view raw text
Queens Plate Notes WOODBINE PARK, Toronto, Ont., June 10. — There are other plate races for which the Queen sponsors an annual gift such as has been the custom with the Queens Plate here in which a donation of 50 Guineas is sent from Her Majesty. The other events are the South African Plate, 1861, Royal Calcutta Turf Club 1916, Australian Plate 1927, and Ceylon Turf! Club, Cup 1951. In 1929, J. D. Mooney, former jockey and now successful trainer, rode Thbrn-cliffe Stables Shorelint to victory in thej Plate. Mooney, it will be recalled, was the rider of Black Gold, when that colt won the Kentucky Derby back in 1924. John Mooney, assistant general manager of the Ontario Jockey Club, is a son of the famous rider. Historic Woodbine race track, scene of 72 runnings of the Queens Plate and known the world over wherever there is horse racing, is now conducting its final spring meeting. The track is a mile, oblong oval of light or sandy loam and is situated within the city limits of Toronto. There are two chutes, one at three-quarters of a mile and one for one and one -quarter mile races. The distance from the judges stand to the first turn is 350 feet, while the length of the stretch from the last turn to the judges stand is 1,320 feet. The width of the stretch is 75 feet and the width of the backstretch is 60 feet. The seating capacity of the grandstand is 10,000; members stand is 2,000. There is stabling accommodation for 905 horses. Automatic starting, gate and camera finish of races are used. The largest field to face the starter in the Queens Plate during its 95 runnings to date was made up of 22 starters in 1933. Seagram Stables King OConnor, ridden by Eddie Legere proved the winner. There was a delay of 23 minutes at the post caused when Que Toi broke his bridle. Marshall Cassidy, now executive secretary of The New York Jockey Club, was the starter onthe occasion. The Queens Plate ante-dates the American "Triple Crown" events inasmuch as the Dominion classic had its first running in 1860 and has been renewed consecutively since that year. The Belmont Stakes was inaugurated in 1863, the Preakness was first run in 1873 and the famous Kentucky Derby was first introduced in 1875. J. E. Seagram is the leading owner in number of winners in the Queens Plate with 15. The late H. C. Hatch won five, James White, Seagram Stable and H. Gid-dings, Sr. each scored on three occasions. Col. R. S. McLaughlin « and E. P. Taylor have been successful on three occasions and Mr. Taylor has an opportunity to join the ranks of owners of four today. Ten names appear in the records as -having won two renewals. i . ■, ■»
