Elmer Chappell, father of Island driver Gary Chappell, gave Mike his first drive in a race on a horse by the name of Mr. Tburzaerbolt. It was at the Summerside Raceway and according to Mike, “The second time around he ran right off the track and ran right into Andrew Perry's barn.” It was an embarrassing debut but Mike had his first start and things had to get better and indeed they did.

At age 19 at Windsor Raceway, Mike won his first race on a horse called Scotcb Ecbo in a trot class in 2:06. It was an easy win. Mike had trained him a few times and was asked if he would drive him in a race. Mike said, “He won easy for a horse that didn't show very much." He had won his first race “away" and would win over 2,285 in a long and successful career. Mike's victories in the Maritimes occurred mostly during his annual almost obligatory return for the Gold Cup and Saucer. Mike's 1,500th victory was offi— cially recognized when it took place in Montreal. It was something for which he was proud. His two fastest wins were at Montreal with Rumpus Hanover in 1252.5 and Bomb Ric/(ales in 1:53.

Over the years, Mike had literally hun— dreds of horses in his stable and he proudly asserted that most of them were owned by Maritimers. It was challenging but he remembered some of his most memorable this way. He had a colt one time that he thought would have been the best horse he ever had. Hubrus was

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Behind the Gate

his name and he was an unbelievable colt that Mike co-owned.

Blusb of Spring wasn't the fastest but she had the most guts of any horse that he had ever driven. He liked to drive her all the time. In this talented teamster's own words, "She was the most unbelievable horse I ever had. She would try her guts out every single race she went. You could never give her a bad drive.“ He had this free-legged sensation of Ian Smith for a couple of years. She raced in the Gold Cup and Saucer and in Montreal's top class consistently in 1:55. At one stage, she was the fastest free— legged mare of her time.

Bomb Ric/ales, Rumpus Hanover and Yan/eee Predator were exceptional world class horses that would do any stable anywhere proud. Ventall Rainbow was the first really good horse that he ever had. Mike had his most fun with him. He competed in four Gold Cup and Saucer Finals and Ventall won it all twice.

Mike and his spouse, Judy, agreed that Bomb Ric/ales was their favorite horse of all. In Judy's words, “I used to like Bomb Ric/eles a lot. He was a nice horse to be around and he had a real person- ality." He also set a Canadian record in Quebec City.

It would be natural to think that Mike's most memorable race would be when Bomb Ric/ales set a Canadian record;