view raw text
OPENING DAY At THORNCLIFFE Eighty-Five Hundred Turn Out for Inaugural at Leaside Course Samoan Takes Feature. TORONTO, Ont., June -2. Samoan, swift running Spey Pearl Samoa" gelding, which races so successfully for E. F. Seagram, added another triumph to his list, his second , in three starts this season, when he demon- strated mud running ability to account for the fifth and featured British Consols Cigarette Purse, a test of seven furlongs for sprinters of home-bred parentage that served as the principal race for the inaugural of the Thorncliffe Racing and Breeders Association spring meeting today. Winner of the Rosedale Plate during the recent Woodbine meeting, the Seagram colt was dropped into this race with the light impost of ninety-nine pounds and under the clever handling of M. Delio wa.s good enough to dominate the race from the fall of the flag to take the measure of Hittie, color-bearer of the D. and M. Stable, with Spring Moon, in the livery of the Erindale Stable, easily taking the short end of the spoils from the four others, which included Trickys Son, Doristick, Easter .Hatter and Silviris. A crowd of over 8,500 turned out for the inaugural at the popular Leaside plant and the seven race program provided excellent entertainment. For the first time since the Canadian season was ushered in, changed track conditions prevailed, the course being drenched by heavy rains late Monday night and only the sturdier type mud. performers remained to strive for the various events. In the main race the field lined up with but a short delay, and it found Donstick and Easter Hatter particularly alert as the bell rang, but Samoan was soon able to race past the pair to take the lead in the opening furlong. Delio was entrusted with the Seagram sprinter, and he permitted the son of Spey Pearl to move clear when the back stretch was reached. Hittie was giving chase to the bearer -of the black and yellow silks, while Spring Moon held third place and Easter Hatter was before the others. In the back stretch no change occurred, and at the last turn, it was apparent that Samoan would be hard to beat, as Hittie and Spring Moon were not gaining. Coming into the front stretch still clear, Samoan was shaken up and came to the end of the route holding sway by five lengths. Seven two-year-olds of Canadian parentage furnished the contention in the third race, styled the Potentate Purse, which served as co-feature of the afternoon, and it saw the Parkwood Stables Pagan King, ebony coated son of Osiris n., a heavily backed favorite, making good in his second appearance under silks to score a front running triumph. His achievement came in decisive fashion at the expense of Aldwych, one of a pair that performed for R. W. R. Cowie, three lengths separating them at the end. Third went to Goanwin from the H. C. Hatch stable, with Worth Trying heading the three others.