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HISTORY OF DUFFERI PARK Torontos Famous HalfMiler Linked With Famous Family Founded by Member of Denison Family Which Conducted Toronto Race Meet ¬ ings in 186076 TORONTO Ont June 12 Records re ¬ veal democratic Dufferin Park A M Or pens halfmile track in Toronto where a sevenday session gets under way on Satur ¬ day June 15 as possessing a historic back ¬ ground linked with the traditions of the Denison family and the United Empire Loy ¬ alists These records show that Woodbine Park Torontos ornate racing ground with its gilt and color must share with Dufferin JPark and its democratic atmosphere the background of racing in Canada CanadaRacing Racing was first recorded in the days of York as occurring on Toronto Island and then later on the mainland after the rebel ¬ lion with Sir John Colborne LieutGov ernor and his garrison taking an active part Courses were then laid out on the Garrison common on the plains north of Dundas Street between the Weston Road and the west bank of the Humber River on land bounded by Bloor Street Baldwin Street and McCaul Street and Spadina Ave ¬ nue on land in the vicinity of Broadview Avenue and Queen Street at the corner of Danforth Avenue and the Don and finally at the corner of Dundas and Keele Streets StreetsThe The last course at Dundas and Keele Streets in Toronto Junction was known as Carltons course and was laid out by the late W C Keele and his son William Keele This course was probably the last of the layouts devoted to racing under what might be regarded as comparatively primitive con ¬ ditions But at this course LtCol Robert L Denison a member of the famous Den ¬ ison family whose name is woven into To ¬ rontos development and Col G T Denison Torontos former police magistrate were prominent figures LtCol R L Denison drove a celebrated trotter named Milkmaid to victory on the course while Col G T Denison acted as starter for the club clubDufferin Dufferin Park was founded by a Denison a descendant of the Denisons who raced and conducted meetings at Carlton Park from 1860 until 1876 In return for services to king and country more than a century ago the Denison family received grants of land from the crown the land being situated about the site of the present Dufferin Park Much of it was used for years for agricul ¬ tural purposes It was passed from one member to another anotherCharles Charles Leslie Denison brother of Col Taylor Denison farmed on the west side of Dufferin Street north of College Street Of Mr Denison it is stated he was a citizen whose ambition it was to breed and race thoroughbreds He built a training course on his farm and from there sallied forth with his stock to the race meetings about the city to win the prizes which were of ¬ fered The training course laid by a Deni ¬ son a descendant of this noted family on the familys gift from the crown is now incorporated into Dufferin Park ParkThe The date when Mr Denison built his train ¬ ing course which later became Dufferin Park is not known but John Denison a liv ¬ ing son of Charles Leslie Denison who was born in 1883 recalls that the training strip was there as long as he can remember Mr Denison relates that when cycling became popular bicycle races were permitted to be held by his father on the training strip Mr Denison further relates that he received a fair idea of what a halfmile track might be when his father made him drag a roller around it to prepare it for racing racingIn In the early 80s at least and earlier in ¬ deed Mr Denison built his training track and bred his horses on the site of what is now Dufferin Park Consequently for a longer perior than any other strip in Can ¬ ada has Dufferin Park been devoted to breeding and racing of thoroughbred horses horsesIt It was early in the twentieth century that A M Orpen who also controls Long1 Branch Park in Toronto Kenilworth Park in Wind ¬ sor and Queens Park in London took over the Dufferin racing ground Since then it has become the most popular track of its kind the world over v
