Lovers of the Horse 



or not, it is not [\\v |)n)viiice of this article to suggest, suffice it to say that racing has 

 gone out at many towns wliere it formerly flourished and has centred itself, so far as 

 rumiing is concerned, in the big cities like Montreal, Toronto, and Hamilton. Pro- 

 tracted meetings are given at Windsor and Fort Erie, but their strength and their 

 custom are largely from the neighbouring cities of the Tnited States, and as a con- 

 sequence they arc hardly entitled to extended notice in an article devoted to the prog- 

 ress of racing in Canada. 



Prior to the coming of the (Ontario Jockey Club, there were a number of race 

 tracks in Toronto, one of the most notable being where Toronto Junction now stands, 

 known in those days as Carlton. Another im])ortant race track was known as New- 

 market, which is still in existence, although rarely used, a mile or two outside the city 

 limits. On both these tracks some very famous races were run, and some very ])rom- 

 inent people took part therein. But, racing in its modern aspect can fairly be said to 

 have conunenced with the ince])tion or organization of the Ontario Jockev Clul). 

 That club liad the usual small beginnings, less money being given per meeting than is 

 now offered in a single day. Purses aggregating $200, and extended over ten races, 

 were considered liberality indeed. In these times, a single day that does not see four 

 or five thousand dollars hung up, is scarcely considered worth mentioning, or patroniz- 

 ing. At the O.J.C. spring meeting of 13 days, in 1908, 82 races were run, ami $70,000 

 was given in added money. By added money, perhaps should be explained, is meant 

 the amount of the jjurse added to the stake or entrance fee of the different horses en- 

 gaged. In bygone times the entrance fee or stake accrued to the club, but now, such 

 is the liberality of the numagement, it goes to the horse-owners. In fact, the one effort 

 of the O.J.C, next to the promotion of sport of the highest kind, has been to aid the 

 horse-owner, to whom the ])ublic is really indebted for its pleasure. In England, to 

 this day. owners race practically for tlu'ir own money. I'ake the great Deibv. for 

 instance, which is annonnce<l as worth 6, .500 sovereigns; of that probably six thousand 

 pounds is derived from the fifty-jiound stake ])ut up by the owners of starters, and 

 from the forfeits of nominators who fail to allow their colts or fillies to ccunpete. In 

 Canada, the O. J.C. has set the liberal example of not only giving the stakes to the owners, 

 but of also adding a generous sum. As a consequence, while the owner of the horse 

 first past the ])Ost may not receive as much from the winning of the Toronto Cu]) as 

 Chevalier Ginistrelli did for landing the great Epsom event in 190S, the chib itself is 

 out quite as much as are the promoters of England's foremost classic. This marks 

 the j)rogress that the sport has made in Canada. 



Following the Ontario Jockey Club has come the Hamilton Jockey Club, and 

 later the Montreal Jockey Club, each of which organizations gives from $40,000 to 

 $50,000 per annum to be raced for. Tliese clubs have meetings extending over three 

 or four weeks in the year, but Fort Erie and ^Yin(lsor race longer, and uiuloubtedly 

 in their way contribute to the success of the other gatherings, for they helj) to affoixl 

 owners racing for an important part of the year, and thus enable them to bring along 

 larger stables and better horses. 



