Page 89 - January 2017

Carolyn also received the Rotary International Foundation Paul Harris Fellowship, served as
vice president of the Great Lakes Quarter Horse Association, and as a racing committee member with the American Paint Horse Association. She worked with the Clare County Farm Bureau and as chair of the Michigan Farm Bureau Equine Commodity Committee, which exerts a huge influence statewide on equine issues. Add to that positions as board member and trustee of Mid Michigan Community College and trustee and chair at her church and more, and it’s obvious that no grass grew under either Walt or Carolyn’s feet.
During this time, the Bays also played an active role, along with her brothers, Bill and Bob Carter, in running Cornwell Ranch, which Carolyn’s grandparents established in 1901 and where, as what she jokingly calls a “mature woman,” she still lives and works. With the help of her son, David; a hired man, George Shaw; and an equally “mature” friend, Janet Whitmer, Carolyn works with T. Bill Stables with tasks including gentling babies prior to sending them to Marty Powers for sale or to
C. “Sleepy” Gilbreath for training. Interestingly, Janet Whitmer still rides barrels on a race-winning T. Bill Stables-raised gelding, Spritely 123 (Dean Miracle–Tiny Lou Etta, Tiny’s Gay).
Carolyn and her brothers Bob Carter (left) and Bill Carter (right) played active roles in running Cornwell Ranch, which their grandparents established in 1901.
THEIR EARLY YEARS
Carolyn and Walt grew up within six miles of each other. Although they each attended different country schools in elementary grades, they attended the same high school. A year or two after graduation, they began dating and were married in 1960.
Among all their other ventures, Carolyn
and Walt raised two children: David — whom Carolyn calls a godsend for his help with the ranch — and Maria, who is on the faculty
at Mid Michigan Community College and whose husband, Jeff Gross, operates a trucking company. Maria and Jeff have three sons: Jackson, 23; Jordan, 20; and J.J., 17. “They’ve all been trained in agriculture at home,” Carolyn says. “They helped round up cattle, vaccinate, and worm horses. As a grandma, I wanted them to be able to be supportive of agriculture if they’re ever in a situation where they can be.”
Although Walt rode to round up cattle and fox hunt, it was Carolyn who was born with the passion for horses. “I was the horse lover,” she says. “Walt was the horse liker. He said he was glad they weren’t dog-size because I’d have had them in the house!”
Through the years, he happily supported her horse endeavors, gradually building
a love for the sport and a pride in her accomplishments. “The better they did, the more Walt liked it,” says longtime family friend and Remington Park Racing Secretary Tim Williams, whose father, Bob, had worked as a starter at Mt. Pleasant Meadows.
(bottom row, left to right) Janet Whitmer,
Cindy Gierszewski, Carolyn Bay, (center row) Joan Roberts, Nancy Buzzell, David Bay, (top row) Jane Muscott and George Shaw all have important roles at T. Bill Stables.
Walt & Carolyn were instrumental in overseeing
Mt. Pleasant Meadows, with Walt serving as president and board member and Carolyn establishing education programs such as Youth Days and Youth Racing.
Carolyn with daughter Maria Bay-Gross and son David Bay.
Members of the Metamora Hunt Club in Michigan go to the fields with hounds. Carolyn and Walt, who rode horses to fox hunt and round up cattle, supported each other and their work with horses.
SPEEDHORSE, January 2017 87
courtesy David Bay
courtesy David Bay
Courtesy of David Bay