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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-05-20, Page 22Sports Entertainment Birth & Death Notices Church News Sports Editor Gerard Creces emvl:pwpmuYUo+'e+eet.mm Getting back in the stable best treatment for Gaynor Wednesday, May 20, 2009 on-line: www.goderichsignalstar.corn The way Gerry Gaynor figures it, work- ing with his stable of trotters has been the best medicine since he received the news last October he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. "There are good days and there are bad days now but I'm more determined than ever to carry on with the horses," Gaynor says from his home in Goderich, Ontario. "Training the horses here in Goderich and even getting back up to drive, that's been the best thing for me." The 48 -year-old hobby horseman and longtime employee of the Goderich based Sifto Salt mine operation has a rare form of the affliction as it's been explained by specialists in London. "They say I have a rare form of tumour which is most commonly found in young children," Gaynor explains. "It's caused a malfunction of the brain which produces the chemical that automatically tells you the difference between day and night. Re- ally though, other than the sleep challenges which they're getting a handle on through medication, I'm pretty lucky. They can't tell how long the tumour has been there. And most importantly, each passing MRI is showing it isn't growing." Gaynor's comeback was pushed along through the winter by his fellow horse - people in the Goderich area that cared for his stable. Even his 74 -year-old Dad, Leon, chipped in. "Dad's retired now but a lot of people will remember we went together on the first good horse we had, Jetset Queen" he says. "I can't begin to list the names of Photo used with appreciation After being diagnosed with a brain tumour, Goderich horseman Gerry Gaynor refused to give up on his passion and is still producing champions. Above, Gaynor's homebred mare, Jetset Incredibabe wins her race at the Western Fair March 6. everyone that's helped me out over the past eight months because the list would be too long and I'd fear leaving someone out." At present, Gaynor campaigns a stable of three trotting mares that are racing. They are Jetset Incredibahe (a nine-year- old homebred daughter of Incredible Abe- Jetset Queen that's now surpassed her dam in lifetime earnings), Madison Airith, and Windsong Carnie. Gerry and his wife Mi- chelle also have a three-year-old trotting' filly that was purchased for $9,000 as a yearling and renamed to Jetset Tiffany af- ter their daughter. Gerry reports she has high speed and he's hopeful her manners will be im- proved to the point that she can compete in the coming months in the Ontario Sires Stakes. It was Windsong Carnie that was driv- et by Gaynor on Saturday night (May 2) in Hanover to mark his return to active driving duty in 2009 and since his medi- cal challenge diagnosis. It was nothing short of a triumph of the human spirit and Gaynor drove the trotting mare to perfec- tion, landing in the pocket quickly and just missing the win. "I'm quite happy to keep using Dave Wall to drive the two I'm racing in Lon- don right now," Gaynor adds. "We have a long history of great luck with Dave like everyone does. He put the mark of 1:57.2 on Jetset Queen at Woodbine on June 10, 1995. Asfor getting back in the bike my- self, I got the clearance from the doctors and drove in some qualifiers first to make sure and it feels great to be back." In many senses the recent help that Gaynor received from local horsepeople was an appreciated payback. After the devastating barn fire in the town early in the new millennium Gerry was among those that stepped up to spearhead fund- raising efforts. "We've been able to rebuild a cover all type barn and we have 50 horses here that train at the site of the former Goderich kaceway," Gerry says. "The other half of the money from the barn fire fundraiser went to the people that lost horses." "The horses being so successful in the past couple of months has really been a blessing," says Gerry's wife, Michelle. "Gerry just lives for harness racing. He doesn't want anyone's sympathy or pity. He talks a lot now about how his priorities have changed. After his family the best medicine for him has been every new day and every new chance to train his horses and race." Photo by Dave Sykes Talk of the town The Goderich McGee Sailorettes Atoms were celebrated at a recent meeting of town council for the team's provincial gold medal championship victory in the 'BB' category of women's minor hockey. Members of the team from left, included; Kaitlyn Chagnon, Amy Willis, Courtney Gardiner, Haley Bowman, Kayla McCabe, Bryanna Campbell, Erin Buchanan, Tara Vader, Megan Johnston, Sierra Burt, Rebecca Higgs, Kayley Hewitt and Amy Boyce. Members of council on hand for a special presentation to the team includ- ed; mayor Deb Shewfelt, Paul Elgie, David Yates, Heather Lyons, Ray Hurd, Mules Murdock, Larry McCabe and John Grace. The team's provincial champion- ship was the first in 30 years for a Goderich team..