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LONG BRANCH MINIMUM 00 4 Toronto Course to Distribute 9,-. 700 During Coming Meeting. Two ,000 Added Handicap Features on Saturday Meeting Scheduled to Open on June 5. TORONTO, Ont., May 25. The high standard set last year by the Long Branch Racing Association when the prize money for A. M. Orpens Toronto suburban track was boosted to the second highest of any race course in Canada, being only eclipsed by Woodbine, will be maintained this season. For the seven-day meeting being inagurated June 5, no less than 9,700 will be distributed in purses and stakes at the beautiful mile racing plant situated a couple of miles west of the Queen City boundary. This is revealed by a glance at the condition book which will be distributed among the horse-, men today. The conditions are typical of those arranged by "Wash" Norvell, veteran racing secretary, who also writes the books for the other Orpen tracks, Dufferin Park in Toronto; Kenilworth Park in Windsor, and Queens Park in London. Mr. Norvell usually doesnt arrange his book until he knows the number and type of horses available for racing, which explains the large and well balanced fields that go to the post at all tha Orpen tracks. For the Long Branch season, the minimum purse will be 00, which compares favorably with the prizes offered for the cheaper events at any of the leading American tracks. There will be the usual seven races daily allowed by law, with the high mark in distribution reached on Saturday, June 8. when no fewer than two ,000 handicaps are slated for decision. These are the Canadian Breeders Handicap and the Long Branch Handicap, the former for Canadian-bred three-year-olds and upward, and the other for the same aged horses, but an open, event. Despite the fact that Ontario tracks are no longer granted the rebate allowed in the past by the government on all Canadian-bred races, Mr. Orpen has arranged no fewer, than fourteen events for the home-breds at forthcoming meeting. He has always been a firm believer in encouraging Canadian breeders. Every other class of horse available is also being catered to. On Wednesday, June 5, the opening day, there will be five races of 00 value, one worth 00, and the feature, the- Humber, Handicap, with ,000 added. The next day will see four 00 races run and three at 00 apiece. On Friday, there will be six 00 events and the feature with 00 added. In addition to the two ,000 handicap features on the Saturday, there will be three purse events of 00 each and two of 00 apiece. Monday there will be four 00 events down for decision, two at 00 apiece and the Gray Coach Handicap, with ,200 added. There will be six 00 races and one 00 event on Tuesday, while closing day there will be five 00 races, one at 00, and a valedictory feature worth ,500 and styled the Goodyear Tire Handicap, for three-year-olds and upward. With all the horses needed available for the Long Branch session, many being stabled at other tracks as the Orpen plant cannot accommodate them all, the outlook is for a highly interesting seven days of sport.
