Behind the Gate 3"?

neyer make a break but just couldn‘t go yery last. I won in 1575 with Ilillson (Zarr‘s Dusty[maul/(1c. He was a yery classy horse purchased from Ronnie Gass. I loyed Leith (Ilark‘s Barnes l’riz/e simply because he was so nice. He was a tough beautiful chestnut that (‘Zlark Smith could moye at the hall and he would still be strong at the wire." 'I‘hese were some of the most memorable hors—

es that Barney was associated with oyer

the years.

I)id Barney _\lc(}uigan haye a layorite horse of all that he was associated with oyer the years? He did and it was I).\'. .\Iac1)onald‘s /)(II‘H (,‘(mc/ Caper. Barney explained the choice. "He was my layorite just because he was a nice horse. He would eyen know when I entered the barn. I think I became as close to that horse as any I haye eyer been around and he to me.” This was additional sup port lor the bonding principle between animal and human.

Most local driyers only dream ol compet— ing in the prestigious (Iold (‘up and Saucer held annually during Old Home Week at the (2.1).I’. In 1990. this talented teamster achieyed that dream when he was asked to driye an Island bred [ya/{mire lor Bill Henderson in the big eyent. I asked Barney what he remem— bered abottt that race. He responded. “Paul .\1acl)onald droye KU/{l‘UlLQ in the 'I'rial and l droye him in the linal because Paul had another entry. .Ioan and Ashley Sloat's ’l'Igei'bi'n/ won it that year in 1:38.

Barney McGuigan

A'iI/it'ong raced well bttt I didn't giye him that good of a driye. All/iroiig was bred to trot but could he pace! He could pace in 2:00 all the time and a little better on occasion. It was quite an honor to driye an Island—bred horse in the Gold Cup and Saucer. It was a real thrill just to be in that race and I will neyer forget it."

At the grass roots leyel in the .\Iaritimes or at the elite leyel in .\'ew jersey or Ontario. it is important lor a driyer or trainer to haye family support for an endeayor that requires commitment seyen days a week for 12 months of the year. Barney was fortunate in that his wile. Brenda and their two sons. Billy and Michael were his number one fans. Brenda rarely missed a night at the races at the (7.1).I’. Billy knew his way around the track and jogged horses like Freddie lx’i'cls. Michael helped \‘eteran horseman Bill Henderson with his stable at the (I.I).I’. .\Iichael was learning and per— forming the duties around a stable from Bill and Barney. He had aspirations to acquire his licence to driye the standard— breds. and in 2008. deyeloped into a line young driyer and trainer.

Can you remember when each stable at the racetrack would reserye one aftei> noon per week to clean harness? (Ian you remember the name of the special harness soap that was used on the old leather harness and hobbles? Some sta— bles had up to 10 sets of harness to clean. It was time consuming but necessary: most stables took pride in their appear

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