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1 ; j s , 3 : 3 : ? f ; THE PLATE FAVORITE AND HIS STABLEMATES. Oakville. Ont., March 30. The thoroughbreds of Harry C.iddings wintered well at Cedar Grove Farm near here and from present indications Mr. Giddings will agaiu be an important factor during the comiug season on the Canadian turf. The string, which numbers thirteen, will bo shipped to Woodbine Park, Toronto, about April 20, where they will, as usual, receive their early preparation under the supervision of trainer Harry Giddings, Jr. In the lot are Ondramon, Hearts of Oak, Widow Wise, Sarolta. Venus Urania, Ondramida, Alai Bass, Half Law, Beehive and four two-year-olds, namely: Harry Bassett II., b. c, bv Bassetlaw My Honev. Martaiine. ch. f, by Martimas My Maryland. Oakdcne, b. f. by Bassetlaw Lady Betz. Otero, b. f. by Bassetlaw Cuba Free. It is a foregone conclusion that the Giddings stable is the one to beat in the race for the Kings Plate, the most important annual stake fixture for Prov-liiee-breds in Canada. Beehive. Alai Bass and Half Law are the stables nominations for the Guineas, the best of which undoubtedly is Beehive. The horse that beats hiin probably will win not only the money, but the honor and glory of capturing His I Majestys gift, the most coveted trophy of the year. The son of Bassetlaw and My Honev has developed ; and tilled out wonderfully since being retired last fall. At present he is even a better looking korso s than Hearts of Oak ever was and that is saying a great deal. He is a strapping big colt, sixteen hands and hair an inch in height and weighs 1.175 pounds. Owner Giddings thinks Beehive the best I and finest looking horse he ever raised and he has I turned out good ones too numerous to mention. Last I year as a two-year-old Beehive won six races, the ; majority of them tinexteudcd, and earned ,995. He has yet to meet defeat. The other Plate candidates. Alai Bass and Half Law, do not compare with Beehive. Alai Bass is still a maiden, but showed in his races last summer that he could stay, a most valuable asset in events of the distance of the Plate, a mile and a quarter. He was troubled somewhat with his underpinning in front and was tired last fall, but is agaiu going along soundly. Ihilf Law failed to race up to his private trials last season, although he earned brackets once, He met with an accident in midsummer which may have accounted for his inferior racing. Both of these colts show the benefit of a good wintering and have tilled out well. The idol of the stable. Hearts of Oak, the winner of last years Kings Plate, is looking exceptionally well. He has put 011 a lot of hard llesh since last fall, and now weighs over 1,200 pounds. His record of last year, when he scored seven firsts, two seconds, and a third out of eleven starts, six of which were stakes, speaks volumes. In all he won .1,105 for his owner and. barring mishap, is due for another successful campaign this season. There is a question of doubt iu the minds of many turfites whether or not Hearts of Oak is as good a horse as .1. E. Seagrams Inferno was. The Oakville-owued crack will be given an opportunity to demonstrate his quality this year, when he will be seen iu action in a number of open stake events against the best horses in training. ludraiuon. now live years old, is looking well, and it is expected will win his annual stake for the stable, lie won three races, was second three times and third once, winning .,520 last season, and during his three seasons at the races has enriched his owner over ,00. He is as kind as a kitten and the way he will nod his head for loaf smrar is amusing. The four lillies, Sarolta, Venus Urania. Widow Wise and Ondramida. all useful performers last season, are also looking well. Sarolta was the chief money winner of the quartet with ,000 to her credit, due to her victory in the Maple Leaf Stakes at the Woodbine spring meeting. Venus, Urania and AVidow Wise each earned brackets on two occasions in nurse events. The most creditable effort of the latter was at Windsor, when, as a despised outsider, she took the measure of a dozen shifty sprinters in an open race after being almost left at the post. Venus Urania, a sister to St. Bass, shows to better advantage at slaying distances and was a much improved filly last season over her two-year-old form. Last seasons Pluto preparation apparently dulled Ondramida and she failed, to race up to the form she promised as a two-year-old. This lilly should show much improvement during the coming season. Three lillies and a colt make up the juvenile division of the string. In Harry Basset t II., the sou of Bassetlaw and My Honey, Mr. Giddings has undoubtedly the finest-looking youngster of his age of any of the Canadian stables. He is a strapping pay colt of grand conformation, stands 15.3. hands high, and weighs fully 1.050 pounds. That he possesses an abundance of speed was demonstrated last fall when he worked three-eighths in 35 Ms seconds at the Woodbine track when a yearling. Harry Bassett II. is a brother to Beehive and his owner has already refused the tempting offer of ,000 for him. Although there are many other promising province-bred two-year-olds that will be seen at the races this season, it appears as if the ,500 Core- nation Stakes is again destined for Oakville for the fourth consecutive year. Oudrainon, Hearts of Oak and Beehive won this stake, respectively, during the past three years. It is the largest purse given for home-bred youngsters during the Season, and will be rim as usual during the Woodbine spring meeting. Oakdene. Martaiine and Otero are all well-turned fillies. The host-looking of the trio is Oakdene. a sister lo St. Bass and Venus Urania. She showed keen speed iu her work after being broken last fall. The stable is not so well fortified in the matter of young material for next year. The yearlings number only two. a chestnut lilly by Bassetlaw My Honey and a brown lilly by Bassetlaw Lady Betz. tlie former being a sister to Beehive and Harrv Bassett II. She is a big filly and the better looking of the :air. Only two foals have arrived this season to date, and both are fillies by Bassetlaw, their dams being Lady Betz and My Maryland. s 1 1 , i I
