with horses was cemented that would last for more than half a century.

As a youngster in Montague, Ralph was fortunate to have had some very capable and knowledgeable horsemen as his mentors. He received most of his train— ing and experience from Alfred Lowrey. His other mentors were Jack Annear, Leo Collins and Archie Llewellyn. Each con— tributed to his development in the critical early stages.

I asked Ralph to name a horseman that he admired during his early years in the game. He responded, “James MacGregor seemed to have extra flare and seemed to be a real professional. Laurie, my wife, and I used to visit her relatives in the United States and we would often attend the races at the old Rockingham track. james was very hospitable to us and any- one from Atlantic Canada who looked him up at the track. He was at the top of his game at that time racing in the Maritimes, Quebec and the eastern United States.

At age 17, Ralph earned his licence to drive at racetracks with a pari—mutuel. He was driving horses mainly for his father and Alfred Lowrey. One exception was Kimmy’s Wbim owned by Harold Hennessey. She was a good little trotter that became a Maritime champion at age three.

In 1982, Ralph bought Maple Lea/Amen at the yearling sale in Truro. She became

36

Behind the Gate

at Maritime champion in stakes action. In 1985, he purchased Maple Leaf Bramble in a private sale from Jack Cruickshank. He was a great horse that went on to race well in Montreal where he was sold. These successful trotters trained and dri— ven by Ralph Annear were among the early performers in the Ralph Annear Stable. He continued over the years to have success with the square gaiters like Maple Leaf Noble, Maple Leaf Da re, Maple Lea/Hawk and Dzmmore Topaz. He also had success with pacers Marley’s Pride, j Orland C, True Lady Lou, Darko, Harrods Route and Magic Dexter.

This capable trainer/driver with the familiar brown and white driving colors remembered his first official drive in a race like it happened yesterday. He recounted the event, “I sure can remem— ber it. It was at the Charlottetown Driving Park and I was driving Cottage Frail/e. for Alfred Lowrey. That horse would take quite a hold but I got along great with him. When it came time to start him that year after months of jog— ging and training in Montague, Alfred said that I might as well drive him. I was pretty excited for the trip from Montague to Charlottetown that day. We loaded the two horses on the trailer without inci— dent. At that time, when you transported horses to race, you had a trunk for the horses' harness and other items you would need that day. The trunk would be placed at the front of the trailer which was hitched to the c.1r. When we arrived at the C.l).P., I had no trunk, no harness,