Garry MacDonald I?

[for He remembered. “I had four or five horses for Alohnny Nicholson that got me started." john Clarey. Remy MacDonald and Gordon Swinamer were among his

early owners.

Garry drove Gail McGee at the (3.1).1’. in his first pari—mutuel drive. He had previ- ously driven her at l’inette Raceway when he was only 14-years-old. 'l'his mare was owned by Wendell Profitt and (iarry was working for Henry Smallwood at the time. She was an easy little mare to drive and Garry finished third in that memo— rable race. One week later he drove .\'(/Hc_i"s Pic/e for Henry. lle recollected “She kinda ran away on me and made the front off the gate and she won in 1m.“ This race was significant because it was (iarry t\lacl)onald's first official visit to the winners circle. 'l‘here would be many more. ’l'hat particular night he drove .\'(/11c_1"s l’I‘c/e and ,tlis/wji' Romeo in dou— ble heats and (/(lI'Il/dlee in a single heat. That was a very big night for this young .\lt. .>\lbionite and it was only his second night of driving.

In 1993. I witnessed (iarry's fastest win in his career. It happened on an extremely hot afternoon in l’redericton while he was driving Ashley Sloat‘s Slut/[Hon (plantain/er to victory in l33§ in the \Valter l)ale Memorial. It was a track and Maritime record at that time. It is still the longest standing Maritime track pacing record. Immediately following the pre- sentations. I travelled with him to the (Iharlottetown Driving Park where on

106

Behind the Gate

that same day he won a dash in Atlantic Sire Stakes competition. The traveling was hectic that memorable day but trav- eling became a way of life for this

diminutive and talented teamster.

He drove some of the better horses ever to set foot on Maritime tracks mainly because he was a very capable, careful. and competent driver. This driver described some of them in the following manner. "Azij/‘o was a sweet little horse to drive and he always raced big at the (1.1).l’. ll'i‘mzer’s Accolade could go so fast for a piece when a fellow wasn't used to going that fast. .1Ia.\‘u‘e// .Al/mz/bmxi was probably the first really good horse that we had in the stable. Shannon Commander set a Maritime pacing record. llomn llanoi'er was a superb horse when sound and had to be scratched from the (iold Cup and Saucer. .‘lt‘lUil xllH/LQU was as good as any that l have ever driven. He got so good and he raced so good every time he went behind the gate. He never went a poor race. He

would have to be my favorite horse."

Some of the horses that were trained and driven by (iarry over the years included

_/./)./,. /{/. Song. Bio .lle(/(i//1'oil. /\'1'o(('(/

zl/lllll/HHZN‘I. _ll(/.vu‘e// .»l/mu/unsl. Slot/e— tas [fl/Milton. Pi/es [it May. Norm

”is! Hunter and .Ilc/ou Alli/go.

There have been so many that could have been on this list. I’or example. he always stabled approximately 20 at the (J.l).l’. during our hectic Old Home \V’eek period.