Barney McGuigan

at the C.l).l’. This was to be the begin— ning of many lasting and meaningful rela— tionships with fellow horsemen. This youngster would receive valuable advice and experience at the C.D.l’. from talent— ed horsemen like Clark Smith. Harold Stead. Charlie Willis. john “Buddy" Campbell. Cyril Smith. Elwood Shaw and others. He particularly remembered Gerald Fitzpatrick who was very good to him and answered many of his equine questions. Barney remembered that loe Hennessey treated his horses well and that Joe was always nice to kids.

At age 23. Barney had just finished work- ing for Earl Smith when he decided to operate his own stable. Millage .\Iacl.eod sent him [Easy (lo and [lap/11' 1) .S'co/l and this was the beginning. Soon Lowell Cotton and {\rmand Arsenault sent Demelrie and a colt to Barney.

Reeves added \l'ki/le/n‘l/ [ad to the stable. Barney spent that winter racing his stable

David

at Sackville Downs and experienced moderate success in his new venture as

trainer driver.

After driving in literally thousands of

races at many different racetracks over a period of :33 years. this driver still remem— bered his first drive in a race very clearly. He was helping Clark Smith who had [fr/5:11,?) in his stable for Millage .'\‘lacl.eod and Barney used to look after this horse on a regular basis. His first race took place at the (1.1).1’. and Barney described. “I was sitting third with [fast (In when another driver in the race. l’rancis

80

it" y

Behind the Gate

.\lclsaac urged me to get that fellow out and get at ‘em. I moved my horse to the outside and lost a stretch drive in a photofinish to Horizon driven by Elmer Clow in 2:09. That was a race I will

never forget!

His next two drives were at the Summerside Raceway that same week in a double dash with Easy (Io. In both dashes. he sat behind the pace—setting Dar/'11s owned by joe Smallw ood. Barney and liusr (lo won both dashes and. in the process. he had his first official lifetime victory. Barney was thankful to the many owners and trainers whose horses have enabled him to visit the \V'inners' Circle 1.529 times since that memorable victory. His fastest win ever was in 1:37 with Neal [\1oase's l’or/ [flit/fat the C.l).|’.

I asked Barney to say something about six of his most memorable horses. He answered. “1)(11'1/ (mod (In/)er owned by !).\‘. MacDonald was a really nice horse around the barn and on the track. I used to look after him for Clark Smith. Everett Stewart's ANY/y ()H/ was a tough horse. You could park him. it didn‘t matter how you drove him. He wasn‘t a sound horse but could still race competitively in the top class. Iiverett sold him to i\=lerrill Macfean. .1/1'ss Ivar .lluc owned by Duncan .\1acl\'ay was a good one who still held the C.l).l’. trotting record of 2:01..) for three—year old fillies. .\lillage .‘\lacl.eod‘s liruie Spencer was a good old trotter with whom Clark Smith would school many of his colts. He would