Behind the Gate 5% «g.

Russell Doyle's Dexter's jane was an excellent mare that started out green but came on to win two Dairy Queens. Dexter’s Wine was another really good tough mare. In his day, West River Brian could race day in and day out around 2:08. He banked around $12,000 to $15,000 a year for Harry McGee and Dick Carroll.

Brad Murray‘s Frugal Hanover was a star boarded in Smith‘s stable. Earl stated, “She was perhaps the nicest two-year—old I have ever had. She compared favorably to Arrive At Five at the same stage.” That was quite an endorsement when you consider the accomplishments of the champion that he also had at age two.

Earl Smith did not hesitate to name Grampy’s Winner as his favorite horse. This horse was just an outstanding indi— vidual all over. Race in and race out, he never came up with a poor race. Earl broke him and raced him as a freshman and sophomore before sending him to Toronto to compete. Gratnpy/s Winner gave Earl and owners some pretty thrilling moments.

While Earl, like most others in this inclus— try, didn’t have a company that would

provide him with the security of insur— ance coverage, a pension program or a health or dental plan, he was still able to earn a living working with horses; and he and his wife, Muriel were able to raise a family and send their son, Mike and daughter, Roxanne to university.

In addition to the wonderful Jeffrey Bowman story, Earl was fortunate to experience some other great moments in the game. He trained nine Dairy Queen winners and drove eight Dairy Queen winners. Earl won the Francis Mclsaac— Rufin Barrieau Memorial with Grampy’s Accolade and Mick Dunn's CL. s Smprise. He was in the prestigious Gold Cup and Saucer four times. He just missed win- ning it when Tigerhird won over Rollie Larkin‘s Bah in a photofinish.

Conversely, he had his share of accidents and serious injuries with broken bones. Perhaps his worst experience was when Granipv’s Winner broke a coffin bone and had to be humanely put down.

Earl was quick to credit a large part of his success to a number of quality people employed by him over the years. John Holmes, Wayne Blaisdell, Ryan Perrot, Wilfred Poulton, Gary McQuaid, George

”Taking the whip away is a no no. I could agree with downsizing the

whip to a prod or smaller—sized whip. Veiy few abuse the whip

and if the judges do their job, the problem is solved.”

125