or almost a half century, 70- yeai— —old 
     
     Ralph Annea1 f1om picturesque 
     
    
   
   
    
     Montague, Prince Edward Island 
     
     epitomized grassroots harness racing in 
     
     the four Atlantic provinces. He was one 
     
     of the many who represented the back— 
     
     bone of the industry. The love of the 
     
     standardbred horse and the joy of com— 
     
     petition were the major factors for his 
     
     years of loyalty to this very demanding 
     
     sport and business. Like most involved 
     
     with the pacers and trotters in this region, 
     
     Ralph would be described as a hobby 
     
     horseman who loved his hobby. Profit is 
     
     an elusive goal for the majority at the 
     
     grassroots level but this fact has never 
     
     dampened the spirits nor curtailed partic— 
     
     ipation in the “ Sport of Kings 
     
    
   
   
    
     This veteran horseman had a lifetime 
     
     association with horses. He explained, 
     
    

    
     have been around horses all my life. I 
     
     started with my father, jack and his good 
     
     friend, Alfred Lowrey who were respect— 
     
     ed Island horsemen. 
     
     started to do some chores around Alfred 
     
     Lowrey’s Stable in Lower Montague. My 
     
    
   
   
    
     1 was 10 when I 
     
    
   
   
    
     dad owned and trained horses. lie was 
     
     a well known trainer/driver when I was 
     
    
   
   
    
     a youngster. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Ralph’s first horse. Minnie Lacopia, had 
     
     three foals. He reminisced fondly. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Photos: Ann :\Iacl\'eill 
     
     “Minnie was an old broodmare that I 
     
     used to ride to school when I was in 
     
     grade one. In the shed, I would feed her 
     
     hay to get on her back and then I would 
     
     put my arm around her neck. I was just 
     
     starting school and it was about a mile 
     
     and a half from home." 
     
    
   
   
    
     It was during Ralph’s early school years 
     
     that he decided to train Minnie Lacopia. 
     
     It proved to be a brilliant idea. Each year 
     
     during the 1940s there was a special day 
     
     of racing at the Montague racetrack in aid 
     
     of the local hospital. It was organized by 
     
     Alice McIntyre whose husband, Dr. 
     
     Preston was well known as an owner of 
     
     race horses on Prince Edward Island. On 
     
     that big day. there were regular races 
     
     plus a couple of match races. One match 
     
     race featured Valley Long and Alfred 
     
     Lowrey against O.l/. Vo/o and Harold 
     
     Stead. There was also a match race 
     
     between the young and the old. 
     
     Youthful Ralph Annear would race 
     
     against Alfred Moore and they had him 
     
     looking old. 
     
     with delight. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Ralph detailed the event 
     
     “I drove Minnie Lacopl'a. 
     
     Alfred Lowrey gave me his uniform for 
     
     this momentous race. He couldn‘t get 
     
     the stirrups short enough for me. I won 
     
     that race in 2:40 around the old 
     
     Montague track and will never forget it.” 
     
    
   
   
    
     Ralph didn’t realize that aspecial bond 
     
    
   
   
    
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