Brian Andrew

During

a teacher and an administrator. this period of his life. he participated in and enjoyed harness racing as a hobby. In what seemed to be a natural progres— sion. Brians new career as manager of Meridian Farms East eyolyed from his hobby with racehorses.

At age 3‘). Brian resided in the idyllic yil— lage of Milton. PEI with his wife Carol and their two children. Blake and Rachel. Conyeniently. their beautiful rural home was adjacent to his new workplace. Meridian l’arms Fast.

As a youngster growing up in a military family. Brians contact with horses was limited to the summers when his family would return to Plil. for annual holidays. In [964. lirwin Andrew retired from the Armed Seryices and he and his wife ‘once bought a farm in Milton. about eight miles from Charlottetown. Brian remem- bered that there was a couple of brood— mares on the farm at that time and so he had a loye for horses from day one.

One of the broodmares. Hurling/oils [’01. was bred to .llagl’c I’I'c/e and the result was Penny Price. This filly would be Brian's baptism and initiation into a loye. hobby and career with horses that would span more than four decades, Brian assisted his dad in the breaking and jog~

ging ofl’e111/_t'l’r1'ce. often on the side of

Behind the Gate

the road in the Milton area. Brian explained proudly. “I used t< ) come home alter school and hook her and go for a driye. Groye and then return home. She was good mannered and deyeloped pretty

I would jog her up to Warren

steadily. She began her racing as a three— year-old. I had my first six official driyes behind her and we had three firsts and three thirds."

Brian receiyed his initial instructions in the game from his grandfather and father on their farm in Milton. Brian related. "I used to be around the racetrack with my grandfather and I learned a lot about care and technique from him. My father was a yery good caretaker and he belieyed in looking after his horses properly. As time passed. Dad and I used to jog our horses across the road at (Hengyle Farm owned by Alames Roach MacGregor. Often. I would watch Roach jog or train his horses. \X'hen possible. I would pick his brain about training methods and rac~ ing strategy. lie was one of my early mentors. I also admired _loe llennessey at that time because of his talent and the

way he treated his horses."

In 19“}. at the age of 26. Brian proudly receiyed his official licence to driye hors— es in a race. He had his driyer's licence from the l'nited States Trotting Associa— tion. For the next three decades. training

“I usea’ to be around the racetrack. wz’lb my grarza/a/ber ana’

I learned a [or about care ana’ technique from him. "

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