2003. He had high speed and was able to beat most colts except Clinton Debriefed. He was called after my late brother and our oldest boy.”

“Dzmmore Sleye was a track record hold— er and beat all the female trotters in the Maritimes. She was the only mare to beat 2:00 in the Maritimes. I have retained her as a broodmare and hope that she will do us some good.”

I asked Clare to select her all time favorite horse. She answered without hesitation, “West River Kelsa was my childhood favorite. I kept her until I put her to sleep at age 27. She taught me a lot of what I know about horses. We raised and raced a few colts from her including West River Neldie, her grandson. We also have a two—year-old filly, West River Ontop who is just a spitting image of her. West River Kelsa’s influence is still in the barn and we are still going to the bank with her. "

I asked Clare to name her most memo— rable race. She answered, “It is hard to narrow it down to one. Kit/«email II/tgle’s track records are certainly memorable. Being in the Gold Cup and Saucer with Kz'l/eermn lngle was tremendously memo— rable. Getting track trotting records with West River Exotic and szmore Slave meant a lot to me. I can’t put one as the best one. I couldn‘t narrow it down and say that one was it.”

West River Stock Farm was a family ven—

30

Behind the Gate

ture. Clare‘s husband. Ken was involved on a daily basis even though he had a full time job. He loved to drive and train and did a great job with both. They had a great partnership in the business. Neldie, their oldest son, was working with hors— es in Ontario. Their other son, Mark was not overly interested in horses but inquired from time to time. Their youngest child Haley was probably the most interested in the game. She very rarely missed a road trip to any of the tracks. Clare said, “I think you will prob— ably see Haley turn her hand to it at some point." What was that about the apple and the tree?

Unfortunately, in Clare’s mind, the biggest change in harness racing was a negative one. She explained, “I think one of the biggest changes is a negative one. There are not as many races and not as many people attending. This could be counteracted with more crowds at the races. I think we arc not that far from seeing a very positive change like what is happening ir. Ontario and else— where with the slots and their spinoffs. That would be the pcsitive change that I would look for in the Atlantic provinces."

What did Clare MacDonald like most about racing horses? Her answer was meaningful, “Winning. No, I like the horse the best about this game. I really like the horse and I don’t think there was a time that I didn’t cre;lit the horse as the reason that I am sti_l involved in this

game. I really like the people. too.