Brothers John and Bob Howe ran a business called Economy Sausage which was advertised as, ‘The sausage that made little pigs famous.’

The brothers also gained distinction of their own by racing a small but highly successful stable at Hastings and Lansdowne Park in the Fifties, when National Debt was one of the top handicap runners, and in the Sixties when their homebred Treasures Glory became the first horse in 17 years to win both the B.C. Futurity and the B.C. Derby.

The Howe Bros. purchased National Debt at the Barretts 1948 yearling sale for $4,300, a hefty sum in that era. The roan colt was a standout in the early ‘50s, enjoying his finest season in 1951 when he won five handicaps. The crowning touch was a victory over Eddie’s Boy and Star Affair in the Randall Plate.

After his racing days National Debt passed on his speed in the breeding shed. When the Howes went to the 1957 B.C. yearling sale they bought a blocky bay colt by National Debt for $1,250. A club foot had discouraged other buyers and curtailed bidding.

Treasure Quest turned out to be a rare bargain, courageous and versatile. Trainer Bud MacDonald once reminisced, ‘He won at just about every race track in Canada. In his three-year-old season he won in Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg and Toronto.’

He had limited breeding opportunities, but he produced a rare champion in Treasures Glory, hero of the 1967 B.C. Futurity and the 1968 B.C. Derby.

Treasures Glory was never headed in either race, winning the six and one half furlong Futurity in 1:18.1 under Joe Baze and the mile and one-eighth Derby in 1:50.3 under Frank Inda. His winning margins were a neck and a head, a tribute to his courage under pressure.

Treasures Glory was out of Blue Glory, a mare the Howes claimed at Lansdowne for $1,050 on July 1, 1954. She was by War Glory, who was gaining a reputation as an outstanding broodmare sire. Although Blue Glory did little on the track for the Howes, she repaid them handsomely when her son My Boy John won the 1959 Futurity, defeating a bulky 15-horse field at Lansdowne under the guidance of jockey Tiny Arnold.

What made the victory doubly sweet was that My Boy John was also sired by National Debt.

My Boy John, incidentally, was named for the first grandson in the family, John Picken, whose mother Audrey was a daughter of John Howe. John Picken gained fame in his own right, becoming a Canadian tennis champion. He is now head professional at Jericho Tennis Club.

The Howes had another shot at Derby glory in 1965 when Ontario bred Weed Bender opened up a huge lead in the Canadian Derby in Edmonton but had to settle for second place.

John Howe died in 1967 and did not get to see Treasures Glory in his glory.

John’s son, another Bob, said his dad and uncle, ‘Really loved the races. They loved the horses, the people and they loved to gamble.’