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King Maple Hailed At Toronto Fete Publisher Voices the Opinion McMacken Colt Is One of Top Canadian-Breds in Years By FRANK ARMSTRONG TORONTO, Ont., June 5. Daily Racing Forms third annual Horse of the Year dinner in honor of Mrs. Gordon McMacken and her champion two-year-old of 1953, King Maple, who is currently a strong favorite for the Queens Plate on June 12, was held here at the Royal York Hotel last night. Leading representatives from every phase of racing in Canada were in attendance when J. Samuel Perlman, publisher of Daily Racing FoRM-The Morning Telegraph presented Mrs. McMacken with an oil painting of her colt who was accorded the singular Horse of the Year honors for his outstanding accomplishments as a two-year-old. In his remarks following the presentation Perlman voiced an opinion that King Maple was undoubtedly one of the best Canadian-breds in years and would be quite able to race successfully with the better three-year-olds in the U. S.. Perlman announced that Canadas Horse of the Year poll in the future would be restricted to horses foaled in Canada. In the past voters have been privileged to name the horse which in their opinion was the best to appear on the Canadian turf, with a reasonably good record, regardlessof breeding. It will remain a vote of opinion with no restrictions with respect to money won or the number of races won. Figures are not expected to be an influence on the selection if one or another voter chooses a horse which he considers superior to the "figure stars," he is privileged to cast his vote accordingly, regardless of records, in the ranks of the Canadian-breds. Greatest Attendance, Sport Perlman said that racing has grown to such an extent that it is now the greatest sport in the country from the standpoint of attendance. He declared that racing is the most exciting sport and has an attraction for its fans that goes beyond betting. He added that people serving in racing in official capacities, however, have not been as articulate in the defense of their sport as they should be. Head table guest E. P. Taylor paid a tribute to King Maple in his remarks before the .gathering. "There is no question that he is entitled to, the honor," Taylor said. Taylor also expressed tribute to the Daily Racing Form for its unique contribution to the racing industry. He remarked, "We wouldnt know how people in racing could carry on without your publications which are so invaluable to the industry." Mrs. Mcacken was a gracious recipient of the presentation and said briefly. "It is a thrill to have a good horse and an honor to receive this award." Breeder Don McClelland, trainer John Hornsby and jockey Herb Lindberg were presented with color replicas of the original oil painting and in their brief comments paid tribute to King Maple as a worthy selection as Horse of the Year and a prospective "great" of the future among Canadian-breds. Head table guests, all of whom were called on to speak, besides the guests of honor, Mrs. Gordon McMacken, Perlman and Nelson Dunstan, who was master of ceremonies, were Magistrate S. Tupper Bigelow, chairman of the Ontario Racing Commission; F. G. Gardiner, chairman of the Metropolitan Council; D. A. Golden, general counsel Continued on Page Forty-Seven King Maple Hailed as One Of Best Canadian-Breds Continued from Page Three assistant Minister of Defense, Ottawa; George C. Hendrie, general manager of the Ontario Jockey Club; Col. K. R. Marshall, president of the Ontario Jockey Club; Fred S. Orpen, president of the Orpen Race Tracks; V. J. Sheridan, president of the Ontario HBPA; E. P. Taylor, noted Canadian industrialist and thoroughbred owner and breeder, and Gordon McMacken. Other guests i.n attendance were: T. I. Anderson, W. G. Angus, solicitor for the city of Toronto; W. Beasley, H. C. Burton, T. Clark, J. Cole, J. A. Coleman, Frank Conklin, Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Cook, Justin Cork, J. G. Cowan, G. Darlington, M. E. Enkin and W. Fitzgerald. Also J. Gracie, R. Y. and W. Graul of Montreal, Que.; J. W. Hanna, member of the Ontario Racing Commission; Carr Hatch, Charles Hemstead, John Horhsby, trainer of King Maple; Howard Johnston, C. W. Kettlewell, artist who executed the painting of the "Horse of the Year"; H. Lindberg, jockey who rode King Maple in all of his winning races. Also D. A. Macintosh, member of the Ontario Racing Commission; J. Mate Macintosh, L. M. McCarthy, Mr. and Mrs. D. McClelland, breeders of King Maple; Mr. and Mrs. J. A. McDonald, Brigadier C. S. McKee, member of the Ontario Racing Commission; J. J. Mooney, assistant general manager of the Ontario Jockey Club; Col. L. H. Nelles, Miss V. Ragan, M. D. Richardson, director of the Ontario Jockey Club; W. D. Richey, W. J. Risewick, supervisor of racing in Ontario; J. E. F. Seagram, D. L. Shanoff. Also John Stuart, A. I. Taylor, Mrs. E. P. Taylor, J. F. Tobin, R. Van den Bergh, R, Wallace, George Weale, city clerkj W. Webber and C. M. Withers.
