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HISTORIC CANADIAN PLATE Kings Plate, a Blue Bonnets Fall Special, Is the Oldest Race in North America. The Kings Plate of the Province of Quebec, now a Blue Bonnets fall special for province breds is the oldest horse race of continuous renewal on the North American continent. Instituted in 1830 at Three Rivers, it has been a feature of the Canadian sport through the reigns of the British sovereigns William IV., and his niece Victoria, and Edward VII. and his son George V. It is a hoary affair as compaied with even such famous American Rices as the Kentucky Derby, the Belmont, the Jerome Handicap, the Suburban, the Alabama, the Travers and the Saratoga Cup. The Kentucky Derby, this years renewal of which was won by Behave Yourself, whose sire Marathon is standing at Commander J. K. L. Ross Vercheres stud, was instituted in 1S75. The Alabama, Saratogas best special for three-year-old fillies, goes back to 1S72. The Belmont, Belmont Parks famous spring special for three-year-olds exclusively, was run first at Jerome Park in ISO". The Travers, the inaugural of which was won by Kentucky, one of the most celebrated of the sons of Lexington, became a Saratoga fixture in 1S04. The Suburban Handicap did not have its first running at Sheeps-head Bay until twenty years later. The Kings Plate was known from 1S37 to 1901 as the Queens Plate, Victoria having occupied he throne of Great Britain through that period. The first trophy was present by William IV. The Plates first running at Montreal occurred in 1839 at the old St. Pierre course. Down to 1S71 it was revived nearly as frequently at Quebec as at Montreal, with an occasional running at St. Hya-cintlie or Three Rivers. Originally the Plate was a mile heat race, but heats were abandoned for the dash style of racing in the lids. This years renewal of the Kings riate will be a gallop of one mile and a quarter for ,300, plus the subscriptions and forfeits of the subscribers. Only horses foaled and raised in the province of Quebec that have never been oiit of the province save between April and November of any year may take part in the race. The obvious purpose of these restrictions js. in., stimulate thoroughbred -production; in thr MvL.tc of Quebec. COMMANDER ROSS HEAVY NOMINATOR. Commander Ross, whose Vercheres- establishment is one of the most considerable thoroughbred nurseries on the continent of North America, and easilv the biggest in Canada, is the heaviest Kings Plate nominator this year. Commander Ross will be represented in this years race. But he will have no starters in either the Plate or the Provincial Nursery renewals of 1922, 1923 and 1924. He wants to give the other breeders of thoroughbreds of Quebec chances to catch up with him in the matter of production. Several studs have already been recruited from Commander Ross well -stocked place at Vercheres. Since 1882. save iii 190i and 1907, when it was revived at Quebec, the Kings Plate has been a Montreal affair. It was run at Sherbrooke in 1SS1. The old Blue Bonnets course was the scene of its renewals from 18S3 to 18S7 inclusive, as it had been in 1S71. 1S72. 1875, 1877 and 1878. In 18SS it was run at Lepine Park, from 18S9 to 1004 inclusive at Belair. Names famous in Canadian sporting chronicles appear on the Kings Plate roster of winners. Hugh Pa ton won three or four renewals; J. P. Dawes, for years one of the most successful producers in the Dominion, won his first Plate in 1SG9. Between that year and 1903 Mr. Dawes brought fifteen other Plate winners to the post. It is a pity be is not about now to give Commander Boss Vercheres establishment an argument this year and make- things interesting for him in years to come, diaries S. Campbell, one of Montreals most distinguished barristers, a profound student of thoroughbred lore and a breeder in n modest way, won the Plate of 190IJ at Quebec with Liesse. Winners of the Plate since it became u fixture at the fine new Blue Bonnets course in 1907 have been the Two Counties Stable, A. Boswell. Robert Fraser. A. E. Ogilvie. K. T. Dawes, Mr. Campbell, the Invereck Stable. Donuat Raymond, W. T. Tren-holme. the Dorchester Stable, John Whyte, Mrs. I. E. Lalanne and Commander Ross. Commander Ross won last fall with Aconi, a three-year-old by Stanhope Sou. she a daughter of Hastings. Aconi won five races last year. Mr. Campbells Blue Bonnets winner was Sans Droit.
