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Nominationof KingMapIe Promised for Ohio Derby Canadas Horse of the Year Eyes ThistleDowns Big Event THISTLEDOWN, Warrensville, Ohio, June 4. It was learned today, that the nomination of Mrs. Gordon McMackens Canadian champion, King Maple, has been promised for the 5,000 Ohio Derby, which will be run here Saturday, July 10. Bang Maple, who was voted "Horse of the Year" in Canada for 1953 in Daily Racing Forms poll division of the Queens Plate Trial and is a heavy favorite to take top honors in the 95 th running of Canadas Premier Stakes, the Queens Plate. Canadian-owned horses have done very well at Cleveland tracks with Risque Rouge winning the Buckeye Handicap, Canadiana taking a filly stakes at Randall and J. M. Tomlinsons Rock Drill capturing the first running of the Susan Stakes at Thistle -Down in 53. Chain Reaction, who placed to Kong Maple in. the Canadian voting for "Horse of the Year," started in the, 19th Ohio Derby at ThistleDown last fall. Nominations for the 5,000 Ohio Derby and the other ThistleDown stakes, close at midnight next Tuesday, June 8. Earlier this year, Mrs. McMacken owner of King Maple, informed John OKeeffe, director of public relations for ThistleDown, that her plans for the Canadian champion were to give him his first below-the-border start in the 5,000 Ohio Derby at ThistleDown on July 10. To remain eligible for the Queens Plate, the colt could not be taken out of Canada after the first of the year until after the Queens Plate is decided. Mrs. McMacken was particularly impressed with the Ohio victories of such Canadian-owned-or-bred horses as Canadiana, Rock Drill and Risque Rouge.
