Bob Broo/e and Hi jay. Clark just missed them by squeezing inside by the hub rail. He got up for second to Dee's Boy who had cut out all the fractions. Of the three that went down in the first heat, only [30/9 Broo/e raced in the second heat which he won in 2:031. Once again Tamn’zany Hall was second and Dee’s Boy was declared the winner of the Gold Cup and Saucer. This was Clark’s most memorable race in which he competed.

One of the biggest changes in racing with the trotters and pacers according to Clark involved the driving strategy in a race. He explained, “At one time in the past you drove a horse to win. Now you drive a horse to suit the rules and if you don‘t, it’s costly. You gotta go certain quarters and certain halves. Sometimes that does not always suit the horse that you are dri— ving. It may suit the horse that is behind you a lot better. When I started out dri- ving, you tried to rate a horse to win and as long as you didn’t interfere with anoth- er horse, that was fine."

Two additional major changes since he started involve the safety factor. Today, pylons and wheel discs are almost taken for granted. Many serious accidents are now avoided by the driver taking his

Behind the Gate

horse inside the pylons. Also, in the past, a horse may have put his foot in the wheel of another horse and caused a bad accident but the wheel disc prevents this.

The merits of the controversial passing lane were debatable according to this veteran horseman who resided in Oyster Bed Bridge with his wife, Dottie. From this experienced trainer/driver, “I find that a horse will always try harder com— ing from behind to the outside than from the inside to the passing lane. You are now training a horse to do something he doesn‘t do naturally. Also, if you are pulling on him until you hit the passing lane and then you give him his head, you often get mixed results.“

What was the fastest of Clark Smith’s 2,245 driving wins? Clark and Dottie had to think about this for a while but did come up with two answers. His fastest win in the Maritimes came in the Norman Macl’hail Pace at the C.1’).1’. when he won in 1237.3 with foe Six Pac/e for owner Walter Simmons. was driving Billy Turners Mr. T. Bar T. in 1:57 at Flamboro.

His fastest win ever

This 70—year—old veteran who had worked hard all his life with horses

“When I started out driving, you triea’ to rate a horse to win and as long as you a’ia’n’t interfere with another horse, that was fine. ”

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