The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Scugog Citizen -- Tuesday, May 3, 1994 -- 19 a Airies Canada 'in the swim!' for leg injury Alrles Canada gets a wash down after his dally swim in the pool.... Part of the rehab to treat an injury last fall. by Heather McCrae Hardly a day goes by without someone asking Murdo (Scotty) MacKenzie how his prized trotting colt, Airies Canada, 1s rallying after fracturing the coffin bone in his right front leg The injury, which happened in a Stakes race last September, virtually devastated his owners and countless racing fans. Since that fateful day his owners have been optimistic about the colt's racing comeback and, starting him on the road to recovery, seem to be doing everything right. After months of stall rest, and with X-rays showing the horse to be sound again Mackenzie, his trainer and part-owner, started jogging the horse in January, preparing for the track again. But a part of Airies' training recently has been a daily swim, all part of the rehabilitation program that was new to the horse, but not to MacKenzie. Years ago, when MacKenzie was in Michigan, he had had horses swimming for therapeutic reasons It's a means of exercising the horse and, wkiie not putting pressure on the legs, it increases the stamina on the horse's lungs. For this reason, MacKenzie felt his Veeba Rova-Moorelands Val colt would definitely benefit from this exercise. Since late February, Airies Canada has been swimming daily at Riley's training cen Roseneath for 26 minutes in the mornings, which is equivalent to five miles of jogging I visited the centre recently, accompanied by Rosie Till, Airies' groom and Stella MacKenzie, to witness this fine animal splashing in the pool. The pool, 15 feet by 40 feet, and nine feet deep, is filled with chlorinated water that's kept at 66 degrees F., too cold for most people but just the right temperature for horses. Greeting us at the e§uine centre were Miriam Riley and her son, Brett. Mrs. Riley days she doesn't train the horse#, but leaves that to her sons. "I do the stalls, the HAPPY 25th ANNIVERSARY Lyn and Gord on May 10th. Lovd All Your Family For information on how to have your Special Family Matters published here, please call 985-6397 Deadline for Family Matters is 5 PM Friday. books and use the 'pooper scooper' in the pool," she grinned. Having always trained and taced standardbreds themselves, and being in an area where racing was so popular, the Riley's felt there was a need for an equine pool 80, in 1977, they built one alongside the barn that houses their own horses and boarders alike. Since that time their business has grown immensely and most of it has been by word of mouth. Brett says it didn't take the young colt long before he was ccustomed to the water and y the fifth day, after his arrival, he was swimming the full time limit, being led into the pool with no resistance whatsoever. "You'd never know he was a stud," says Brett. "He's a real gentleman, very quiet and easy to work with." Even their barn cats, to keep warm, have been known to sleep on his back. After the swim Airies was Raa Alries Canada In the swim as part of Injury rehab. successful in this elimination race, he'll be racing again a week later, going for a purse of $150,000. All four owners, MacKenzie and Doug Healey of Port Perry, and Clarence Patey and Maxwell Pollard of Oshawa, are delighted with the healing process of their prized horse's leg and are optimistic of. a strong racing comeback this year. Because Airies Canada was born in March his owners named him after his horoscope sign, Aries, but somehow the name was misspelled on his registration papers. And as for the name 'Canada' that was there to help the rest of the world take notice of a sensational horse! Earning over $120,000 purse money last year, the proud owners were awarded trophies recently from the Ontario«Sires Stakes and the Ontario Jockey Gi, for winning the top Two-Year- Old Trotter for 1993. rinsed off with warm water, ridding his long coat of the FORDER - PARKS chlorine, to prevent a skin rash. and was heavily INSURANCE BROKERS INC. blanketed before being 34 Water Street, Port Perry. walked for an hour until he Ontario L9L 1)2 9858471 was dry: and then 1t was back PERSONAL ATTENTION TO ALL OF to the stall for rest and a good YOUR GENERAL INSURANCE NEEDS feed of hay. After one more week of swimming, Airies Canada will be returning to a stable on Scugog Island where MacKenzie hopes to train him twice a week before qualifying him on May 20 at Mohawk Raceway. "If he qualifies, he'll be racing on June 4 in the trotting Classic Stakes Race at Woodbine for three-year- old colts. Then, if he's PicTuRE PeERrFecT TV | TV - VCR - AUDIO SALES & SERVICE authorized dealer for gv HITACHI Ko THEATRE $39.99 per PERSON Includes Dinner, Show & Taxes at Stables el EVERY TUESDAY k A throughout the summer, ' starting May 3rd, 1994 'ormed by Professional Theatre Productions - 'PEARL PRODUCTIONS' Toronto. Call for more information. 985-1598 SHIRLEY ROAD, PORT PLRRY Reservations are not necessary, but it's alway: nice to know you're coming! REGULAR HOURS - OPEN EVENINGS for DINNER 5 PM to 11 PM OPEN SUNDAYS from 11 AM to 8 PM;