Bob Craig fig

and foundation in the industry that was to be his Vocation for life. In the early years. he also got tips and adyice from horsemen like Len O'Meara and Harold Stead. bles then on Big Boy. That was the first

llarold Stead used trotting hob—

time that Bobby (Iraig had eyer seen them. For years horsemen were ashamed to use trotting hobbles but today they are taken for granted and used on some of the best trotters in the world.

In 1938 Bob (Iraig opened his own pub- lic stable and that year he raced at Rideau Carleton in Ontario. The following year he moyed back to (Zharlottetown where he trained horses for ll.l%. \V'illis. In 1960. he had I’Vj/ec/ lla/ for George Gregory. ’lhiffic Chic/i for Doctor Temple Hooper. .llt'l,)(tI‘/i11,e. .llt'sx “Vilma/(Me and Cecil llermnine for \V'endell Harbour. and .llr. jollscoll l‘or Doug Hill.

This lslander's first official driye was at (Eonnaught Park in Ottawa in 1938 and the horse was (fer/1e High. He didn't win that race nor any race all that year but he did get a bunch of seconds and thirds. He recorded his first win while driying Bust/’5‘ Girl for lx’eg Mackenzie. This trot~ ter won in 2:1‘) and it was at the (2.1).l’. in 193‘). The fastest race he eyer won was in 2:00 by (/mn/Adz’fce for llollisylenkins. Bob competed in races under 2:00 but

neyer recorded a \'ictory under 2:00. He described some of his top horses in

the following manner. “Si/garskipper was an awfully good mare that I raced for a

54

Behind the Gate

number of years. (.hlgan’s (Joiner was an honest horse; he would neyer make a break nor get you in trouble; he still holds the trotting record of 2205.2 in Summerside. lis/mir (/ooz/ equalled the trotting record in ;\Ioncton in 2200.4. 1 had Simcoe for llon. liarl Rowe. I changed A 050/1110 I’mo/Trom a pacer to a trotter and in six weeks he won the Tom (Ilaybourne Memorial at the (3.1).1). I sold him for 50.000 and he now has a mark of 1:38 with 860000 made in two years in

Montreal and other tracks."

This horseman stated emphatically that (lo/gun’s (Xume/ was the best horse that he had and probably would eyer haye. lie was an honest trotter who had to race against the best paeers throughout the Maritimes. \\"hen you haye a horse set track records for you and then moye to Montreal as a tltt‘ee—yeai‘~()ld and in four starts be eleyated to the lnyitational and race there eyery week. he has to be your

layorite horse.

The race that Bob will neyer forget was when he raced (10ml xii/rice in the Gold Cup and Saucer. That was an exhilarat- ing experience and one that all Atlantic driyers dream about. He didn't win that

race but he was in it.

Racing enthusiasts will remember when driyers raced oiin two parts of the mile. There was a dash into the first turn to get position. You would neyer moye your horse until the top of the stretch. Then

there was a dash to the wire. The big