Ronnie Matheson ‘1!

with pylons and the safety lactor inherent with this change.

Continuing on the theme of changes in the harness racing industry. Ronnie elah-

orated. “There is a certain amount of

change that should go on all the time in any industry in order to he successful. You can‘t stand still and this includes horse racing. A race card today at most tracks is conducted in identical fashion as it was :30 or more years ago. \V'e deli— nitely must try something dill‘erent to sur— yiye. to bring people hack and to attract new people Simulcasting and slots are a sign of the times in most places and the industry must keep moying lor\\'ard: hoyyeyer. our industry can't rely solely on simulcasting or slots. ()ur industry must help itsell‘ because these No apparent cash cows \yill e\ entually run their course

like eyerything else. "

I cliclnt haye to speak to this articulate memher ol. the equine industry yery long to realize that he had some yery legiti— mate concerns hut he continued to remain positiye about the game lor which he had a passion. He enjoyed the thrill of a race and the competition inyolyed. lie met some very nice people through his work. Ronnie loyed horses and he loyed just being around horses. lle espe— cially liked training and racing the colts and l‘illies and watching them progress and mature. The t\\'()— and threevyeai: olds comprised more than half ol' his large public stahle. liach year he seemed to have new success with the young ones

46

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Behind the Gate

and names like Nicer/we Saudi: \l'kux/Hmre/eL Rf!’(’l‘l‘ll(’ Come! and others come to mind. He prelerred the young— sters hut realized he must also race older horses to suryiye grassroots racing in the Maritimes. That was just a fact of life for him.

\\"hy did he loye horses? The response was immediate and insightful. It may surprise some people who haye not had close contact with these animals. .\lany \yho haye worked with horses will agree with Ronnie‘s assessment. lle respond ed. “llorses are intelligent and smart ani~ mals. 'l‘hey are a lot more intelligent than we giye them credit for. They are really satisl‘ying to work around. 1 just loye a horse tor a horse whether he can go in 2:18 or 2:00."

He continued. “Bo/(l Roms/er can recogr ni'/.e Bert llaneyeld‘s yoice l‘rom outside the ham and he knoyys he will be getting a treat ol~ carrots l‘rom his oyyner when he enters the ham. 1 know that my horses know me. Some horses know when a certain Veterinarian enters the stable. ll‘ a stranger walked into my harn early in the morning. the horses would not lie pounding the stalls down looking for this stranger to teed them; ho\ye\'ei'. ii. the horses see a stahlehand coming. they are pounding the doors looking to he led. I am sure they know what is going on for them on a race night. Some horses are more competitiye than others. They are like hockey players and some get tip for the game and some don't. Some give 100