Behind the Gate

no single person but. then again, a lot of different people. No matter how long you are in this game. there is always more to learn and sometimes from per— sons that you might have thought weren’t very knowledgeable. Developing horses can be a veiy humbling experience at times. I have been in nearly all facets of racing — owner, breeder, trainer, driver, groom, track owner, and management and could learn something new every day. The most important things I have learned are humility and patience.”

This very experienced and knowledge— able horseman admired and appreciated all horsemen that have come up through the ranks and have made a success of what they do. Doug explained, “It takes a lot of dedication if you are to be suc— cessful in this game. You must experi— ence a lot of ups and downs and, to stay involved, you have to love it.”

Doug Hill literally participated in thou- sands of races as a groom, trainer, driver and owner in over six decades of involvement. I asked him to select one race that he remembered the most and why. Somehow his answer did not sur— prise me, “Probably no single race but winning two—year—old Maritime champi— ons could rank as number one. That would have to start with Rusbdu'dt' Chief

in 1960 and Seuutind Alpha in 2001 with others, in between."

Most of this horseman’s drives were in eastern Canada and on his own horses; however, he has driven races in Florida for the stables of Ron Waples and Archie McNeil. He remembered his first drive in a race like it happened only yesterday. The horse was his own Mr. jollscotz‘ by jolliz‘y out of PluC/ey Scott. It was surpris- ing what he remembered about that race. He recounted, “I remember getting a uni- form. Len O’Meara had a jacket and a soft cap that he wasn‘t using. My wife had to alter both the jacket and cap. At that time, white driving—pants weren’t compulsory. I remember that and a great flash of butterflies that seemed to be inside me.” More than half a century later, it was indeed interesting what a dri- ver would remember about his very first race and what it entailed.

It was the same Mr. fol/scoff that would provide Mr. Hill with his first driving vic— tory and it happened at the Charlottetown Driving Park in 1953 and the time for the mile was 2:14. Doug‘s memory of his fastest win ever was not as clear. He stated, “My fastest win was around 1:58 or 1:59 and that would be at either Pompano Park or Tropical Park in Florida with a horse from either Archie

“It takes a lot of dedication zfyou are to be successful in this game. You must experience d lot of ups and downs and, to stay involved, you have to love it. ”

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