view raw text
IMPRESSIVE SCENES AT WOODBINE. Notwithstanding the nianv counter at tractions Iln crowd a I lh.- Woodbine races, Monday, numbered considerably over 12,khi. This is somewhat less than the attendance on opening day, but represented a iiii.r,. pleasure-seeking .-lass. The members lawn pr.-s. -nl; .1 tbe same variety of indiion and tgure; there were new gowns and new faces, and the social circle was enlivened by the presence of a lew members of Parliament, to whom the holiday brought a respite from the routine at Ottawa. Although tin- daily group in tin- members enclosure .s reminisce r the earlier .lavs in Ontario l...-k -y Club history, one 1:111 help but notice the scores of new faces that appear from rear to year. Comparing s list of those present say tin or fifteen years ago, with the names of those on hand Saturday and Monday would disclose a major! tj of entirely new names ami new families How much Ibis is iln.- to Hie growth or the citv and the widening popularity of tbe Woodbine on the one hand ami to the passing of aa old genera 1 ion on tin- other oae woald not care to say. But the fail is oIimou-; and pressing on the attention ol the passerby. Mondays gathering had more oi tin- "merry making" spirit than thai of Batur day. It was the first holiday of tin- summer sea sou. ami all who ware bred lo the sport of racing seemed to hare taken advantage of the occasion. iln- barrier between the members enclosure I Ihe public stand did not saggesl any diminution in enjoyment; in fact, those in the grand stand apparently got closer p. the -cuius of the sport than those la the more exclusive part of the grounds, because they wen- not ahesaed with style, custom ami formality. Around the mutui-l house even mill was H lh,.,- fellows friend. This, indeed. was Hi. cosmopolitan crowd. It ran all Iln- wav from business man. clerk, bookkeeper and artisan to Iln- stable boy ami track follower, each of whom had his dollar to wager on a favorite horse. Not in England, even whea the King ami Queen go in slate to the G Iwood meeting, or to Royal Ascot, is there the brilliance of tin- pageant thai Woodbine patrons see when their It. ..val Highnesses, ihe Duke ami Ductless of Connaught attend with Hi.- military escort that is lacking in iln- royal attendance in tin- obi land. Moadays state visit was a scene thai will never be forgotten by thus" win. witnessed the arrival of the Governor-General and hi- salte. When tin- mounted police advance guard entiled Hi. gale at the head of the stretch lb.- Royal Standard, tlow n only when royalty i present, broke out from the pole in the center field and the Highl brs Hand began the majestic "i»b Canada.* Tbe dragoons in their scarlet tunics and gleaming helmets, with waving plumes of black, swung into Hie broad brown ribbon of Ihe link, edged with white rails and backed by a Held than which there is no greener in Ireland. The great bay horses, with Ihe old world outriders, draw lag the stately dAiiuiont. in which the Duke ami Duchess rode, seemed to feci that hey had their part to play in maintaining tin* dignity ami laraverj i.r Ihe spectacle, and the whole atmosphere was charged with enthusiasm under a blazing sun ami amid siirrouiuliiiir- whose beauty and freshness are unsurpassed anywhere. The s|„,.-t of tin- turf is the last with which the -tale partlcinatioa of rulers is associated, ami its romance and history make ii • nit in- on.- for such recognition. Royalty extends its itatronage to oiher sports, but not In the 11111-sl il.l la hinn as this. And il is be duly of ill connected with racing lo spue no effort thai il shall always be worthy of such endorsement Prancl* Nelson ill Toronto CI., be.
