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THORNCLIFFE MEETING BEGINS Marmion Victor in Thrilling Three-Horse Finish Ilchester Beaten by Nose Biography Falls. TORONTO, Ont., May 28. Marmion, racing for Mrs. A. J. .Abel and trained and rid den by her husband, "Whitey" Abel, survived a thrilling three-horse nose finish to win the mile and a sixteenth British Consuls Handicap, the feature of the opening day program at Thorncliffe Park this afternoon. Closely lapped on the winner were J. E. Smallmans Ilcnester, which was second, and Mrs. J. Badames Trey saved the third award in the field of six. E. F. Seji grams Biography fell on the first turn, tossing apprentice H. Lindberg, who escaped with minor bruises. Drizzling rains, falling since noon, failed to slow the fast track, but had its effect of lessening the opening day attendance at I the picturesque North End course, directed by William R. Woollatt. Nevertheless, about 5,000 crowded into the shelter of the stands and there was no lack of enthusiasm in the gathering. Sallow, long-legged jockey-trainer Abel rode a confident race astride Marmion. He had his mount in third place while Trey went out to set the pace attended by Ilchester. In this order they raced to the quarter post, where Ilchester challenged Trey strongly and Abel took Marmion to the outside and asked for his best. Inside the sixteenth post Trey began to tire slightly, and Ilchester drew up on even terms, but Marmion swept up in a last powerful spurt and jammed his nose down In front in the very last stride. Only the placing judges could split the trio. The accident in which Biography went down occurred as the field sprinted into the first turn. The Seagram horse was last leaving the gate, and it appeared that as the turn was reached, he ran up on the heels of horses in front of him while in close quarters. Lindberg walked off the track unassisted, after the fall. Mrs. D. Kerrs Baydrop, well ridden by Watson, showed the most speed in the six furlongs first race, winning eased up by two and a half lengths from the stout-closing Denclaire. Another length and a half away, Thistle Dust was third in the field of eleven. After an unsuccessful assault on the Woodbine purses, trainer Harry Giddings of R. S. McLaughlins Parkwood Stable, served notice that he will be a prominent factor at the current meeting when he sent out the Oshawa sportsmans Spearman to defeat seven other Canadian-bred maiden two-year-olds in the five furlongs second race. No Retreat, the favorite, was second and Sticknot finished third.
