MM [30' The Sid/x 
     
     elore a spinal operation in 300‘. a 
     
     typical \vork \veel\' for this popular 
     
     catch—driver during the peak rac- 
     
    

    
     ing season \vould l'ind him driving at 
     
    

    
     three dillerent racetracks. On Monday. 
     
    

    
     Thursday and Saturday. he averaged five 
     
    

    
     drives per program at the (Iharlottetovv n 
     
    

    
     Driving Park. On a \\'ednesday evening. 
     
    

    
     he would travel to the Summerside 
     
    

    
     Raceyvay for live or six drives. On 
     
    

    
     Sunday. he could he lound at the 'l‘ruro 
     
    

    
     Racevvay for a l‘e\v drives Alter the oper— 
     
    

    
     ation. Barney \vas l‘orced to cut dovvn 
     
    
   
   
    
     considerahly in his training and driving. 
     
    
   
   
    
     At age so. with an aggressive hut tactical 
     
     style ol‘ driving. this reinsman evolved 
     
     into one ol' tltis areas top drivers. lle 
     
     hecame a popular catch—driver l'or ovvners 
     
     and trainers \vith horses in overnight 
     
     events. lucrative stakes and invitationals. 
     
     He was among the very luv to have 
     
     amassed over ].t)(tt) lil‘etime victories in 
     
     grassroots harness racing. Like a line 
     
     \vine. he seemed to improve vvith age. 
     
     What was remarlmhle was that tor most 
     
     ol‘ his career harness racing was a part 
     
     time involvement necessary to supple— 
     
     ment his annual income. A hohhy that 
     
     Leonard .\lc(iuigan loved became a way 
     
     of life. 
     
    
   
   
    
        
     
    
   
   
    
     l’hoto: Ann .\lac\eill 
     
     \V'hen Leonard was 13. his lather. Barney 
     
     was employed as the night \vatchman at 
     
     the local depot tor depositing ruhhish 
     
     which was located then on the east side 
     
     of what is novv lixhihition l)rive only a 
     
     few yards from the (Iharlottetovvn Driving 
     
     l)2ll'l\', Like many sons. Leonard. the 
     
     younger Barney. would visit his lather at 
     
     work. It was inevitahle that all the activ— 
     
     ity involving horses and people across 
     
     the road would arouse the youngsters 
     
     curiosity. Barney soon lound his way to 
     
     the (I.l).l’. and was bitten hy the horse 
     
     hug. 'l‘his hite would last a lifetime. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The very lirst horse that Barney had an 
     
     experience \vith \vas a heautilul chestnut 
     
     ovvned liy Stanley .\layhe\\ and trained 
     
     hy<1larl< Smith. ;\t the time. Art l-‘ord \vas 
     
     vvorking lor (Ilark Smith. ,»\rt asked the 
     
     young 13—year-old Barney to take 
     
     Sim/mgr; tor a \vallv. Barney recounted. 
     
     "I took San/mgo tor a walk and he \\ as 
     
     hack in the harn in live minutes. I acci- 
     
     dentally let him go and he got avvay from 
     
     me." This would he Barney's emharrass— 
     
     ing introduction into the wonderful 
     
    
   
   
    
     world ol harness racing. 
     
    
   
   
    
     As a l\'l(l. Barney rememhered spending a 
     
     lot ol time around the (Ilark Smith Stahle 
     
    
   
   
    
     79