Brian MacPhee

Alex. Francis was a mentor to Brian and many other young aspiring kids. Brian explained. "I just liked the way Francis did things around the track.“

This Versatile horsemen who did all of his own shoeing began to operate a public stable in 1991: howeyer. it seemed that he always had horses for someone before that. Some of his first owners were Clark Cudmore. Glen Taylor. Paul Morrison. Aubrey \V'ebster and Louis Mclsaac. Often they would send their horses in to Brian for a spell. Horses were coming and going all the time. He operated his stable with the capable assistance of his daughter. Ambyr who droye and son. Brodie who also droye. His wife. Isabel pitched in frequently and learned to per— form many of the daily duties required in the operation of a stable.

Brian remembered his first professional driye for a purse. His parents. Audrey and Alex left that morning for a Vacation in Florida. The truck was loaded with six horses for the trip from (Zlyde Riyer to Saint john lixhibition l’ark. Finally the race got underway and he was driving (Izmir/(it for \‘Q’endell MacDonald and he was parked out for the first quarter. Francis .\.lclsaac was in this race and he saw what was happening to the young kid starting his career and somehow a

Behind the Gate

place on the fence opened up for ()zm‘le

jet. At the half. Francis had already

moyed out and his horse was pretty much spent. Brian was able to get ()zar/e

jet out and Francis urged him to get out

and get at them. ()zar/a/et ended up

fourth in a race Brian will neyer forget.

Brian had a Valid reason to celebrate when he won race number 1.000 with Robert Hun/er owned by Ian Smith. A yery small percentage of driyers eyer reach that milestone. Another big day occurred back in lune of 1977 when Brian won in 2:11.»)L with Heather's Pet for his yery first lifetime \‘ictory. That horse had been given to him by his grandfa— ther. Richie in January of that year and became his special project. Rose/men [fag/e owned by Glenn and Kerry 'l'aylor won in 1237.2 at the (3.1).1’. for Brian‘s fastest win eyer. Brian had 1,114 total

wins in his career.

\V’hen asked to name some of his most memorable horses. he did not hesitate. "1 haye driyen a lot of good horses but three stand out in my mind ~ .S‘ilz'eru‘ood Dianne. Dallas Rocks and lx’oseiou'n lz'c‘Ig/e. These three were totally different horses but each had its own outstanding characteristics. If you sent .S‘ilz'eru'ood Dianne to the front and she was on her

game. the competition had to be really

“He bad a bigger beart tban any borse [ bate ever been associated witb. He could make a poor drive

seem lilee a brilliant drive.

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