Collins Wood

years. he bought and brought a mttltitude of horses to the Atlantic region to be re— sold to Atlantic horsemen. This was the "dealing” and he loyed it especially when both sides ended up as winners.

According to this .\lason Road resident. all horses. especially the successful ones. haye problems that must be dealt with by your friendly yeterimtrian. He stated. “Really. yet bills turn me off the most.

Is this a sentiment shared by a number of

people in this industry? Costs in this area are escalating but what are the possible successful alternatiyes?

The highlight of this dealer's racing career would haye to be when one of his own breed. (.'./..’s .S‘mpl‘l'se by Paris Dex/er from ji’l/Cs‘ Biff/.7510): driyen by Clare MacDonald. stopped the clock at 1:38. This was a record for fillies at the C.l).l’. It was especially satisfying becattse this filly was raised by Collins as was her mother/ills [fir/bdm'. Another highlight was in the annual Stanfield held in Truro when his (,'./..’s Social \l'ln‘r/ was \‘ictori— ous for driver Clare MacDonald after being parked the whole trip. This horse raced on the Ontario jockey Club circuit in 'l‘oronto.

Collins belie\'ed that the best way to get inyolyed in this industry was to learn from someone who had had some suc- cess and therefore knew the game. He explained. “If he‘s frightened of work he best pttt it out of his mind." This would seem to be sound advice for a youngster

68

it? \li

Behind the Gate

from a yeteran of all aspects of harness

racing for oyer half a century.

In 2002. Collins Lee \V'ood of Stratford

was named Prince Edward Island

“Horseman of the Year" by the Standardbred Horse Owners Association. Collins made a major impact on the l’.1{.l. breeding and racing scene. He frequent— ly trayelled to such sales as the Old (ilory to acquire broodmares and racehorses and resold them.

Among the Maritime stakes champions that he bred oyer the years were (film's Socm/ \l'birl. INN/(lemon Dam/r. (,'./..'s .S‘mprz‘se. \l'0(iz/1i1elelz‘lfi'. (j,l..'s.\‘1’ng/e (XI. (.11.. ‘s (flow and (1.1.. s (fa/(lie. This is an impressiye list of stakes winners.

During the winter of 2008. Collins com'w lesced at home with his partner of 2t years. Layerne .\1acl)onald. He was still yery actiye in the game because he had two three—year~(>lds and a fiye—year—old mare being trained by Terry Affleck and Aleida 'l'wetan at the Charlottetown Driying Park. (J./.. 5‘ ('fmcfous Lady was a four—time winner. leave He (in and llou'mm‘ (frat/Hale were two unraced three—year—olds by Largo that showed lots of promise in training. Collins was also a co—owner of Norm Burner. a three—year— old colt by .‘tees .\'.S‘e1‘ens. This colt was trained by Lynn Priyett and driyen by Garry .\Iacl)onald on the Ontario circuit.

July 8. 2008 was an impact date for Collins Wood. Laverne MacDonald and