Lovers of the Horse 



27 



out iiitcniiission .since, and including, ISOO. and is tlie oldest race fixture to-day in 

 America. 



Although the King's I'late, as has here been said, is worth in all $o,000, there is 

 yet one other race given by the Ontario Jockey Club that is worth considerably more, 

 to wit. the Toronto Cii]). which has $5,000 added to a sweepstake of $30 each, $10 

 forfeit, and which, consetjuently. runs ahead of the older race by the additional amount 

 of the collected sweepstakes. While at the first meeting of the Ontario Jockey Club, 

 something less than $2,500 was given for two days' racing, namely, Septeml)er 16th 

 and 17th. 1881; on the days of racing in 1908, extending from May 23i-d to June the 

 nth. no less than $70,000 was distributed between owners. At the Fall Meeting, 

 which usually extends from Saturday to Saturday in the middle of the latter half of 

 Se])tenil)er. $;5().000 was given for the seven days" meeting, making in all $100,000 

 given by the Ontario Jockey Club in premiums for twenty days' racing. 



In 1881. the purses, as I have said, amounted to $'2,500; in 1885. to $3,785; in 

 1890. to $9,045; and in 1908. to $70,000. Up to 1890. five days, two days in the Fall 

 in connection with the Hunt Club, and three days in the Spring, comprised all the time 

 given to racing under the Club colors. But the jjrogress was continuous vuitil 1894, 

 when the aforementioned disiuption took |)lace in the Club, resulting in the founder, 

 tlie late T. C. Patteson. who had l)een the directing heatl up to this time, retiring. Under 

 the new reginw at the l)cginning the tendency ap])eared to l>e to greater conservatism, 

 but tinu' has proved that the Club management was working up to new. wider ideas. 

 Recently the Club has acquired the Woodbine ]>roperty. which for a (|uarter of a century 

 it only leased, although all the money made has been continuously put into im- 



Club House Cornicr, Woodbime, Toronto 



