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THINGS DONE AT WOODBINE ■ ♦ Ontario Jockey Club Directors Present Interesting Data. ♦ Wonders of Its May Meeting — Big Revenue to Ontario Government — Stands Preeminent for Fair Dealing to AH. ♦ ■ The directors of the Ontario Jockey Club, the oldest and foremost racing organization in Canada, which annually conducts as high-class race meetings as are held anywhere at its famous Woodbine course, right in the heart of the beautiful city of Toronto, has just issued an attractive booklet on the thoroughbred horse and the great sport of racing. Therein it sets forth the accomplishments of the club since its foundation in 18S1 and how unfairly it lias been singled out for attack by those who seek to destroy the breeding and racing of the thoroughbred*. It asks its members for continued interest to assist in carrying on the greatest of outdoor sports and from its opponents at least fair criticism not based on false or misleading information. It is an enlightening statement of what the Ontario Jockey Club has done, is doing and proposes to do. Here it is : CLUB LAUNCHED IX 1S81. In the year 1SS1 was founded the Ontario Jockey Club. Kver since that date and down to the present time the spring meeting particularly of the Ontario Jockey Club has been the outstanding feature in the social life of Toronto and the people of Ontario who love the sport of horse racing and who annually show by their continued presence in greater numbers their interest in such recreation. The May meeting of the Ontario Jockey Club has achieved a great reputation, the attendance is enormous, festivities go on all the week and pains are taken by everyone to welcome strangers and make them feel thoroughly at home ! Successive governors-general have, by their annual presence, graciously assisted in making this May week memorable for everyone. The entry to the race course of the state carriage of the governor-general, drawn by four horses ridden by postilions, has always been the pride and admiration of all Canadians and the delight of American visitois! There is a certain class of our people "who cannot endure the thought of others being happy in an occupation of entertainment that does not appeal to them* * ■ are like the boy who. seeing his fellows playing a game he does not enjoy, wants to rush in and spoil it for those who do. This is the attitude of the so-called reformers of the day. These are supported by a class of legislators in our local legislature and. to a lesser extent, in our federal house. Ottawa. Their voice and action there, however, happily do not prevail to the same extent as in this Province of Ontario. The recent vote in the house of commons, Ottawa, when the "Good Resolution" was submitted, the principles of which would have certainly obliterated horse racing from the Province of Ontario, r suited in a defeat by a majority if twenty the vote being 96-7t — a defeat much more decisive than that of 1910, when a similar amendment was introduced, better known as the "Miller bill." ATTACKS HAVE AX EFFECT. These attacks on racing, however, undoubtedly have their effect in discouraging breeders of thoroughbred horses in the further importation of bloodstock into Canada from the fountain head of breeding and racing — Great Britain — and likewise from the United States. Again, there is a certain class of our people who naturally are not interested in the racing of horses and its effect on the improvement of the breed of horses in Canada — it does not appeal them — yet. as citizens of Ontario, it is right and proper they should know to what extent the Ontario Jockey Club is carrying out the ideals laid down by those who founded it over forty years ago. It will serve no purpose to compare the present situation with those years so long past. The year 1022, as compared with 1921. will be sufficient to establish all that is claimed for the Ontario Jockey Club : In 19"1 strikes and purses wore eiven 40.7S.i In 19ZI st.ikos :ind purses were given .... 257.78S An increase of 17,Kk In 1921 staki-s and purses Id Canadian -hreds to MCMBIft home production 60.000 In 192:! stakes and purees to Canadian - breds to ■eMMaaje home produetion 73 000 An increase of i:t.000 This was all accomplished in the face of the following taxes levied by the Ontario government and paid by the Ontario Jockey Club for the year 1922: Ueaan f -e of ,.~ 00 pet day 0"i 000 Amiikcment Tai .0.000 Kive per cent on the uiutuel percentage.. 3i.S.MM $.v.:;. two The total revenue that the Ontario government received from the Jockey clubs and racing associations throughout the Province of Ontario amounted in the year 1922 to marly four million dollars ,000,000, which as- 4. Continued on twelfth page J THINGS DONE AT WOODBINE Continued from first page. sisted in meeting the current expenses of the province for the past year, and this should be an important consideration to the tax payers of Ontario, even to those otherwise disinterested as to whether horse racing shall continue or not. The Ontario Jockey Club has never exploited the public in either increased admission or excessive deductions from the pari-mutuel tickets : in fact, in both these very important features of conducting successful race meetings, the Ontario Jockey Club stands out pre-eminently in its policy of liberal dealing throughout — with breeders, with owners and with the public who desire to enjoy the sport. The Ontario Jockey Club has always been singled out for attack by those who seek to destroy completely horse racing, by further curtailing the rights of the public. It is very diflicult to understand why the Ontario Jockey Club should be so continually misunderstood and be the object of so much unjust criticism when, in the eyes of the public generally and in the opinion of breeders, owners and racing men, its record is second to none ! We ask of our members continued interest to assist, us in carrying on the fine old British sport which, once effaced, will certainly never in this generation, at least, be revived in any degree approaching the position it now holds in the estimation of the people. From our opponents we are entitled to expect, at lea:;t, fair criticism not founded on information which in many cases is misleading and frequently very untruthful. "The sport which Grafton loves. Which Spencer, Portland, Albemarle approves ; Which kings have fostered, and a countrys pride. Protest who may. will never cast aside."
