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TORONTOS MEETING OPENS GRANDLY. Shimcnese Wins the Kings Plate Easily in Presence of a Great Assemblage. Toronto. Out.. May 22. — Inder conditions that could noi well have been Improved on and before the largest crowd that ever gathered at Woodbine, the t fticih run. ling of the famous Kings Plato was held at the Ontario Jockey bibs course this afternoon. I he Valley Farm Stable, owned by the Messrs. llendiie. furnished the wiuner in Shinioni-se. a four year-old filly by the Fniurity winner, Martimas. out of tlie Canadian mare. Lyddite. Sblmonese was easily Iiest and won in a carter in record Wile for tin- Stake. She was ridilen by iilliert. was favorite in the betting and was heavily sanparted by the nubile. As a matter of fact the result was con sidcied a foregone conclusion by but ae men who had witnessed the mares work for the stake. Tbjere were etebt starters and three of them rallied the colors of Joseph E. Seagram. In the early running, the Dymeiit colt. Fort Oarry. dashed lo the front, drew awav ami opened a gap of two or three lengths, which he retained until making the turn out of the baekstretch. the first qaartet being run in 2".5 and the half mile in 4S1. which is fast for Woodbine. After they had gone six furlongs. Fort Cany liegan to tire and in the stretch drive qalt and was badly beaten. iilberl rode a confident race on Shimonese. took tlu marc back directly after the start and trailed along with the rear division until well down the baekstretch before making a move. When he released his hold on Shimonese. the latter responded with a great burst of speed that soon placed her well up with the leaders and. while rounding the far turn, she drew away into an easy lead. When rati ling the homestretch all doubt as to the winner was settled, as Shinionese had everything back of hi r driving hard. At the end Gilbert eased her up. The mile and a quarter was run in 2:10». which marks a new record for the Kings Plate. Qeorae M. Hendrie. one of the owners of Shimonese. led the mare into the enclosure beside the judges stand and received the congratulations of his many friends and also the certificate of the kings guineas from His Excellency. Earl Grey. Charles Littlefiebl. at present training a string of thoroughbreds in New York, rode the winner of the first Kings Dlate run in this country when be Haded Don Juan Brat at the Carlton track iust a hair ecntnirv ago. Harry J.ittletield. son of the former, trained Tollemlal. which finished second to Sliimoncsc in todays race. During the early days the race was inn at different iioiiits In Canada but since 1SS1 it has been an annual fixture at Woodbine. Outside of the Kings llate. the other important fixture was the Minto Stakes, named in honor of Ixird Minto. who was a staunch supporter of racing when governor general of the Dominion. The winner in this stake was furnished by P. T. Chinn in ids handsome colt. Donald MacdonaJd. which heal Dade Toby out a neck after a gruelling stretch drive. Flying Squirrel, the two -year-old that caine hole from California with a great reput.i tion. had his work cut out in the second race to beat Busy out by a small margin. Flying Squirrel was a bit sore in his warm-up and he failed to display any of the sensational speed for which he is noted. Had Busy been favored with good racing luck he surely would have beaten Flying Squirrel. Canvas, the horse that was sold for 999 in the paddock at Plmllco, scored another victory today when he won the steeplechase from a band of good junipers. Bnee lie changed hands Canvas has won over ,000 in nurses for his new owner. la the absence of jockey Shilling, who failed to turn up. Moutry was given the mount on Flying Squirrel. It is said that Shilling has left his home in Texas for Vancouver and will attempt to break his contract with R. L. Thomas and ride for the St. .Iiames Stable this smmnier. Fred ook was one of the late arrivals. He got in tonight from Louisville mid will cut in on Mon-d.n Seymour Beutler. head of the Pinkerton force here this Spring, gathered in several undesirables during the afternoon, one of whom was a notorious pickpocket that had only recentlv arrived from England. The presence of Beutler means that those with shady reputations will shun Toronto this spring. Jadge Joseph Burke. Christopher Fitzgerald and Hassard Short were arrivals from Now York this morning. Secretary Frasers face lieamed with sartaM wlie.i he viewed the 15.000 that packed the grandstands and promenaded the lawns aaafag the afternoon, lr was an opening that the popular Secretary of the Ontario Jockey Club had every reason to lie prouu of. Dr. Andrew Smith, one of the patriarchs of raoinir in the Dominion, and whom there is no better posted man on the thoroughbred in Canada, has managed the Ontario Jockey Club wisely and admirably. lie has nursed the sport along in a judicious manner and has built It up to compare with the big tracks in the Baited States. Major rill hall Dalngerfielil made the trip from Kentucky to be present at the opening at Woodbine this afternoon. He acted as one of the stewards during the afternoon.
