Albert V‘Bernard

The first horse that Albert drove in a race was lee Ci'c/om'c bv (Sic/0111c. lie was 11 li—ee legged p1‘11ce because he hated the hobbles and was prone to making breaks. Albert was 18 at the time and he remembered being very scared. His dad's instructions were to get him around if he could. Albert could get him around and he did even better. He won that race in 2 19. He was victorious in his very first drive and he was overjoyed. Since that victory 46 years ago. this teamster has accumulated 1.169 more visits to the

\V'inners‘ Circle and he enjoyed them.

Albert had fond and vivid memories of

some of the best horses under his tute— lage over the years. He liked to remem— ber them this way. ‘ls/(Iml Rib/mu was a supe1 filly. Beat/(1' (I'I‘eelzu'ood will always stand out in my mind. I broke and trained Spin .\'l)1111((1' all the way to the stakes and to the (iold (211p and Saucer. Islam! [ya/21am was a hell of 11 trotter. (,k1[)/(/1'11_/(11111'(' was 11 super trotter. lz'IIeIst/I'e won [.1 races 11s a three-year-old and was as tough as whalebone." This was 1111 honor roll Atlantic standard— breds that would make any horseman

proud.

Albert Bernard drove in thousands of

races but four were most 111emorable— coming three deep with Island Ribbon to win the two—year—old championship in 'l'ruro when she wasn't l()() per cent at the time. 11 three deep move at the half with Iii/ensure to win the Stanfield in Truro and driving Spin .\' Dam/1' 11nd Ste/son

166

Behind the Gate

Any Size in the (iold Cup and Saucer.

loan Rein; 11d always supported hei hus— band and their son Shane in the ha1ness racing industry. lhis couple had anoth— er son. Trevor who never really got inter— ested or involved in the game. Joan attended the races on occasion and made many trips with Albert to tracks around the Maritimes. She was co—owner of File! (,g/Seal who raced with some success for Albert. Jenny. Albert's mother. enjoyed 1111 occasional visit to the C.D.P. on race night to see her son or grandson in action on the track.

To whip or not to whip is 11 very contro— versial and touchy topic in Atlantic racing circles. There are strong arguments 11nd supporters on both sides of this topic. Albert stated e111phatically, “You can't take the whip out of the driver's hand." lie believed that only about live per cent of the drivers were responsible for abuse of the whip on the horses. He also believed that the judges could solve the problem with adherence to the rules as stated and appropriate fines and suspen— sions for violators. “Progress is being made but we still have 11 ways to go," he asserted with confidence. Albert loved horses. Iie especially enjoyed bringing colts and fillies along. seeing young horses improve and seeing them get to the stakes. There is a real sense of acc<)mplishment when one you have selected in the yearling sales makes it to the Winners (Iircle in a stakes race.