Captain John (Jack) Theodore Cruikshank, a native of Price Edward Island, was initially in the shipping business. After the loss of one of his ships and crew, Cruikshank decided to convert his 250-acre dairy farm in Sackville, Nova Scotia, into a centre for harness racing. This centre became Sackville Downs.

Cruikshank could always be found at Sackville Downs on race nights encouraging and promoting the sport he loved, and to which he contributed so much.