On‘eiof the Best

n his own words. “liellowship is the most important thing I haye receiyed

in 3 years in harness racing." (ilark Smith became quite emotional when he began to think ol‘ the close friendships he had made oyer the years working with horses and people. He had amassed sta— tistics like 3.2-6 driying wins that yery lew will equal. He achieyed this success because he was a consummate horseman and this industry needs more like this

member ol l’rince lidward Island‘s Sports

Hall ol‘ l7ame. (Ilark is also a member ol'

the l’.l’..l. Harness Racing Hall of Fame and it states “(Ilark Smith is a complete horsemanu— one who can shoe. train. driye and care l'or his horses He is held

in the highest regard liy his peers,"

It all started when an eager ltryearsold was helping his lather. (Iyril Smith. an

accomplished horseman [tom the Hunter

Riyer area. One ol the lirst horses (Ilark

t'ememliered working around was \l"/)1'.\‘/)('I‘/'I/g [lo/)0 owned l)_\' .v\rnold \Veeks. 'l'his local bred by .S‘I'ch‘oe [lanes/('1‘ had some prohlems. “He was

a terrible knee~knocker and he hit his

knees terrihly. Dad used to wear a pair

ol‘ knee hoots on him with steel plates on

them. He got to he pretty good when he

l’hoto: ordon \launwhite

put them on him. He could go around 2:10 and he ended tip in the top class." (Llark explained.

This youngster was lortunate to haye seryed his apprenticeship under two yery talented tutors. (Iyril Smith and Frank Daniels He spent the lirst two years with his lather hetween Halilax and Charlotte— town; then he spent one year with l’rank Daniels in 'l'ruro. "That didn‘t hurt me any." he exclaimed with a smile,

\Vhen asked to name the horseman that he admired the most when he was a kid he suggested that he could giye a lot ol names; howeyer. one that he got to realr ly appreciate hecause he droy e some ol' his horses was George (Iallheck. lit-lore driying lor him. he thought he was iust another horseman hut alter he started dri— \ing his horses he realized that (ieorge knew quite a hit aliout horses and that he

was a may talented horseman.

At 18. (Ilark was his own boss when he went to work lor Stanley .‘\layhe\\' in Kinkora and lor the next seyen years he worked almost exclusiyely lor this geir tleman. This was the same owner that many horsemen gaye credit lor their start

in the industry.

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