Jack Bernard w

Jack had a lot of horses over the years but his favorite was Blazing Finesse a good tough race horse. He raced him at least 40 starts in three successive years and he was a perfect horse to be around. He also gave .lack his fastest victory ever. Seau'ind l’osz'tano was a close second as lack‘s favourite horse. Jack and Gordon

Crozier were its co—owners.

During their heyday. it was difficult to defeat a horse from the Whebby Stable in the Maritimes. Jack remembered one race in which his own (la/lam Baron did just that. He remembered this race because he had bought Gal/(ml Baron from the \X'hebbys. "It kinda tickled me to be able to beat them with a horse I

bought from them." be related with joy.

Harness racing has made significant changes that have enabled horses to go much faster. lack believed that fine— tuned breeding was the major factor in all this recent speed. He also observed that the equipment was much improved. The racetraclx's are much faster due to a much improved surface. The best change. in this veteran's opinion. was when the hub rail was replaced by pylons. ~lack also mentioned the advent of helmets and

wheel discs as contributions to safety.

One change that Jack wanted to see has

~lack shod in the past it) years? In 2()()

Behind the Gate

vet to come — the lucrative stake races for colts and fillies beginning at age three instead of age two. He believed that at two a horse‘s bones. knees, etc. were still developing and very frail and we were tearing them to pieces. lintering the tough and competitive stakes world at three when they are stronger and more developed would make more sense and cents in the long run. How many horses have we lost forever because of injuries to two-year—olds during this very forma— tive period in their lives?

jack Bernard preferred his role as a farri—

er to his role as trainer or driver. \ed Linden and Belbo Gould taught him how to shoe a horse. He enjoyed this learn— ing period. I wonder how many horses

7 I .

.lLlCli retired from his shoeing. training

and driving duties: however. he rarely missed a day at the Charlottetown l)ri\— ing Park watching the activities on the track from his perch on the homestretch. In 190‘). ‘lack had an unfortunate experi— ence. He was driving a little black mare for (Iharlie Forbes. It had rained that night and during the race he was thrown from his bike and hit the track. He broke his back and was sidelined for six

months in a body cast.

Boyd 'l'remere. Lloyd Hannah. ~lohn

“Il lez'rza’a tic/elect me to be able [0 beat them with a horse I bought/ram lbem. ”

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