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Canadian Topics By FRANK ARMSTRONG Dufferin Park Off to Good Start Totalisator for Prairie Circuit Conklin Happy Over Alibhai Foal FoalTORONTO TORONTO Ont May 8 Wagering totals in this sector are minuscule as com ¬ pared with the whopping figures on major track in U S but de ¬ spite the disparity in comparison the On ¬ tario season is off to a good start with a handle of 1204575 for the first four days at Dufferin Park the bandbox halfmiler of the circuit Summer weather for the open ¬ ing brought a crowd of 16000 enthusiasts and the mutuel department reported a total pool of 453889 Cold and rain minimized attendance since then but the figure represents an increase of 119 209 from the corresponding days of the previous year This is indeed encouraging inasmuch as weather conditions have been unfavorable to turnstile counts Seemingly suspicions of recession which were voiced before the season opened can be tossed aside It occurs to this department that these early days augur well for a big year on our circuit circuitA A A A AWinnipegs Winnipegs R James Speers dean of Western Canada racing visualizes a highly successful season on the prairie province circuit He and his first lieutenant Lou Davies are currently in the throes of preparation for the open ¬ ing at Calgary Alberta on May 19 The revised schedule extends through 87 days The principal alteration r dates is at Polo Park in Winnipeg which will operate for 28 consecutive days in midsummer in contrast to the past schedule which called for summer and autumn meetings of 14 days each Speers is reasonably confident that the totalisator which will be the modos operand of wagering at all prairie tracks this year will contribute to higher figures than ever before beforeA A A A ASeveral Several years ago when Speers was anx ¬ ious to inaugurate the tote system on this circuit equipment was not available from American and he was not altogether satis ¬ fied with competitive offers He waited and now introduces the modern method to the west Speers is justifiably proud of the progress of racing in Western Canada He frankly admits that his turf empire was founded because he couldnt resist buying bargains at Kentucky sales during a de ¬ pression era The bargains were the nucleus of an extensive breeding venture which proved a vital force for the race tracks Invariably there was a shortage of racing material but this was overcome by the eventual produce from Speers nurseries Western Canada has been the cradle of many noted turfmen of all ranks notably jockeys and trainers To mention just a few Johnny Longden George Woolf Don Meade an outstanding rider tempera ¬ mentally unsuited to the profession and Willie Molter who trains among many others the Kentucky Derby winner Deter ¬ mine He was a jockey during the early days of racing on the prairies prairiesA A A A ASpeers Speers has never let down on his breed ¬ ing activities though to some extent he has curtailed the operation of his own racing stable He had a price on any thoroughbred regardless of age reputa ¬ tion et al Any buyer has been privileged to bid on the horse of his choice at the farm or on the track The Winnipeg turf mogul doesnt market his yearlings He prefers to sell them after they have been broken and tried on the training track at his Carberry Ranch and many a good one has been sold to Ontario owners This year after sales Speers has 12 in his stable to open the season at Calgary Three twoyearolds seven threeyearolds and two oldsters The juveniles carry a touch of English breed ¬ ing Donalda is by Reed Mace the only Hyperion stallion hi Canada Her dam is Donna Julia a consistently good pro ¬ ducer Blue Royal another import from England is the sire of Bowman from Blow Torch one of the farms most re ¬ spected broodmares The third twoyear old Okananagin is Canadian foaled but of strictly English parentage Hes by Blue Royal Outlook The broodmare was purchased in England EnglandA A A A ABreeder Breeder Frank Conklin returned from Kentucky with renewed enthusiasm occa ¬ sioned by the victory of Determine in the Run for the Roses Hes viewing the future through rosetinted glasses for he has a sprightly foal at his Midway Farm FarmContinued Continued on Page FortySix Canadian TopicsBy Topics By FRANK ARMSTRONG Continued from Page Six Sixthe the first get of Alibhai ever foaled in Canada Of course Alibhai is the sire of Determine and this partial relationship of the Canuck and the Kentucky Derby win ¬ ner must surely enhance salesring prestige two years hence The colt is out of Be Happy a daubter of Beau Pere who was a 14000 item at the Keeneland sales Conklin seems to have a happy faculty of coming up with the fashionables of the breeding world His Count Fleets first to qualify as Canadian foals brought rec ¬ ord prices No telling what may follow Other foals at Midway this season include a filly by Bernborough Questage filly by Isolater Alphea colts by Shut Out Blarney Maid and by Hannibal Princess Slip Indeed there is a steady improvement of the breed in this sector
