he Island Hymn has been an inte-

gral component in each of the 49

runnings of the prestigious Gold Cup and Saucer and Faith McKenney had presented her rendition in 40 of them.

In 1961, Faith was asked by Bill Hancox if she would be interested in singing The Island Hymn at the Gold Cup and Saucer and she immediately answered in the affirmative. At that time. she was a stu— dent at Prince of Wales College and had participated in variety shows and a Charlottetown Incidentally. she was a choir member of the same church as Frank “Duck" Acorn

church choir in

who was a co—founder of the Gold Cup and Saucer with Bill IIancox.

Faith McKenney taught voice in Island schools for $0 years. 23 of those years at Prince Street Elementary in Charlotte— town. During her teaching tenure, many students and their parents really appreci— ated Faith McKenney.

In 1980, Mary Lynn Kane was a Gold Cup and Saucer Girl and Faith had taught her sisters Lorie, jackie and Linda. She asked Mary Lynn what horse she was repre— senting and was told that it was Sail/1s Pride. Faith then informed Mary Lynn, “I

am going to put my stakes on Salt/‘5 Pride." Faith was even interviewed by CBC. television prior to the race and publicly chose this horse owned by Don and Ian Smith and driven by Joe Smallw<,)(,)d. Sure enough. you guessed

it. San/‘5 Pride was the winner that year.

Faith McKenney appreciated Old Home Week and explained. “I enjoy Old Home \V’Aek. friends can get together back on PEI." She especially remembered one Goch Cup and Saucer when she shared center

It‘s a time when family and

stage with Miss Teen Canada, Carol MacKinnon from Summerside and the internationally renowned Anne Murray who sang that night in bare feet.

The diminutive Ms. McKenney had horsemen inform her lightheartedly that their horses didn‘t perform up to par until she sang The Island Hymn. She answered those horsemen, “The horses always run as soon as I start to sing." Faith learned that you should not take yourself too seriously. She could poke fun at herself from time to time.

Each year when Faith read her race pro-

gram for the Gold Cup and Saucer she looked for something, explaining. “I

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