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Canadian Topics By FRANK ARMSTRONG Queens Plate Week at Woodbine Canadian Classic Run This Saturday Small Field to Oppose King Maple -TORONTO, Ont., Canada, June 5 The week ahead is the "big one" at Woodbine Park. It is Queens Plate Week, with the Canadian classic sched- PI for renewal next Saturday, June 12. The meeting thus far has been rolling along on the crested waves of success, operating under Huled the charter of the Thorncliffe Park Racing Association, which was acquired as part of the new deal. On Tuesday, the session carries on for the following 14-day span under the aegis of the parent association, the Ontario Jockey Club. OJC meetings always have been "something spe-v cial" and this one will be in keeping with past history. First on the stakes agenda is the ,000-added My Dear Stakes, a five-furlong dash for two-year-old fillies on Wednesday. It is an open race, though the majority of the 42 eligibles qualify as Cana-dian-breds. There is just a chance that it might be run in split divisions. i Some of the more precocious starlets have not been in action yet, delayed by bucked shins from early training but there is a possibility they will be sufficiently recovered for their engagements. We are thinking of the three Count Fleets first Canadian get of the noted sire, all of which uncovered an abundance of speed in their pre-season trials. Of course, theres a filly, name of Miss Stifle, daughter of My Request Chinella, who lowered the two-furlong record when she skipped down the straightaway in :21 carrying the colors of Eric Cradocks North Downs Farm. And there is a budding starlet called Queen Maple, little sister to the Plate favorite, King- Maple, Canadas Horse of the Year in 1953. Their presence might be v cause to reduce the starting field numerically. However, the initial feature on the OJC schedule carries a wealth of interest. It seems almost a foregone conclusion that the 95th Queens Plate will have only a small starting field, perhaps eight or less. King Maple has been throwing powerful punches at his opponents and it is altogether likely that many will defer the return engagement. The "countrystyle" colt from the McMacken stable hits too hard. This does not suggest that all will be "on the duck" for him. Queens Own hasnt tangled with him as yet. Collisteo and Pancho will take him on for another try, along with a few others. There will be no decreased interest in the Queens Plate for lack of numbers. King Maple is the title holder at the moment, but local turfgoers will turn out in force to see him defend the crown. And, as we remarked previously, a muddy racing strip might weaken his chances. They tell you he cant walk in mud, but it is, almost inconceivable to think that anything might stop the streak of lightning which has struck with deadly power. When we talked with J. E. Frowde Seagram after the Plate Trial, he was indefinite in discussing the Plate status of Three Striper. It occurs to us that the colt will start, if only to observe tradition. Seagram is the foremost name in the history of the Queens Plate. The black and yellow sash of the famed Canadian stable has appeared in the winner" ring for 19 renewals. Frowde Seagram is the third generation owner of the stable which was established by Joseph E. Seagram in 1880. Seagram Stable has never missed a campaign in 75 years. The first stakes winner came along in 1889; the first Queens Plate winner in 1891, a colt with the fitting monicker of Victorious. He was the forerunner of eight successive victories, interrupted in 1899 by Wm. Hendries Butterscotch and resumed for the next two runnings. The last winner under the ownership of the stables founder was Belle Mahone in 1917. Norman and Edward Seagram became the owners after 1917 and won their first Plate with Flowerful in 1923, repeated in 1926 with Haplite, 1929 with Young Kitty Continued on Page Forty-Nine Canadian Tomes By FRANK ARMSTRONG Continued from Pane Six and in 1933 with King OConnor. It was the Seagram Stable to that period. Sally Fuller was the last bearer of the black and yellow sash to win a Plate. She picked up the Guineas in 1935, racin under the ownership of E. F, Seagram. Frowde has sustained the tradition since that time, but thus far a Plate victory has escaped him. His colorbearers have won nearly every other stakes of importance in Ontario racing, and with the eternal hope of the race track. He opines that it may not be long before he will be in the charmed circle to receive the presentation of the Queens Guineas. Trainer Thorpe remarked in the presence of this department and owner Seagram, "anything can happen between now and Plate Day. It has happened before. The year I trained Sally Fuller. I wouldnt have offered a plug nickel for her chances a week before the race, but she improved I and won easily."
