Mike MacDonald 3?

Elmer (Ihappell. father of Island driyer Gary Chappell. gaye .\1ike his first driye in a race on a horse by the name of .11): Baum/erbo/I. It was at the Summerside Raceway and according to Mike. "The second time around he ran right off the track and ran right into Andrew Perry's barn." It was an embarrassing debut but Mike had his first start and things had to get better and indeed they did.

At age 19 at Windsor Raceway. Mike won his first race on a horse called .S‘cofcb lie/Jo in a trot class in 2:06. It was an easy win. Mike had trained him a few times and was asked if he would driye him in a race. Mike said. "He won easy for a horse that didn't show yery much." He had won his first race "away" and would win oyer 2.28% in a long and successful career. Mike's \‘ictories in the Maritimes occurred mostly during his annual almost obligatory return for the Gold (Zup and Saucer. Mike's ISUOIh Victory was offi— cially recognized when it took place in Montreal. It was something for which he was proud. His two fastest wins were at ;\v’lontreal with Rum/msl/(moz'er in 1:32.}, and Bomb Ric/ales in 1:35.

()\'er the years. \Iike had literally hun- dreds of horses in his stable and he proudly asserted that most of them were owned by Maritimers. It was challenging but he remembered some of his most memorable this way. He had a colt one time that he thought would haye been the best horse he eyer had. llubrus was

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Behind the Gate

his name and he was an unbelieyable colt that .\like co—owned.

Bills/.7 o/‘S‘fm'ng wasn‘t the fastest but she had the most guts of any horse that he had eyer driyen. He liked to driye her all the time. In this talented teamster's own words. “She was the most unbelieyable horse l eyer had. She would try her guts out eyery single race she went. You could neyer giye her a bad drive." He had this free—legged sensation of Ian Smith for a couple of years. She raced in the Gold Cup and Saucer and in Montreal's top class consistently in 1:33. At one stage. she was the fastest free—

legged mare of her time.

Bomb lx’z'c/e/es. Rumpus Hanover and )km/eee Freda/or were exceptional world class horses that would do any stable anywhere proud. l'eH/(l/l Nubzbozl‘ was the first really good horse that he eyer had. Mike had his most fun with him. He competed in four (iold (Iup and Saucer

Finals and lei/lull won it all twice.

Mike and his spouse. Judy. agreed that Bomb Ric/tales was their fayorite horse of all. In ‘Iudy‘s words. “I used to like Bomb Icicle/es a lot. Ile was a nice horse to be around and he had a real person— ality." He also set a (Ianadian record in Quebec (Iity.

It would be natural to think that Mike's most memorable race would be when Bomb Ric/ales set a (Ianadian record;