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m X Canada ■ By Frank Armstrong Old Woodbine Meet Opens on Successful Note New Six Furlongs Strip Wins Fans Approval Small, Well-Matched Queens Plate Field Seen TORONTO, Ont., May 10.— This week in review: The Ontario Jockey Club opened Old Woodbine with the new look on Monday, introducing a six furlongs racing strip to the Toronto turf scene for the first time. Local fans have accepted this modern track with enthusiasm. The meeting opened with a record weekday attendance and the session is rolling on a note of success with gate and tote figures which are comparatively higher for spring racing in this sector. The old stands and clubhouse are currently adequate, the new comes a year hence. It was necessary to sacri fice barns in favor of additional parking accommodation and only about 25 per cent of the 1,400-strong thoroughbred colony is on the grounds, the bulk at new Woodbine, where regular van service is provided. Horsemen are quite satisfied with this new deal in racing style. A stakes schedule of 0,000 in added money comprises five fixtures of ,000, two with ,500 value and the meetings feature is worth 0,000. Interest in the ninety-eighth Queens Plate at new Woodbine on June 8 is building slowly and will increase through the current meeting, with the seasonal debut of several candidates ranking as contenders. Though there are 37 eligibles, after final payment, the outlook, in our opinion, tends to a closely matched small field. The list includes candidates which appear to be mere hopefuls on the basis of form. For instance, there are eight fillies entered, and a mile and one-quarter in the spring, or at any time, against colts seems to be beyond a filly. Could be that some owners have the Derby victory of Iron Liege in mind in the thought that anything can happen to a favorite. Meantime, Farr and Ellins Alis Pride, the Conklin-bred colt by Alibhai — Be Happy, by Beau Pere, is solid future choice. He was an impressive winner of his only start at Fort Erie and his training trials have bordered on the sensational. Lad Ator Loses Prestige in Debut M. J. Boylens 7,000 Lad Ator, who dead-heated Alis Pride in the Cup and Saucer Handicap last fall, lost prestige by a dull performance in his debut. E. P. Taylors Lyford Cay and Mrs. E. P. Taylors Chopadette, the Coronation Futurity winner, have been training at the farm and are reported to be ready for racing in the near future. T. M. Stables Porter Grata, Bayfield Farms Flying Atom and Ben Steens Bolita are other front-line contenders of the moment. Tom Cooper, an associate with Tim Vigors in an Irish horse agency, is a visitor. He had never been on a race track in Canada before attending Fort Erie last Saturday. Like many another visitor he was comparing the border plant favorably with most of the tracks he has visited in his extensive coverage. He did not expect to see anything quite as modern, and when we told him that Fort Erie was a lilliputian compared with new Woodbine, the man from Dublin included the super plant in his agenda of calls. He was slightly confused about the old and the new and the new six furlongs plant, but that was all straightened out. BallydonneUs score on opening day at Old Woodbine was easy for Cooper to take. He was quite familiar with the Irish horse and his stablemate Marshall Ney H. when they were racing in England and Ireland. He wasnt surprised that Ballydonnell had developed into a capable performer; he was skeptical about Marshall Ney n. and was quite pleased when informed that trainer Dick Townrow had improved him to the extent of being a handicap threat. Cooper, we understand, has donebuiness with Torontos Conn Symthe and Quebecs Vernon Cardy. He thought Canadian winters must be severe on thoroughbreds, nevertheless, agreed that our stock looks very well indeed. Irish Sport Popular But Financially Unsound Racing in Ireland is a popular spectator sport, but according to Cooper economically unsound. The tote total for a day reaches about 0,000, which is hardly an indication of the play, since the bookmakers are in action, and both operations are taxed. Few breeders in Ireland can afford to race their own horses. Some of the highest purses are about the equivalent of 00. "It is unfortunate," said Cooper, "that we have no organization like the Ontario Jockey Club to properly promote the sport." Under the circumstances the only outlet for a breeder is through export. Strange as it may seem in terms of our racing, horses competing for the 00 purses are valued upward from 5,000 on the market.
