Boy. He remembered, “I had four or five horses for johnny Nicholson that got me started.” John Clarey, Remy MacDonald and Gordon Swinamer were among his early owners.

Garry drove Gaz'l McGee at the GDP. in his first pari-mutuel drive. He had previ— ously driven her at Pinette Raceway when he was only 14-years-old. This mare was owned by Wendell Profitt and Garry was working for Henry Smallwood at the time. She was an easy little mare to drive and Garry finished third in that memo— rable race. One week later he drove Nancy’s Pic/e. for Henry. He recollected, “She kinda ran away on me and made the front off the gate and she won in 2:10." This race was significant because it was Garry MacDonald's first official visit to the winners” circle. There would be many more. That particular night he drove Nancy’s Pic/e and Mystery Romeo in dou— ble heats and Gail McGee in a single heat. That was a very big night for this young Mt. Albionite and it was only his second night of driving.

In 1993, I witnessed Garry's fastest win in his career. It happened on an extremely hot afternoon in Fredericton while he was driving Ashley Sloat's Shannon Commander to victory in 1:55 in the Walter Dale Memorial. It was a track and Maritime record at that time. It is still the longest standing Maritime track pacing record. Immediately following the pre— sentations, I travelled with him to the Charlottetown Driving Park where on

106

Behind the Gate

that same day he won a dash in Atlantic Sire Stakes competition. The traveling was hectic that memorable day but trav- eling became a way of life for this diminutive and talented teamster.

He drove some of the better horses ever to set foot on Maritime tracks mainly because he was a very capable, careful, and competent driver. This driver described some of them in the following manner, “Aw/'0 was a sweet little horse to drive and he always raced big at the C.D.P. Winners Accolade could go so fast for a piece when a fellow wasn't used to going that fast. Maxwell Almabnrst was probably the first really good horse that we had in the stable. Shannon Commander set a Maritime pacing record. Horan Hanover was a superb horse when sound and had to be scratched from the Gold Cup anc Saucer. Acton Amigo was as good as ar.y that I have ever driven. He got so good and he raced so good every time he went behind the gate. He never went a poor rice. He would have to be my favorite horse.”

Some of the horses that were trained and driven by Garry over the years included _].D.j., PJ. Song, Bz'o Medallion, Kiowa Almabm‘sl. Maxwell Almabursl. Stone— riggs Elpa/ron, Piles By Day, Norm Barney and Acton Amigo. There have been so many that could have been on this list. For example, he always stabled approximately 20 at the C.D.P. du‘ing our hectic Old Home Week period.