Robert Smith recently had a visit with Bob and Betty Killby a couple known to many who have just recently hung out the "CLOSED" sign after many years in the

sport.

I recently had the pleasure of an old fashioned visit with the Killbys at their home in LaSalle, Ont. They have a little more time for such things now that they are no longer in the tack business. In May of this year, they officially closed the doors on their long time business, The Royal Harness Shop. While they are enjoying their new-found lifestyle, they miss seeing the many friends who frequented their establishment for well over a quarter century, sometimes second and third generations of the same family.

Most people are born into the sport of harness racing; in the case of Bob Killby, he was born near it. A native Londoner, his family home was just down the street from The Western Fairgrounds. As a young child he peered through the fence with an inquiring mind. As he grew older, he began to visit and "learn the ropes". He fondly recalls the old time trainers who were perennial residents at the track such as the Herberts and the James. They befriended him and subtly the learning process began, one which would eventually become his livelihood.

Bob tells an interesting story that allowed him to visit the track and actually receive his mother's blessing despite secretly breaking one of her own strict rules. The Killby children were told to play in their own backyard ...No wandering about the neighbourhood! However Mrs. Killby made one exception. In those days the bread and milk delivery wagons were horse drawn. Often as they passed by, they left a few let us call them "meadow muffins" on the street. What better fertilizer and soil conditioner for Mrs. Killby's flowers and garden? His brothers and sisters received praise for even the smallest collection of "treasures" found on the road. Always one to be a bit ingenious, he soon found that a more abundant source existed at a place he longed to visit. Whether his mother ever figured out his "secret" is unknown, but knowing the intuition of most mothers she probably did.

Bob initially pursued a job in industry, rising to the management level at Continental Can. When he tired of this job a timely phone call came from trainer Richard Carroll, offering two horses to train. He accepted the offer and a new career began. His first drive was behind Valiant Guy and ended in a victory creating a perfect start. The Killby stable grew over the years and enjoyed considerable success at all of the Southwestern Ontario tracks. Their son Kirk eventually took up driving and training with his Dad. The Killby's also have a daughter Carrie and another son Derrick.

In 1983 Bob and Betty purchased the Windsor based Royal Harness business from Bill Munro. It had carried the same name through a succession of owners as far back as Helen MacDonald. Mrs. Killby had some prior experience as she worked during the summer at the Dresden tack shop owned by Messrs. Topping and Esseltine. The times and the business contacts they enjoyed made for a very pleasant and profitable 25 + years. Many patrons relied on Bob for suggestions to problems and also for cost saving repairs he was often able to do. The Killby operation was very much a "Mom & Pop" type business. Unlike most businesses today, they knew and cared for their customers and vice versa. People often stopped to chat even if they were not in need of anything. Betty (sometimes called Peewee) always had a dish of candy out for visitors with a "sweet tooth". It is a bit sad as we see these type of shops disappear.

While the Killbys are officially out of the retail business, Bob has a rather innovative invention that still keeps his attention on the sport. His trotting hopple system called "The Golden Gait" is steadily gaining in popularity. Unlike many of its counterparts, it operates independently and is not attached to the sulky. His invention has already had great acceptance and further hopes lie ahead.