Development Of Canadian Racing., Daily Racing Form, 1909-05-28

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DEVELOPMENT OF CANADIAN RACING. "The beginnings of raclmc in this community were long ago, and the men who saw them are no more." writes tin- turf editor of the Toronto Globe. "The late Hank Chapiiell. of Sandwich, raced horses 011 the banks of the number in 1838. He had a starter in the Blate of 1N05 and RgUtn 010 in 11I04. The lifty years of the history of the Blate are spanned, though, by Mr. Charles Lit Hem-Id. who rede Don Juan when the son of Sir Tatton Svkos and Yellow Hose won the lirst race for the royal guineas it the Carlton track half a century ago. Mr. I.ittletield is still hale and hearty, and engaged in the healthful occupation of training. His- son. Barn I.ittletiehl. it was who trained for Mr. Seagram the borne that won the Plate last year. "The City of Toronto and Home District Turf Club held a race meeting on Scarletts Plain at the H11111-ber in islll. Later there was a track near the Don. where the cattle byres now are. of which it is said that the black loam made the beat and most rc-siliant footing on the continent. There was then the Grange course. Iietweeu Spadina avenue and Beverley street. Then the sports before being driven out to Carlton, where the track lay south of Dundas street and north of Bloor street, less than half a mile northwest of the Pines, congregated for awhile at the iates course, called Newmarket. J. K. Seagrams recent training ground, where Mr. Whites Nellie beat John Collins for the Plate in IsCiS. op which occasion the course was kept bv a detachment of the ICth Hussars. And last, and to stay. came the Woodbine. "Iutil the arrival of the Marquis of Lome in Canada, the feast of the Plate was like the early parliament of United Canada, a perambulating one, but on representations being made to tin- queens son-in-law that political pull led to the Plate being run for on courses where few people saw the race, and where the accommodation was of a verv limited character, his excellency obtained the consent of the Prince of Wales to the race being run at Toronto for all time to came, and under the control of the Ontario Jockey Club. Accordingly, for more than a iiuarter of a century Toronto has enjoyed the privilege of having the contest decided within three miles of the city hall, and Whitby and Woodstock and the other places mourn their lost opportunities. "The prosperity of Woodbine has been continuous since the foundation of the Ontario Jockey Club. From insignificant lieginnliigs it has come to bo reckoned unique among race gatherings in America. Tile wise and liberal policy that has been consistently followed by the directors has been HI sided bv a steady growth of public appreciation and patronage tiiat has practically reached the limit of accommodation at the beautiful lake shore property."


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1900s/drf1909052801/drf1909052801_1_8
Local Identifier: drf1909052801_1_8
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800