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Bill Acorn
After All Those Years
In 1936, Bill Acorn started to sell pencils and race programs at the Charlottetown Driving Park. In 2005, his job description was track charter at the C.D.P. Between these two roles, Bill filled eight additional positions of part-time employment at the C.D.P. What makes Bill’s record astounding is that this employment at the C.D.P. was continuous for 69 years! His different roles revealed a great deal of the behind-the-scenes history of horse racing at the C.D.P. for over six decades; however, with the evolution of computer technology, many of the roles that Bill performed have become obsolete and may be a mystery to many of the younger people.
After selling pencils and programs for eight years, Bill was promoted to “hanging the numbers” at the old judges’ stand in the infield. These numbers would show the patrons the times for each quarter fraction of the race. This was done manually during the race because in the 1940s the electronic computer wasn’t available to perform this function. Bill’s third job at the C.D.P. made him assistant program director to his brother, Frank “Duck” Acorn. From this position he moved back to the old judges’ stand and became the official patrol judge for the upper turn. We must remember that this was long before the judges moved to the highest level of our grandstand; it was also long before the advent of videotaped replays to assist judges in making a decision. Many of you will remember seeing the judges and the announcer circling the old judges’ stand in the centerfield as they watched the horses during a race at the C.D.P.
Bill’s next job description kept him in the old judges’ stand as one of the three official timers. Each fraction of each race was recorded manually by three official timers to ensure accuracy. When there was a difference in times, a majority ruled. Today we have one official timer. From timer, Bill moved on to be the “runner” for the pari-mutuel. For this job, he literally ran with the official ticket pays to each of the pari-mutuel cashiers. In those days, the patron went to separate wickets to purchase and cash tickets and the runner had to be fast so as not to keep those with winning tickets waiting too long. Bill was a “runner” for two years when he moved on to become a seller of tickets at the pari-mutuel. From seller he was promoted to be one of the chosen three who calculated the win, place, and show official pays at the conclusion of each race. Bill calculated what the win tickets would pay while Pius Callaghan and Russel St. John did the place and show pays respectively.
When Frank Duck Acorn’s career as announcer ended, Bill became the new announcer at the C.D.P. and he performed this role for almost two years before passing it on to a youthful Ed Watters in 1966. At that time, the new position of track charter was introduced to the C.D.P. He is assisted by either his wife, Mary or his son, Wylie for each race card as assistant charter.
I asked Bill, “What do you do as track charter?” Without hesitation he confidently responded, “For each race, I must chart the position for each horse at each quarter and at the top of the stretch. I must also chart each quarter that a horse is parked out. I must also chart at what quarter a horse makes a break. I must also chart the number of lengths each horse is behind the leader for each quarter and at the top of the stretch. All of this information is charted and compiled for each horse after each race for the Canadian Trotting Association and for future race programs to assist patrons in making a wager. Bill and an assistant-charter compile this data. The judges also watch each race carefully and Bill explained that, if necessary, he will verify with the judges or examine a tape of the race in recent years.
Horse racing was always a part of Bill Acorn’s family. His father, Ed, was an owner of horses and a timer at the C.D.P. for years. Bill’s brother, “Duck”, was involved with racing at the C.D.P. for all of his adult life. Bill loves the sport and he once owned a horse with Emmett MacDonald and Reid McKenna. This trio owned Rush Hal for two years and placed him in the stables of Joe Hennessey and Clark Smith at different times.
One of Bill’s best experiences during his lengthy tenure at the C.D.P. occurred when he and his son Billy went to Halifax to take the examinations to become a track charter. He was a little nervous before the tests but was very happy with the results. His son finished with the highest mark and Bill was second highest from the group of Maritimers that took the examinations. It made him feel very good and very proud of his son.
Bill met and conversed with a number of visiting celebrities at the C.D.P. over the years. He found Ben Johnson to be a very nice young fellow who came here amid a lot of controversy to race against a standardbred horse, a thoroughbred horse and a car. Bill described Wally Hennessey as a fine young man who has done extremely well in his profession. Bill remembered meeting Joe O’Brien when the horse barns used to be located on the backstretch at the C.D.P. and Joe was just getting established. He explained “Joe was a real gentleman and good to me when I was a young fellow.”
Bill Acorn was the subject of “Behind the Scenes” in the February 2002 issue of Trot magazine. The article stated, “And while the C.D.P. was a part of his life, it was not his whole life.” In fact, over his working career he was employed by Ed’s Taxi for seven years, Atlantic Wholesalers for 22 years, the federal government for nine, the provincial government for five and the Firestone company for ten years.
Bill and his wonderful wife, Mary were blessed with daughter, Lollie and sons, Billy, Wylie, and Bobby. Mary had a long-time association with the C.D.P. making it possible for this couple to share their love of harness racing with many others.
On Saturday, June 5, 2010 Bill Acorn died at the age of 80 after a battle with cancer. Besides his long, fruitful association with harness racing, Bill was a devoted husband and proud father. He was a committed volunteer as evidenced by his recognition as Charlottetown Citizen of the Year and Legionnaire of the Year. He was featured on a poster for the Alzheimer’s Association of PEI. Bill was also an avid and successful sportsman who captured the provincial snooker title and a Canadian title in curling. His many friends will miss his friendly way.
The preceding profile is excerpted from Paul Murphy's 2008 book, “Behind the Gate”(Retromedia Publishing). Used by permission.
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