Ronnie Matheson

her of people I really respect and admire for different reasons. I consider Kenny {\rsenault and Walter (Iheverie to he among the top drivers in this region. I really respect Donnie Galbraith and Phil Pinkney as top trainers in the .\Iaritimes. It‘s rare in the .\Iaritimes or in the \Ieadowlands for one person to he among both the elite drivers and trainers in this age of specialization. Persoi‘ially. driving is not the end all for me. It does not make that much difference to me whether I drive or not. I would much sooner train horses than drive horses. ’I'his is a difficult question to answer because we do have more than two good drivers and two good trainers hut the

ones I have selected stand out for me,"

Iioth Ronnie‘s son. lack and his daughter. Iodilyn were knowledgeable and aware

of what was involved in the world of

standardln'eds. His mother. Blanche understood the game and its peaks and valleys. I am sure that his dad. Roddie

was looking down from ahove and was

pleased with the efforts and progress of

his son in a very demanding and chal—

lenging prolession.

Ronnie did not set specific goals at the heginning of each racing season. He rea— soned. "It is pretty hard to set goals in the horse husiness hecause with injuries. sickness. etc.. you never know what is going to happen with your horses, You just do your hest and hope that things work out." If an opportunity arose for

him to train horses in Ontario. he stated.

48

vim

Behind the Gate

“I would certainly think ahout it. It has entered my mind. but if it is going to hap~ pen. it would have to happen soon." Incidentally. trainers from the Atlantic provinces have heen known to achieve success at the elite level of this industry in Ontario and New ‘Iersey.

The late I). Lloyd .\Iathieson was a tal— ented hockey player in his youth. As a teenager. he left P.IZ.I. to pursue a profes— sional hockey career in the l'nited States. Success in real estate and the furniture husiness south of the 49th parallel per mitted this Islander to continue involve— ment in a lifetime passion of his — horse racing. Some older Islanders will remeny her Lloyd as Denver Dan hecause of a horse he owned by that name in the Ifric Moreside Stahle.

Lloyd owned Queen [.112 Hem/Jet: a three— year—old filly hy (,kunbes/ out of 'IXH‘uuut' l/(’I‘.\‘/)(’_1'. IIe named her after the Queen Iilixaheth Hospital in Charlottetown. Lloyd decided to donate her earnings to the Queen Iilixaheth Hospital I-‘ounda~ tion. This was a very thoughtful and con— siderate act by a true Prince Iidward Islander. Queen 1.1: Number was trained by Ronnie .\Iatheson at the (LI).P. IIer progress was indeed monitored closely hy Islanders. Ronnie also had great sue; cess training the mother of Queen /./': l/eIN/th‘ and many other horses over the years for Lloyd .\Iathieson.