Guy K Protector, no, he is not a famous person from our little town, but rather a famous racehorse owned by the Dewey Dygert’s farm here in Springville.  His name is derived from a combination of his owners Dr. Guy Kane and the colt’s sire “Protector.

Guy K Protector traveled all around this country and into Canada, breaking racing records and making headlines.  In 1952, at four years old, he made his debut an amazing one, when he swept the dashes of the $3,000 Buffalo Athletic Club Trot, featuring of the harness card at Buffalo Raceway.  According to Dewey Dygert, He is more than just a good bargain to me, he was a close friend.  Together they traveled through the Country creating a scrapbook that reads, like a who’s who’s of the horse racing world. The Official racing colors were green and white and Dewey Dygert drove Guy in every race except one.  Dewey even rode all the way to California in a boxcar with Guy just to keep him company, when they were to race at the Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood.  Celia Haven, Guy’s favorite mare, went along as well to keep this famous racehorse Guy Happy.  It was a long journey, that took several days, but both horses and Dewey arrived in good shape. 

So many stories are told regarding this horse during his racing career, once Dewey did not like how Guy K was trotting and thought it best if he took him out of the race. But before he did that, he thought maybe he would change his shoes, so off to Curly’s Blacksmith shop, and Guy got a new set of shoes. When Dewey raced him that night he won the race and, he set  a new personal best record.  Dewey would walk him around to cool him down after a race, an in doing so would put the lead shank over Guy’s back, then Dewey would run and hide in one of the empty stalls, and Guy would search each stall until he found Dewey.  Others in the area learned of this little game and soon they would gather to watch the game between the horse and his owner.

 It was in 1962 the Guy K retired from racing after earning over $100,000 and establishing a trotting mark of 2;01 on the half mile track.  The horse and owner Dewey Dygert enjoyed the distinction that only a few have had, that being invited to race in one of the earliest invitational Trots at the World of Roosevelt Raceway in 1952 and in the American Trotting Champions at Hollywood Park in California in 1956. Retirement from racing came easy for both man and horse. It meant spending more time on the beautiful farm they both called home. After retirement guy sired several outstanding horses.

Guy K Protector did not care much for the adults that wanted to see him, but he loved kids.  When the kids would come to see him, Guy would talk to them by shaking his head… at least they all thought he did, and maybe he did. In 1956 D C Dygert was the Horseman of the Year, along with Guy K Protector ( he was the horse of the year) Guy K died in February 1973 at the age of 25, ending a quarter of a century partnership with his owner, trainer and friend Dewey Dygert.

The Farm that both man and horse loved was built in 1812 by Dewey Dygert’s grandfather. The farmhouse still stands strong on the corner where the Cattaraugus meets with Elk Street. Dewey’s father, Robert and Robert’s three son were born there. Erwin (Dewey’s brother) became the Race Secretary at Chicago, and his other brother Leon was Race Secretary at Hamburg.  Raising and racing fine horses has been something all the Dygert men were weaned on.

From 1832 this farm has been the scene of training, driving and racing. On the farm is the oldest known half mile track in the U S known as the Springville Driving Park. Like his father before him, Dewey had three sons.  His wife, Virginia Utrich Dygert died in 1945.  David Dygert was one of the finest Village Veterinarians, William Dygert was a Vet in Hamburg and Pete Dygert was a principal of Franklinville High School.