Behind the Gate i? 3-:

~lody Hennessey. Paul "Spec" Doyle. Mike

Campbell. Ron Cass and Brian Andrew. In Ontario. they had the with Brian Lee.

\V’hat might a typical day entail {or the manager ol such a huge operation as Meridian Farms East? Brian detailed with enthusiasm. “livery day is a little dii‘l‘erent but I do put in reasonably long hours. I enjoy it and wouldnt haye it any other way. 1 usually arriye around "' a. m. \V'e haye three great workers here with us.

Alohn Dul‘t‘y has been here for two and

one—half years and he is Al. .\1ike Doyle and Ron i\'eill come in a few days a week to assist with the yarious chores. They

are usually quite busy when l arriye."

“\Ve are into the breeding season and one of the stallions we are

Aslmnom1’cz//. I

standing is would transport him from \V'insloe to \Iilton and alter collect— ing his semen I would return him to \V'insloe that same day. i-\lso at this time. l would check to see il any ol the outside horses needed round bales ol' hay and attend to that. \\'e ol‘ten take one or more ol‘ the lour horses we are training to the (2.1).1’. for a training session. \\'e jog and train on our own hall mile track when weather and track conditions permit."

"There is a number ol‘ mares that haye loal alerts on them that must be checked because they are due to l‘oal in the next week or so. I Visit the Ron (lass l’arm in

Cornwall two or three times a week and

talk to Ron on the phone on a regttlar

basis for updates on our horses located

Brian Andrew

there. \\'e are also prepping 1‘) yearlings which can be time consuming. liach day is different. challenging and rewarding.”

Carol Andrew. who worked lor Agri— cuture Canada lor $1 years was always extremely supportiye of her husband in his endeavours with the horses. Brian explained. “I would not be inyolyed in harness racing today it‘l had not had the complete support of Carol for oyer three decades. I used to be on the road fre- quently and I put long hours in with the horses. 'l'hrough it all. she has been completely supportiye."

'l‘his couple permitted their two children to deyelop an interest and loye tor the equines but insisted that their education came lirst. Blake jogged and trained horses but. at age 2‘) was completing a graduate degree at mom l'niyersity. ;\t m. Rachel was a grade ll student at liluel‘ield High School. She loyed to come to the track and paddock a horse

on race night.

()utsiders haye dilliculty in understand— ing how horsepeople can be so passion— ate about their sport. lt is dillicult to explain the bond that deyelops between a horse and groom. Brian attempted to explain. ":\ horse is a yery kind and intel— ligent animal with an excellent memory. I belieye that a horse can bring out the best in a person. If you respect and care for a horse. he will reciprocate l belieye horses communicate with us in their own

inimitable manner. I loyc the challenge

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