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! , ! J j ! i J . j DUFFERIN PARK INAUGURAL Spring Meeting at Torontos Populat Half Mile Track to Begin This Afternoon. TORONTO, Ont., June 12.— Dufferin Park, the local popular half mile track, throws open its gates Saturday for the first meeting of the year for the Metropolitan Racing Association. This week of sport will bring to a close the spring term of racing for Toronto and surrounding district. The racing plants will remain in idleness as far as running races are concerned, until the opening at Thorncliffe on September 12. Dufferin Park, or "Little Saratoga," as it is commonly called, is without a doubt the most important half mile track on the continent. It has an especial appeal that is lacking at any other track. It is convenient to reach by trolley, only being a fifteen-minute ride from the heart of downtown Toronto. With each succeeding year the quality of the thoroughbreds that perform at Dufferin has been improving until now it is just a continuance of mile racing, aa far as the horses taking part are concerned. The most important stables that took part in the recent Long Branch meetings are remaining over to race at Dufferin with few exceptions. The stable of Ryland H. New, which embraces some of the best thoroughbreds seen in action in Canada this spring, will have a division of his string here for the first time. The Wild Rose Farm also will be making its first appearance at Dufferin. J. E. Smallman has the main division of his stable there, as well as the Riverdale Stable. The races framed exclusively for horses foaled in Canada should be productive of some thrilling sport, with such well known performers as Mr. Gaiety, Aymond, Sabana, Mineralogist, Lady McNeill, Airdrome, Gilded Casino, Sphere of Beauty, Par Excellence, Royal Guest, Milestone, Gay Parisian, Lord Cardigan, Daisy Fair, Assail, Moden. Collar-victoria, Cannonade, Sea Kale, Mongolian, all ready to face the starter. No matter what the weather is, a capacity crowd is sure to be on hand, but the management is hoping that the sport will be ushered in under ideal conditions. There has been no fair Saturday since before the opening at Thorncliffe, rain being the order for the past five week-ends.
