Behind the Gate W;

bttt l ne\'er owned a really good horse.”

lli//I'I'e1(‘ Bonnie was a l-t—year—old mare that he raced for eight consecutiye years. Lester shared ownership of this mare with Carl Hunter. She had more sentimental than monetary value and was officially retired in 300+ ll/‘l/z'ieu‘ Bonnie was one of the select few able to boast that she

raced until the mandatory age of It

I asked Lester why he continued to slug it out in such a demanding industry that often offered little in return. He thought for a while and answered. "You kinda get down on it later in life but I like racing because of the people inyolyed. People like liarl Smith. Paul .\lacDonald. Garry MacDonald and others who neyer refused to driye my horses knowing that they might not haye much of a chance to win, I haye made some lifetime friends in this game."

There were a couple of things from the past that he did miss. He missed Moncton because he really enjoyed tak— ing a horse or two to Moncton for a Saturday card. Lester missed the interac~ tion of buying and trading horses with legends like Donnie Rankin. lid Haley and Frank Daniels. He also had high praise for horsemen like (Iltarlie \V'illis. James Roach MacGregor. Art Burbine. .Ioe

“I have made some lifétinzeflz’ends in this game.

, ma

Lester Chappell

Arsenault and others: howeyer, Andrew Perry was the horseman that he respect— ed the most because he was truly a real gentleman.

Ian Moore. D.\'..\1.. often told the follow— ing story. At age 12 Ian's mother took him to enjoy the renowned R.(I.M.P. Musical Ride at the Summerside Raceway. The performance took place during a July lSI Dominion Day race pro— gram and Ian liked the Musical Ride and the horses. The next day he spoke to the custodian at his school about his positiye experience at the Summerside Raceway. The custodian was Lester Chappell who happened to be an mid and actiye horse— man who inyited Ian to the track. [an related. “I started helping Lester and spending quite a bit of time around the track with Lester." Ian was liying in the Summerside area and shortly alter receiyed \‘aluable pointers at the track from capable horsemen like .-\llison \\"alsh. Basil \V'helan. Ron

.\Iac.-\rthur and (‘xeorge Sobey. The initi—

Hook

ation was successfully completed and the equine industry had its newest recruit. By the way. Ian would go on to become one of the success stories in harness rac— ing. Lester (Ihappell had high praise for Ian Moore and his acct>mplishments. That conyersation many years ago

between a student and his school custo—

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