Paul MacKenzie as? «A.

ence at operating his own public stable and he had four good vears at Sackville Downs before it closed. Row/l Recei'p/ A was one of his star borders at Sackville Downs that year.

Like all horsepeople. this talented reins— man would never forget his first drive in a race. It was at the (2.1).l). and owner— Get‘ald "Mick"

Summerville had two entries in the same

driver Dunn from race. .\Iick would drive the roan free— legged [it/r Byrd and Paul would team Gzt_t'i\'m‘ris. l’aul remembered. "I was all excited. .\lick won the race and I finished third. I was glad to have that one over without an incident."

Paul .\lacl\'enzie had 000% career victo— ries but he remembered his first win verv vividlv. lt was old Home \V'eek and he was working for liarl Smith at the (3.1).1’. Earl had a horse,/m/s({1' for Bovd Bernard from 'l‘ignish. l’aul related, "I toole/onser down to the llillsboro River and swam

him all week. I raced him at the end of

the week and he won bv about lfi lengths in 2:08. 1 was still nervous com ing around the final turn. I thought thev were going to get me." 'l‘hev didn't catch Paul on that memorable occasion. ()nlv highlv respected \Vallv llennessev had more victories than l’aul .\1acl\'en‘/.ie among all Prince lidward Island drivers.

Gordon and Mvrna‘s son was involved with thousands of horses in the past four decades. I asked him to name some of his most memorable horses. It was a dif-

182

Behind the Gate

ficult chore but he did list /./'s .llam. [iii/e Black lino/e. 'lcrri'b/e Selim/11. Arm/m) \l'kn‘mnh‘. Rock .llus/c. (lo/(I liliziwze.

‘lc’l‘lj’ l/(I/l and Aron l;'//en. liach had spe-

cific reasons for making this list and Paul stated there were manv others that could have been named.

Paul brought .\lillar Farm's [I‘ll/e lilac/e Boo/e. home for the 1993 Gold Cup and Saucer and she set a Canadian record for a half—mile track. She had great gate speed and won her trial and the Gold Cup and Saucer that vear. He went to Alberta for llarrv I’oulton and won a heat of the Nat (Ihristie with ’l'errib/e Selim/11 who was funnv-gaited but could go fast. Fred Logan's Arm/m; \l'ktrmnly gave Paul a thrill in winning an ()SS. Gold Final in 1:33 at Flamboro Downs. 'l‘his fast tough colt could take a little air. Paul raced the competitive Roc/‘z .1lttsic for Doug Arthur in the l“ree—l’or—All at Mohawk and Woodbine with good results. At Sackville Downs he co-owned ({o/(l [fizzy/He with Chuck :\Iacz\ulav and this fellow gave them quite a few thrills until thev retired

him at age 12. For liarl Smith he had

jenji' Hall who was a fast classv little

horse and nice to drive. He also had Aron [fl/en for [Carl Smith and this nice old mare was funnv behind the gate but fine once vou got her going. He drove the world champion [is .llum in manv of

his twoAand threcuvear old starts

March 1%. 198% was a date that this horse— man would never forget and with good reason. He was working for liarl Smith at