' " e . Mete‘m n

fter answering his call to duty in

World War ll, a youthful Doug Hill

was honorably discharged from the Canadian Navy in 1946. That same year he went to work at Milton Bell's Old Spain Restaurant on Kent Street in Charlottetown. Businessman Milton Bell owned race horses at that time when it was a tradition on Prince Edward Island that all businesses would close on Wednesdays at noon for the rest of the day. Doug would attend the races on Wednesday afternoons held at one of the many Island racetracks like Covehead, Cherry Valley and Montague. to name a few. This was Doug Hill‘s initiation to a sport that he would love and actively par— ticipate in for the next six decades.

If his initiation was in 1946. Doug was hooked to harness racing in 1930 when he married Rosemary, his wife of 58 years. Rosemary owned a saddle mare. Actually, this mare was a standardbred by Bud Axworfby out of a Lacopia mare and she was bred to trot. This saddle mare was stabled at the Charlottetown Driving Park in Dr. Seaman's barn. Rosemary rode her and Doug would jog her at the C.D.P. In the winter, when the track was closed, they would take the mare out every day, usually by sleigh, on the

Photos: Ann MacNeill Hillsboro River or on the streets of down— town Charlottetown. Like a lot of trot- ting—breds, this mare could pull a ton when she wanted. In time, this led Doug to jogging other horses usually from the stable of Len O'Meara who was a promi— nent horseman.

At his home in Battery Point. Doug had the stall name—plates for each of the many horses that he owned over the years. The first horse that he owned was a beautiful two—year—old chestnut called, “Mr. fol/scoff". Len O'Meara suggested that Doug should purchase this unbroken colt for the princely sum of 8500. Doug was well pleased with Mitjollscoll and he explained. “He raced great; he was a good, tough and game horse; he gave me Rosemary and I broke him ourselves. We raced him both on the pace and on the trot."

my very first drive.

I asked this dedicated horseman to name about ten of the horses he has owned over the years. able to narrow the list and what a list! It included Mr. jollscotl, Dominion Byrd, Billy Rice, Try My Coffee, Wendy Chief: Millie Dares, Brightest Star, Steady Nan, Glengyle Crane, Dauinza Hooligan, Seawind Romeo, He "s A Knight and

With difficulty he was

117