Family traditions are rich in horse racing and rarely are they more abundant than in the Russell clan.

Wayne Russell, the paddock steward at Exhibition Park, is fulfilling the same role as his grandfather did 60 years ago. Grandad had come to North America from Britain with some of the Agha Khan’s horses. He found his way to Vancouver where he started the Russell Riding Academy at 1300 Davie Street.

It was there that Hedley Woodhouse learned the basics which made him one of the top jockeys in North America. And it was there that Jackie Russell Jr., Wayne’s father, first showed the horsemanship which would make him one of the province’s top trainers for nearly three decades.

Jackie Russell suffered a fatal heart attack while fighting a fire at Exhibition Park in May 1969. He was only 48 at the time and had a string of horses which would have made him a leading contender for training honours. They included stakes runners Red Royal, Bessy Lea, and Agha Sea, plus the hard knocking claimers Shezadorin and Sweet Moment. Side Pocket won seven races in a row.

He had just returned from the meeting at Golden Gate Fields in California where he had saddled 10 winners in 50 starters and was eight in the standings. He was one of the few local trainers who campaigned 12 months of the year.

Russell started out as a jockey but a weight problem quickly curtailed him to riding only in hurdle races where he became one of the best on the coast.

He began training in 1941 – at least that is when the first winning pictures were taken and by the mid-fifties was several times the leading trainer.

A sampling of his outstanding horses would include Longacres Mile hero (and Hall of Famer) Quality Quest, Canadian Derby winner Quick Quick, and multi takes winner National Debt.

He also developed numerous jockeys, including one of 1988’s other inductees, Billy Skuse. Other who went on to fame and fortune under his guidance were Dennis Terry, Dennis Tierney, Paul Frey, and Roy Yaka.

He was a colourful personality. He was usually outfitted in stylish western duds and was known as the most enthusiastic cheerleader on track. When trainers were allowed in the infield he used to run the last furlong almost as fast as his horses. When Quality Quest won the Longacres Miles he tripped on the hedge which brought almost as big a smile to jockey Bill Hartack’s lips as did the winning.

Jockey Gene Salas once swore he heard his bellow all the way to the quarter pole.

He had a simple philosophy about training. “It’s not the smartest man who wins the most races. It’s the one who makes the fewest mistakes.”