Bonnets , . gloomy after Samson's death
It was dawn and work had begun as usual at Blue Bonnets. But there was no enthusiasm. There was a gloomy air to the west end track: Robert Samson had not been there urging on a young colt during its daily workout Early Monday morning Samson was killed when a truck he was a passenger in apparently struck the carcass of a moose on a highway outside Quebec City. Samson had driven Six Point Seven, an 11-1 longshot, to a surprise third-place finish in the 10th and final race at Bonnets Sunday afternoon. Along with trainer Andre Blouin, Samson loaded Chantilly Gem into the trailer hitched to Blouin's 4x4 truck and headed for Quebec City where his 3-year-old was entered in the ninth race of Sunday night's 10-race card. After the race, Samson and Blouin stopped for an hour to eat, and then headed back to Montreal. But between 1 and 2 a.m., the truck struck the dead animal on Au-toroute 20 in Ste. Appolinaire, 15 kilometres south of Quebec City. Samson died instantly. Blouin was taken to a nearby hospital with suspected internal injuries. But he suffered only a broken leg and yesterday be was discharged. Samson, 33, who also owned and trained horses but concentrated mostly on driving, captured the Bonnets' driving championship in , 1972 and 75. He spent the 1980-81 season competing at the Meadow lands track in East Rutherford, N.J., before returning to Montreal where he drove fulltime and became one of the most popular reinsmen. In 7,733 starts, the Verdun native registered 1,382 victories, 1,-238 second-place finishes and placed third 1,068. He earned $5,424,305 in total purses.
Montreal Gazette
