats and would post an outstanding summary of 38 - 15 - 6.
Her races began at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on May 24th and concluded in Toronto, Ontario, on
November 29th.
At Brandon, Manitoba, on June 29th, Ruby P and her driver Shaw met a then outstanding field of eight
pacers that included the future Canadian champion (in exhibition) Battle Axe, 2:01 1/4, and his driver Jim
Kealy. After a sensational battle, the mare posted a 2:10 1/4h win, while lowering her race record an
amazing six full seconds. She went down in defeat, however, in the next two heats.
Some other highlights of 1926 included a nine - heat consecutive win streak from July 13th to July 23rd at
Yorkton, Estevan and Weyburn, all in Saskatchewan. There was another nine - heat win streak, from
October 7th to October 13th for Ruby P and her driver Shaw at Cedar Rapids and Toledo, Iowa. The
times ranged from 2:10 1/4 to 2:13 1/4 in these nine heats.
There were several track records along the way for Ruby P. We have not been able to trace all of them,
but we know she had at least four at Wilkie and Estevan.
After two tough races that took between five and six heats at Toronto, Shaw, wisely retired Ruby P for the
coming winter of 1927.
After all, having posted 38 heat wins all over Western Canada and the United States and back again, the
sensational mare had nothing more to prove.
The amazing performances by Ruby P in 1926 attracted much attention and that winter the mare came
under new ownership. One of her new owners, and her driver for 1927, would be none other than the
legendary William H. "Billy" Keys of Saint Stephen, N.B.
Billy Keys had some of the following horses in his stable that historic year of 1927. They included Captain
Leggett, p, 2:06, the trotter Ella Watts, 2:09 3/4, Hedgewood K, p, 2:07 1/4, Ruby P, 2:10 1/4, and a late
addition, Eula H, a three - year - old - filly, 2:12 1/2.
Here is the tough schedule that Billy Keys followed that year with his string of outstanding equines.
Fredericton, Woodstock, Saint Stephen, Presque Isle, Skowhegan, Bangor, Houlton, Presque Isle, Saint
Stephen, Woodstock, Fredericton, Rochester, Brockton and Topsham.
Billy Keys had an outstanding year in 1927, and won over $12,000 in stakes and purses as he took part in
55 races of 181 heats.
This story is basically about Ruby P, so we will try to briefly tell our readers what the old roan mare
accomplished in 1927.
The nine - year - old mare had 11 starts of 42 heats and managed to post an excellent 19 - 11 - 5
summary that racing year.
Ruby P was brought along slowly by Billy Keys - after all the old mare had fought over 74 turf heats the
previous year. After starts in Saint Stephen and Fredericton in late July against very tough horses, Ruby
P began to come into her old 1926 form.
At Presque Isle on August 10th, she finished 2 - 2 - 2 to Caruso in a seven horse field in 2:09 - 2:09 - 2:11
3/4.
On August 19th at Skowhegan, Maine, Ruby P and her driver Billy Keys were 2 - 1 - 1 - 1 over such
sensational pacers as Floyd Direct, Auto Pace, Calgary Earle and Ribbon Cane in a $500 Junior Free For
All. The times posted were 2:07 - 2:06 1/2 - 2:08 3/4 - 2:08 3/4 with the old roan matron lowering her
lifetime record by 3 3/4 seconds in the second heat! The Skowhegan pacing record was 2:06 1/4, set by
Peter Kennedy in 1926.
After a four day rest, Ruby P and Billy Keys appeared at Bangor in a big $1,000, 2:11 pace. In the race
were Caruso, Banner M, Rubicon, Red Dillon, Calgary Earle..... all starting with Ruby P.
It turned into a five heat struggle, but the game old roan prevailed with a 3 - 1 - 2 - 1 - 1 over Caruso and
driver Pierce Chappell with times ranging from 2:09 3/4 to 2:12 1/2.
Ruby P faced a different field of pacers at Presque Isle on September 7th in a $1,000 2:10 pace.
Peterkin, Hedgewood K and Saccharose faced the old matron that afternoon with their drivers being
Monte Gerow, Tommy Raymond and Ralph Burrill, respectively.
After a tough five heat struggle, Ruby P posted a 1 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 1 win over Peterkin in 2:09 1/4 - 2:08 1/2 2:08 1/2 - 2:08 1/4 - 2:08 1/4.
There was excitement over the old Maine - New Brunswick racing circuit after this outstanding effort by
the old roan wonder,,,, after all, how many horses could pace under the then :magic 2:10 barrier" five
consecutive times in one afternoon, and that after all that endless scoring!
Hometown fans came out in droves to cheer for Ruby P and Billy Keys at Saint Stephen on September
16th.
It was a match race for $600 and none other than Lambert Todd and Collie MacKenzie faced the roan
mare that afternoon. Ruby P did not let down her many fans, posting a 1 - 1 - 1 effort over the old Grand
Circuit star who was having an outstanding racing season himself. The track was very slow and the times
were 2:13 1/4 - 2:14 1/2 - 2:12.
World Record At Fredericton, N.B.
At historic Fredericton, four free - for - allers came out to answer the call of the starter A. H. Standish of
Boston on the afternoon of September 22 in a $1,000 free - for - all event.
They were Bessie McKylo 2:01 1/4, Ruby P, 2:06 1/2, Harry Putnum, 2:06 3/4 and Early Todd, 2:09 3/4,
with their drivers being John Willard, Billy Keys, Tommy Raymond and Harry Nevers in that order.
Bessie McKylo was a big favorite due to the fact that she was the co - holder of the Canadian half - mile
race record of 2:04 3/4 set at Fredericton, N.B. in 1923 by Single G and equalled by the mare in 1926.
Ruby P, with her record of 2:06 1/2, seemed a bit out of her league, and to make matters more difficult,
Bessie McKylo's driver was the world class horsemen John Willard (of John R. Braden fame).
It turned into a battle royal with drivers Billy Keys and John Willard each refusing to yield an inch. They
had, it seems, planned to race each other's mare into the ground.
And race they did! In the first heat, after four scores, Standish, the Boston starter, let them go away. After
torrid fractions (at least by 1927 standards) of 31 1/2 - 1:04 1/4 - 1:35 1/4, Bessie McKylo won in 2:07 1/4
over Ruby P by a long nose.
The second heat was even better, with Ruby P just beating out Bessie McKylo in a brilliant 2:05 flat, a
new race record for the gallant old mare. The huge crowd went absolutely wild!
Out they came for the third heat, and again the two old mares raced as a team for most of the mile. They
came under the wire together and there was a long silence, followed by the crowd making so much noise
it was impossible to hear the announcer. Finally it came..... a dead heat between the two mares in 2:06
1/4 (a Maritime dead heat record in 1927).
More shouting and arguments broke out in the stands as both John Willard and Billy Keys had huge
followings of dedicated fans on both sides of the Canadian - U.S. border.
The handlers and backers of Bessie McKylo had a lot of money invested and it was claimed that their
champion had won the dead heat. The harness was taken off their mare and after 45 minutes, the order
was given......... Race or forfeit!
The other two starters, Early Todd and Harry Putnum, who had finished 4 - 4 -4 and 3 - 3 - 3 respectively,
were ruled out.
So, more drama, as it was now essentially a "match heat" between the two mares to decide the final
outcome of the race.
After three scores and two false starts, starter Standish let the mares pace into history. After torrid
fractions of 29 1/2 - 1:01 1/2 - 1:32 1/2, Ruby P came under the wire in 2:04 3/4. Her last 1/8 was in 15
seconds. The crowd was completely silent when the time was announced. The 2:04 3/4 equalled the
Canadian half mile race record and it was the second fastest mile ever recorded by a mare on a half mile
track in Canada at that time.
It was also claimed to be a world record for a pacing mare on a half mile track in the world in 1927 in a
fourth heat.
The new world record holder had two more starts that year at Rochester, New Hampshire and Brockton,
Massachusetts.
At Rochester, Ruby P finished 3 - 1 - 1 - 2 - 2 to Neill Frisco in a six horse field in 2:07 1/2 - 2:06 3/4 2:07 1/2 - 2:09 3/4 - 2:08 3/4.
In a big $3,000 event at Brockton, the old mare was a good 4 - 3 - 3 against a world class horse by the
name of Bert Abbe, 2:03.
Later that year of 1927, Billy Keys was honored by the leading citizens and his fans in Saint Stephen,
N.B.. He was presented with "a purse of gold in appreciation of the honors he had brought to the Saint
Croix Valley" at a dinner hosted by Saint Stephen Mayor Fred D. J. Graham.
A very modest and quite man, the legendary driver gave a speech, thanked all present and gave the
reasons for his success as being due mainly to his "faithful helpers, his patrons and his grooms".
Ruby P came back as a 10 - year - old in 1928. She had nine starts of 27 heats and put together an 8 - 10
- 7 summary, with her fastest effort being, a heat win in 2:07 1/4 at Fredericton.
The mare was racing against the best of that time on the Maine - New Brunswick circuit. Some of these
sensational pacers she sent down to defeat included Tarzan Grattan, Lambert Todd, Redline, El Verso,
Bessie McKylo, Guesswork, Jeanette Royal and Harry Putnam.
A few examples of the 1928 race year, while still under the care of Billy Keys were as follows. She
equalled the Moncton track record set by her driver Billy Keys on August 1st with Hedgewood K, of 2:08
1/4. Her mile of 2:08 1/4 was set on August 2nd of that same historic meet. In her race against Bessie
McKylo and Guesswork she was 3 - 1 - 2, she distanced the world class mare (Guesswork, 2:02 1/2 in
2:08 1/4 and her driver Will Flemming).
She finished a close 3 - 3 - 3 to the world class mare Millie W at Skowhegan, Maine, forcing her driver
Will Flemming to set a 2:05 3/4 track record in the third heat.
At Fredericton, Ruby P forced Jeanette Royal and driver Ted Bunch all out in 2:06 1/2 - 2:04 3/4 - 2:06
1/4. Ruby P was a close 4 - 2 - 2 as Jeanette Royal equalled the Canadian race record of 2:04 3/4h.
Ruby P had a bit of an "off year" in 1929. The 10 - year - old roan had 10 starts of 30 heats with a 6 - 10 7 effort. She paced in 2:08 flat at Houlton in the second heat for her fastest winning effort that year.
At Bangor, she finished a close second to Margaret Grattan in a third heat of 2:06 1/4. She managed to
record a 1 - 1 - 1 effort at Saint Stephen, a track she seemed to really love....... or was it her fans and her
home based driver Billy Keys?
On October 1st at Brockton, Massachusetts, Ruby was 2 - 4 - 3 to the sensational Chattanooga in a big
$2,000 free - for - all in 2:07 3/4 - 2:09 - 2:07.
Another Legendary "Billy" Driver Ruby P in 1930
Another record - breaking year as six track records are broken in the Maritimes by the 12 - year - old
roan.
Ruby P changed ownership in 1930. She was purchased for $2,500 (this included her halter) by none
other than the legendary Billy Hood. Her new owner was Mrs. Margaret Ballard (later Mrs. Billy Hood) of
Cape Breton.
The "wise railbirds" whispered she was lame and over the hill as after all the mare was at the advanced
age of 12.
When Ruby P made her first appearance at Truro in mid - June, it seemed her critics were correct. The
world champion finished a dismal 4 - 4 - 3 to Lambert Todd and Paleface, who were now racing as Cape
Breton community horses (and doing exceptionally well we might add).
From July 1st to September 18th it was a much different story. Under the care and tutelage of Billy Hood,
the world champion mare put on an outstanding exhibition of speed and endurance.
The popular driver and his roan matron raced at Sydney, Antigonish, North Sydney, Glace Bay,
Charlottetown, Halifax, Fredericton, Saint Stephen and the newly opened $100,000 track at Saint John,
N.B. The mare registered 24 wins, 4 seconds and a third out of 33 heats in 11 races.
Billy Hood was up to his favorite past time of setting track records and generating unbridled excitement
whenever he sat behind his roan champion. The press was everywhere and huge crowds came to see
the community horses and Ruby P perform. The 12 - year - old matron put together consecutive win
streaks of nine, seven and six respectively.
At North Sydney on July 23rd, Ruby P was 1 - 1 - 1 over Paleface, Lambert Todd, Silver Grattan and
Peter Taggert in 2:12 1/2 - 2:11 1/2 - 2:12 1/4. Two new pacing records for Charley Ballard's oval which
had just been remodelled.
More wins came in August for Ruby P and Billy at North Sydney, Glace Bay, Charlottetown and Halifax.
Even the critics were silenced as big crowds watched Ruby P and driver Billy Hood clip off second and
third heats in 2:09 1/2, 2:10 1/2 and 2:09 1/2.
Then on to New Brunswick for three big September free - for - alls. The newly opened track at Saint John
welcomed the pair with open arms. All famous names from Maine and New England were present; Will
Flemming, "Red" Hanifin, John Willard, Pierce Chappell, George Reed, Charles Mason, Monte Gerow,
"Dutch" Lee and Wathen.
Fans in great numbers turned out at the new track on that afternoon of September 4th. Ruby P and Billy
Hood did not disappoint. The roan wonder smashed the track pacing record three consecutive times in
2:12, 2:11 1/2 and 2:11.
Fans and the new management would not know it, nut the 2:11 record set by Ruby P would last forever,
as the new oval would last two or three years.
It was on to the bordertown of Saint Stephen, where on September 12th, more Maritime history was
made. Billy Hood asked her former owner and driver Billy Keys to drive his world champion roan before
his hometown fans and admirers. The field included Bonnie M, Bob Seymour, Kinney Silk and Bessie
McKylo.
The old roan mare responded for her former driver in impressive fashion, coming under the wire 1 - 1 - 1
in 2:06 - 2:06 1/2 - 2:07 3/4.
A brand new pacing record for Saint Stephen and the three fastest heats paced in the Maritimes for 1930.
They were probably the three fastest heats paced by an aged mare on a half mile oval in Canada for
1930 also!
Ruby P closed out the 1930 racing season by finishing 2 - 2 - 2 at Fredericton on September 18th in
another big event. The old mare went down to a close defeat to Bonnie M on a slow track in 2:07 3/4 2:11 1/2, 2:11 3/4.
Billy Hood continued to train and drive Ruby P in 1931. The roan mare posted excellent numbers also
that final year of active racing even if she was at the advanced age of 13. Indeed some oldtimers have
told this writer she may have been older than that!
The mare had eight starts of 24 heats duration with a summary of 11 - 9 - 2. Her races that year took
place in North Sydney, Charlottetown, Halifax and Fredericton.
There were some outstanding free - for - allers (at least for that era) during these days of the Great
Depression. She had to race against such stars as Jeanette Royal, Trampsmug, Captain Mac, Lambert
Todd, Volo Rico, Bonnie M, Paleface and a new and sensational mare called Eula H, driven by her former
driver and part owner, Billy Keys.
She also met and defeated a rising star named Marjorie M, the future "Cape Breton Wonder Mare".
Even if the old matron was finished setting track records, she could still force others to new ones. She
drove out Trampsmug in 2:11 1/2 that year at North Sydney to equal her old track record. In a sensational
race against her former stablemate, Eula H, another roan mare, she went down in defeat in 2:08 at the
C.D.P..
Billy Keys who drove Eula H that afternoon must have had mixed emotions that record - breaking
afternoon.
A First For Canada
Charley Ballard, that master promoter and owner of the North Sydney racetrack, arranged a history making event at his raceway on the afternoon of October 21st, 1931. It was a match race between Ruby
P. 2:04 3/4, Trampsmug, 2:02 3/4, driven by Mrs. Margaret Ballard and Mrs. Doctor MacIsaac,
respectively.
The result..... an outstanding event, even talked about to this day by old time fans in Cape Breton. Ruby P
prevailed in heats one and two in 2:14 and 2:13, while Trampsmug, 2:02 3/4, came back in the third to
narrowly win in 2:18. The track was not in good shape and it was wisely decided to discontinue the race.
According to the late Russell Miles, "the relationship between the lady drivers was never quite the same"
after this history - making duel at old North Sydney.
Historian James Power called it the first in Canada for a public race between horses with race records
better than 2:05, driven by ladies.
The end came suddenly in 1932 for our famous Saskatchewan - bred lady. There were but two official
starts for Ruby P, and they took place at her hometrack in North Sydney on May 24th and July 1st. In a
final salute, Ruby P went down in defeat to Marjorie M, the future "Cape Breton Wonder Mare".
The game 14 - year - old roan did not go quietly however, as she drove out Marjorie M in 2:11 1/2 - 2:11 2:12. Ruby P finished a very close 2 - 2 - 2 as two new pacing records were recorded that afternoon at
historic Northside Downs, whose roots go back to 1898.
It has been 69 years since Ruby P last raced in our Maritime Provinces. The gallant old roan mare still
remains a mystery. This writer still does not know her breeder or her correct age. Her pedigree is not
known.
The 1927 Trotter and Pacer says that she was a roan mare by Sybol P out of the dam Frances Delia by
Alfred G. Later official sources list her pedigree as unknown or unproven. Other sources simply say bred
in Saskatchewan, Canada.
One fact that we do know about Ruby P is that she and her two Maritime drivers, the late Billy Keys of
Saint Stephen and the late Billy Hood of North Sydney, were class acts wherever they went.
The world class mare officially had 82 starts of 262 heats in duration. She registered 112 wins, 61
seconds and 31 thirds in her short seven years of racing, and earned around $14,000 in those low purse
years.
Track records, more than 12 in number, fell under her gleaming hooves in Estevan and Wilkie,
Saskatchewan, and in North Sydney, Fredericton, Moncton, Saint John and Saint Stephen. We have not
traced all her track records in the Canadian West, where she probably had at least a half dozen more at
some of the smaller tracks where even her wins may have gone unreported.