Emile St. Godard
Encyclopedia
Emile St. Godard was a Canadian dog
musher
and dog sled racer
from Winnipeg
, Manitoba
. He was a renowned musher in the 1920s and 30's, with much of his fame derived from racing Leonard Seppala and his victory in the demonstration race at the 1932 Winter Olympics
at Lake Placid
, New York
. In 1956 he became the only dogsled racer to be entered into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
.
to The Pas
in 1916, St. Godard's brother began training a dog team however the family felt he was too young to race. In 1924 he won his first race, around the streets of his home town.
St. Godard's first major win was The Pas Dog Derby in 1925, which was one of the world's premier dogsled races during this period. He would continue to win this race five times in a row until 1929. He would lose the 1930 race to Earl Brydges by twelve and a half minutes after coming in with three tired dogs on his sled.
Following his victory in the dog derby at Ottawa
's first Winter Carnival in February 1930, he was presented with a gold challenge cup and a cheque for one thousand dollars by the Mayor
Frank H. Plant
at an lavish reception in the Château Laurier
. He dominated the field for so long that fans often referred to the races at the time as "St. Godard against the field".
He received a citation from the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies
for his kindness and concern for his dogs. His lead dog, Toby, was a husky-greyhound cross and was such an integral part of St. Goddard's crew that when Toby could no longer race, St. Goddard retired also.
Posthumously in 1956 he was inducted posthumously into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, and in 2007 into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame
. He remains the only dog sled racer to be recognised by either the national or provincial awards.
. Over six years, St. Godard would win the race four times, and Seppala twice. The duo also faced off in a variety of different races over the years, during which St. Godard won the majority of the races.
. St. Godard and Seppala would place first and second overall, with St. Godard taking the victory after winning both of the 50 mile races involved. Following his rivals victory, Seppala acknowledged his rival's superiority and didn't compete with him afterwards.
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
musher
Mushing
Mushing is a general term for a sport or transport method powered by dogs, and includes carting, pulka, scootering, sled dog racing, skijoring, freighting, and weight pulling. More specifically, it implies the use of one or more dogs to pull a sled on snow or a rig on dry land...
and dog sled racer
Dogsled racing
Sled dog racing is a winter dog sport most popular in the Arctic regions of the United States, Canada, Russia, and some European countries. It involves the timed competition of teams of sleddogs that pull a sled with the dog driver or musher standing on the runners...
from Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
. He was a renowned musher in the 1920s and 30's, with much of his fame derived from racing Leonard Seppala and his victory in the demonstration race at the 1932 Winter Olympics
1932 Winter Olympics
The 1932 Winter Olympics, officially known as the III Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1932 in Lake Placid, New York, United States. The games opened on February 4 and closed on February 15. It would be the first winter olympics held in the United...
at Lake Placid
Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid is a village in the Adirondack Mountains in Essex County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 2,638....
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. In 1956 he became the only dogsled racer to be entered into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame is a hall of fame established in 1955 to "preserve the record of Canadian sports achievements and to promote a greater awareness of Canada's heritage of sport." It is located at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta...
.
Racing career
Following his family's move from Fisher BranchFisher Branch, Manitoba
Fisher Branch is a village in the Rural Municipality of Fisher in the Canadian province of Manitoba. It is located on Highway 17 in the north Interlake region of the province. Fisher Branch was originally named Wasoo, but later was changed to Fisher Branch because it was beside a branch of the...
to The Pas
The Pas, Manitoba
The Pas is a town in Manitoba, Canada, located in Division No. 21, Manitoba in the Northern Region, some 630 kilometres northwest of the provincial capital, Winnipeg, near the border of Saskatchewan. It is sometimes still called Paskoyac by locals as the first trading post was called Fort Paskoyac...
in 1916, St. Godard's brother began training a dog team however the family felt he was too young to race. In 1924 he won his first race, around the streets of his home town.
St. Godard's first major win was The Pas Dog Derby in 1925, which was one of the world's premier dogsled races during this period. He would continue to win this race five times in a row until 1929. He would lose the 1930 race to Earl Brydges by twelve and a half minutes after coming in with three tired dogs on his sled.
Following his victory in the dog derby at Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
's first Winter Carnival in February 1930, he was presented with a gold challenge cup and a cheque for one thousand dollars by the Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
Frank H. Plant
Frank H. Plant
Frank Henry Plant was mayor of Ottawa from 1921 to 1923 and in 1930.He was born in London, Ontario in 1883 and came to Ottawa with his family in 1900. As an alderman, he helped introduce the "two platoon" system for firefighters in the city. Before that, firefighters were on duty 24 hours per day...
at an lavish reception in the Château Laurier
Château Laurier
The Fairmont Château Laurier is a landmark hotel in Downtown Ottawa, Ontario located near the intersection of Rideau Street and Sussex Drive designed in the Châteauesque style.-History:...
. He dominated the field for so long that fans often referred to the races at the time as "St. Godard against the field".
He received a citation from the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies
Canadian Federation of Humane Societies
The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies is the only national animal welfare organization representing humane societies, SPCAs, and animal rescue organizations across the country...
for his kindness and concern for his dogs. His lead dog, Toby, was a husky-greyhound cross and was such an integral part of St. Goddard's crew that when Toby could no longer race, St. Goddard retired also.
Posthumously in 1956 he was inducted posthumously into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, and in 2007 into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame
Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum
The Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, dedicated to the history of sport in Manitoba and honouring the best in sport. The organization began in 1980 and in 1993, a museum was opened in The Forks...
. He remains the only dog sled racer to be recognised by either the national or provincial awards.
Rivalry with Leonard Seppala
Seppala and St. Godard were faced each other annually at the Eastern International Dog Derby in QuebecQuebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
. Over six years, St. Godard would win the race four times, and Seppala twice. The duo also faced off in a variety of different races over the years, during which St. Godard won the majority of the races.
Olympic games
Dogsledding was included as an exhibition sport for the only time at the 1932 Winter Olympics. There were twelve competitors from both the USA and CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. St. Godard and Seppala would place first and second overall, with St. Godard taking the victory after winning both of the 50 mile races involved. Following his rivals victory, Seppala acknowledged his rival's superiority and didn't compete with him afterwards.