Expenses mounted over the years but 
     
     they had to be met. Veterinary bills, 
     
     farming out horses, stud fees, etc. were 
     
     facts of life. Fortunately, this stable had a 
     
     firm foundation and it even had its own 
     
     constitution. It had a designated treasur— 
     
     er who collected a fixed amount from 
     
     each member each month. It had by— 
     
     laws. You couldn't sell your share to a 
     
     non-member. There could be no new 
     
     members unless dictated in the will of a 
     
     deceased member. It had rules but the 
     
     members were flexible when they had to 
     
     be. Change was inevitable. Twenty years 
     
     passed and the Parkdale Stable disband— 
     
     ed in 2007 due to extenuating circum— 
     
     stances; however, it was a ride enjoyed 
     
     by its members and one that they would 
     
     not have wanted to miss. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Ed Atkinson used to run the old 
     
     Horsemen's Canteen at the CDP. He was 
     
     one of the original members and he 
     
     remembered the day he was asked by 
     
     jack Arsenault if he was interested in the 
     
     concept of forming a stable. At that time, 
     
     Ed and Bob Bevins owned Figaro N06 
     
     and Jack was their trainer. Ed answered 
     
     in the affirmative. He enjoyed being 
     
     among friends at the track. He looked 
     
     forward to his daily trip to the track to 
     
     watch his horses jog, train or race. There 
     
     is something special about a horse and a 
     
     real bond exists between horse and 
     
     human. It's hard to explain but it is there. 
     
     Some day you might experience it and 
     
     you will be glad you did. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Airborne Chandler became a grandmoth- 
     
    
   
   
    
     158 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     Behind the Gate 
     
    
   
   
    
     er or grand—dam twice before she passed 
     
     on to horse heaven. Chandler’s first 
     
     daughter or filly, Governess was bred to 
     
     Drop Off and what a union this proved to 
     
     be! Together they produced Airborne 
     
     A.j. who took a record as a two—year-old 
     
     of 159.2 which was probably one of the 
     
     best in the Maritimes. He was training 
     
     well and his owners were hopeful but 
     
     cautious. They had been down this road 
     
     before. A]. had a younger half brother, 
     
     Airborne P]. by Pam's Dexter, learning the 
     
     ropes. He hoped to emulate his big 
     
     brother. The boys were keeping their 
     
     fingers crossed. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Jack Arsenault, an original member, did 
     
     the training for this stable. He had been 
     
     involved in the horse game for years. His 
     
     best moment or experience in the game 
     
     was when Airborne AJ. won the presti- 
     
     gious Dairy Queen Stake for two—year-old 
     
     colts. Ed Atkinson's was in Summerside 
     
     when A]. won an Atlantic Sires Stake. 
     
     These, indeed, were memorable occa— 
     
     sions for all the members and their fami- 
     
     lies of the Parkdale Stable. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The Parkdale Stable had a few sugges- 
     
     tions for someone who might be thinking 
     
     about syndication or forming a stable. 
     
     Go for it but be sure that the members 
     
     are compatible; they must be able to get 
     
     along with each other under many cir— 
     
     cumstances. They must have a treasurer 
     
     who is responsible, organized and trust— 
     
     worthy. They must have a recognized 
     
     leader or spokesperson for the group. 
     
     The number of members should be