it ~v ;. - Lestg; Chappell In Praise“ 0f 77995771511] Slab/e

ester Chappell was horn in 19% and

was inyolyed with horses since he

was 13. One of his proudest moments occurred on Septemher 28. 1983 at the Summerside Raceway. ()n that date. Lester droye llarry Rohhlees llec/(Is/(Ir to a la)" Victory in the \‘i‘estern Capitals lnyitational Pace. Following the race, Lester and Medastar were joined in Victory Lane hy the owner trainer llarry Rohhlee and his daughter. Linda. liarl Cannon and Boh Dewar made a presen—

tation of a heautiful cooler on hehalf of

the \\"estern (Iapitals and SR\\'. That par— ticular race was significant hecause it por—

trayed grassroots harness racing and the

people who represented the hackhone of

the industry: The loye of the standard— hred and the joy of competition were the motiyating factors for their inyolyement in this wonderful sport and industry.

In July 200—". \\"alter (Lheyerie droye a four~year—old mare‘ (JIM 's Gracious I‘m/‘1'. to yictory in 2:()().i at the Summerside Raceway. This race was significant hecause it was Lester’s last win as a train- er. [1 was also may special hecause that mare was owned hy his friend of more than N) years. (iollins \\"ood.

For almost six decades. Lester (ihappell

Photos: Ann \lac\eill was associated with the equines. He explained “\ly lather raced horses at the track known then as Sunny Green Acres in Springfield He also raced his horses on the road at that time against neighhors for hragging rights in the community." How many will rememher this once \‘ery

actiye racetrack in Prince (Iounty?

The first horse that this exuherant horse— man owned was a mare known as Belinda Scull. lsaac Stewart for $30 with a 83:, stud fee

Lester hought her from

already paid She was to he hred to a stallion owned hy Linus \lulligan. Lester stated. “She was a had actor that they couldn't handle so she hecame my pro~ iect. I raced her on the ice in Stanley Bridge and on the North Riyer Causeway. She produced Um‘een/n/l/tr and [31'//_i'(,' INN/S for me. l)m‘een_/o//f/_i' was the first horse that I took to the Summerside Raceway to try to race. This wasn‘t had for a net inyestment of SH!"

'l‘his \‘enerahle horseman was inyolyed with hundreds of horses oyer the years

and rememhering their names was often

a c tallenge: howeyer. he did remen'iher racing a little white faced horse on a matinee card at the lx'ensel Raceway in

Millyale. Lester also rememhered that

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