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Your 71 W B or decades, Bob Craig was directly involved in one aspect or another

of the harness racing industry. He served his time as groom, trainer, driver,

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owner, blacksmith and whatever else you can name. Most of his time was occupied as a blacksmith and he had the right phi— losophy and attitude to be a blacksmith. Who gets more blame and less credit at a racetrack than your friendly blacksmith? Bobby Craig was involved in harness rac— ing because he enjoyed training and shoeing horses. Bob shod mostly stan- dardbreds and his little black appoint— ment book was always filled.

According to this busy and friendly black— smith. “Shoeing is like a good game of checkers; you have to be thinking two, or three moves ahead all the time." He explained, “If something doesn't work, you must be prepared to try something else. You have to stop and analyze why a horse is doing what he is doing. There is a reason for everything. If a horse is crossfiring or hearing out, it could be because of the wrong equipment or any- thing, but the blacksmith always gets the blame." Nevertheless, Bob carried on

with his positive attitude and a smile.

In 1945 at age seven, Bobby's introduc—

I’hoto: Thompson Rapid Lab

tion to the equine world was as a helper to Harry MacCoubrey delivering milk by horse and wagon for Garden City Dairy through the streets of Charlottetown. He was horse—crazy as a kid and he would go to the track with his older brother Walter who stabled horses like Rosalie Hooper and Billy 1WCV6lV. He remem— bered running across the centerfield at the GDP. for Mary Hooper to buy tickets for her.

In 1955 Bob ventured outside the Maritimes with brother Walter's stable. Walter had moved from the Ontario tracks to Montreal and Bobby got the opportunity to jog and groom a trotter by the name of Glendale Ace. This nonde— script trotter was to be the very first horse that he really worked. He preferred trot— ters over the years perhaps due to the psychic influence of Glendale Ace.

In 1936 he remembered being in Montreal with $2 in his pocket and not being sure what the future held in store for him. He managed to surviv* and eventually went to work for Harold McKinley, the head trainer for the renowned Armstrong Brothers. Bob was hired on as a groom in Brampton, Ontario. Here he would get his training

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