view raw text
ANOTHER SEAGRAM VICTORY « King OConnor Carries Its Colors to Triumph in Kings Plate. « Easter Hatter and Syngo Second and Third Respectively in Historical Race With Twenty-Two Starters. • TORONTO, Ont.. May 20.— Once again the name of the Seagram Stable will be enscribed upon the roster of Kings Plate winners. King OConnor, the big son of The Winter King and Doreen OConnor, leading home the largest field that has ever vied for the ancient fixture. Under a good ride by Eddie Legere, King OConnor reached the end of the nine furlongs three lengths to the good, with Legere taking him in hand. Easter Hatter, the top weight of the field and coupled with Pensweep as the H. C. Hatch entry, raced into second place. Syngo took down the third portion for Mrs. R. E. Webster, with Conny Smythes Court Butterfly finishing in fourth place. Marshall Cassidy had a trying time with the field of twenty-two but after a long delay sent them away to an almost perfect start. Easter Hatter was the first to show out of the bunch, but Mozer wisely took him in hand and permitted Canny Age to make the running while still holding to second place. Royal Vintage moved up briefly on the back stretch but soon dropped back. Legere had taken King OConnor under restraint and made no effort with the long striding son of The Winter King until nearing the half-mile ground. There he took him out into the center of the track and soon gained a contending position. Easter Hatter had worn down Canny Age for the lead and, straightening out for the stretch run, was well clear. King OConnor had not been asked for his best as yet but when called upon the Seagram representative soon wore down the Hatch colorbearer and was just loafing along the last part of the journey with Legere taking him in hand. Despite the sharp showers that fell, the stream of racegoers that came to witness the seventy-fourth running of the Kings Plate began to gather at the course before noon. The general admission, grandstand and clubhouse enclosure were filled almost to capacity as the bugle called the horses to the post for the opening event. The large crowd rose up en masse as Lord Bessborough, governor-general of Canada, drove down the stretch accompanied by a squadron of the Royal Canadian Dragoons. Only a field of five paraded in the Frazier Memorial Steeplechase at two miles and the field narrowed down to four, when Chan-ning L. wheeled at the start and then pulled up after taking the first fence. This stake in all its forty-six runnings, had no better finish than that that came in todays renewal. The Mrs. Ambrose Clark pair of Alpheus and Hamptonian finishing first and second respectively with Forbis, in the livery of Ward Wickwire, only a nose away in third place.
