‘ Doug Hill

A 'the Vétemn

l‘ter answering his eall to duty in

World \V'ar ll. a youthlul Doug Hill

was honorably diseharged l‘rom the Canadian \;t\'y' in 19R). 'l‘hat same year he went to work at \lilton Hell's ()ld Spain Restaurant on lx'ent Street in Charlottetown. Businessman Milton Bell owned raee horses at that time when it was a tradition on l’rinee lidward lsland that all bttsinesses would elose on \Vednesdays at noon tor the rest ol' the day. Doug would attend the raees on \\’ednesday al‘ternoons held at one ol~ the many Island raeetraeks like (onehead. (Zherry \"alley and \Iontague. to name a lew. This was Doug llill's initiation to a sport that he would loye and aetiyely pair

tieipate in lor the next six decades.

ll his initiation was in Wit). Doug was hooked to harness raeing in 10%0 when he married Rosemary. his wile of 38 years. Rosemary owned a saddle mare. Aetually. this mare was a standardbred by linu’x’l.\'n'or/lii' out of a lueo/n'o mare and she was bred to trot. 'l‘his saddle mare was stabled at the (Iliarlottetown Driying Park in Dr. Seaman's barn Rosemary rode her and Doug would jog her at the (I.D.P. In the winter. when the traek was elosed. they would take the mare out

eyery day. usually by sleigh. on the

Photos: Ann MaeNeill llillsboro Riyer or on the streets of down— town Charlottetown. Like a lot of trot- ting—breds. this mare eould pull a ton when she wanted. In time. this led Doug to jogging other horses usually from the stable ol' l.en ()‘.\Ieara who was a promi—

nent horseman.

At his home in Battery Point. Doug had the stall name—plates for each oi the many horses that he owned oyer the years. The first horse that he owned was a beautil'ul twoiyear—old ehestnut ealled. ".lII‘. ‘lol/si‘oI/N.

that Doug should purehase this unbroken

Len ()'.\Ieara suggested

eolt lor the prineely sum of 8300. Doug was well pleased with .ll}‘._/o//seo// and he explained. "I le raeed great; he was a good. tough and game horse; he gaye me my yery l‘irst driye. Rosemary and I broke him ourselyes. \\"e raeed him both

on the paee and on the trot."

I asked this dedieated horseman to name about ten ol‘ the horses he has owned oyer the years. \\'"ith dill‘ieulty he was able to narrow the list and what a list! It ineluded .llr. ~loI/seo/l. Dominion Byrd. Bil/y lt’i'ee. ’l'Ijt' .lly (Jo/jee. \l'enzh' (fine/i iii/lie Durex. Bligh/es! Slat: Stem/y Nun. (,‘lengr/e (Krone. /)(lll‘ll.2‘(l Hooligan. Sean/ml Romeo. Ile‘s .4 Ix'ni‘g/n and

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