Charles “Terry” Provost, passes, age 78

Charles “Terry” Provost passed away Sunday, February 6, 2022, at the age of 78.

Terry Provost was quoted as saying that there was never a day that he did not want to go to work!

From horse owner and the “worst groom ever (his words)”, Terry started as Racing Secretary at Paterson Park, Ladner, B.C. in 1968, later working at Connaught Park, Orangeville Raceway, and Frontenac Downs through the early 1970s.

He served as Racing Secretary at Western Fair Raceway from 1973 through 1991 and as a Judge for the Ontario Racing Commission from 1992 to 2014. Terry was honored by The Raceway at Western Fair District with his induction into London’s Wall of Fame in 2012. He was welcomed that night with the following words:

“Terry ran the race office with skill, imagination and an innate ability to classify horses in order to ensure the most competitive races possible” . . . . “he was a visionary and introduced races and innovative events including stakes for claimers which were unheard of at that time but commonplace now.”

In July 2019, Terry lost his wife of 43 years, June-Marie, to Alzheimer’s.

They had met and married while at Western Fair but later (at age 56), she was encouraged to start race walking by her husband. She won over 400 medals in competitions on five continents and was a member of the London Sports Hall of Fame. Terry was a longtime member of the American Harness Racing Secretaries, Inc. joining in 1974. He received the honor of Lifetime Membership in 2016.

Terry is survived by June-Marie’s children, Robert Elms & Lois Bergen, Winnipeg; Mark & Gabriele Elms, Melbourne, Ontario; Jennifer & Ken Dungavell, Melanie Elms & Steve Thomas, London; and Sherri Elms (Brad), Kingston. Terry and June-Marie were also predeceased by her youngest son Capt. Brad Elms.