dflq'o'f the Best

n his own words. “Fellowship is the

most important thing I have received

in ST years in harness racing." Clark Smith became quite emotional when he began to think of the close friendships he had made over the years working with horses and people. He had amassed sta— tistics like 2243 driving wins that very few will equal. He achieved this success because he was a consummate horseman and this industry needs more like this member of Prince Edward Island‘s Sports Hall of Fame. Clark is also a member of the 1’.E.I. Harness Racing Hall of Fame and it states. “Clark Smith is a complete horseman— one who can shoe. train. drive and care for his horses. He is held in the highest regard by his peers."

It all started when an eager 14—year—old was helping his father. Cyril Smith. an accomplished horseman from the Hunter One of the first horses Clark remembered

River area. around was Arnold This local bred by Simcoe

working Whispering Hope owned by Weeks. Harvester had some problems. “He was a terrible knee—knocker and he hit his knees terribly. Dad used to wear a pair of knee boots on him with steel plates on them. He got to be pretty good when he

ordon Slaumvhite

put them on him. He could go around 2:10 and he ended up in the top class,“ Clark explained.

This youngster was fortunate to have served his apprenticeship under two very talented tutors, Cyril Smith and Frank Daniels. He spent the first two years with his father between Halifax and Charlotte— town; then he spent one year with Frank Daniels in Truro. “That didn‘t hurt me any," he exclaimed with a smile.

When asked to name the horseman that he admired the most when he was a kid, he suggested that he could give a lot of names; however. one that he got to real- ly appreciate because he drove some of his horses was George Callbeck. Before driving for him, he thought he was just another horseman but after he started dri— ving his horses he realized that George knew quite a bit about horses and that he was a very talented horseman.

At 18. Clark was his own boss when he went to work for Stanley Mayhew in Kinkora and for the next seven years he worked almost exclusively for this gen- tleman. This was the same owner that many horsemen gave credit for their start in the industry.

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