80 Lovers of the Horse 



to racing from every standpoint. The widtli of the course is over a hundred feet, 

 which does away witli all possible danger of accidents so common on the turns of 

 narrow tracks. At the Hnishing wire there is a first-class stand with a seating ca})acity 

 of four thousand, and a most u]j-to-date clul)-house and lawn for the use of the mem- 

 bers. At the other end of the stand is the rotunda, while directly behind the club-house 

 is the saddling paddock, wliicii att'ords accommodation for as many as twenty horses 

 at a time. The saddling ])addock consists of an L-shaped building with twenty stalls. 

 The stabling accommotlation has been increased until there is now accommodation 

 for at least six hundred horses. 



The race track proper will in future years make the place famous. The soil is 

 of such a nature that great s])eed must necessarily be the outcome, and what with its 

 chutes, long stretches, great radius, and beautifully banked curves. Blue Bonnets is 

 certainly made to order as a safe and speedy track. This also applies to the steeple- 

 chase cour.se, which is as level as the proverbial billiard table. Those who have 

 ridden over it. and who should know, claim it is unsur|)asse(l. 



One of the good features of the place is the electric light plant which has l)een 

 installed, doing away with all danger from fire around the stables and building. A 

 telephone .system was also installed, so that the stewards in their ofhcial caj)acity can 

 communicate with every |)()rti()n of the jiark. This also applies to the starting points, 

 no matter from what |)ortion of the grounds the thoroughbreds line up. 



The citizens of Montreal and vicinity are to be congi-atulated. not only for having 

 such a sj)len(li(l ])lace for testing the speed of the noblest of all animals, the 

 thorou'dibred, l)ut also because those who are at the helm of this worthy enterprise 

 are •'■entlemeu of such gemiine enthusiasm and undoubted probity as must compel 

 the heartv co-operation of the public, which will make Montreal a great racing centre. 



'I'iie ]>roject of organizing a jockey club and constructing a racing {)lant was first 

 taken up by John !■". Hyan in September, l!)0."i. The liisl nionlli was devoted to in- 

 nunierablc trip> in search of a suitable sit(>. and tlie ground now owned by the Club 

 was selected bv him after several other sites had Ix-en looked over, not only because it 

 was geographically as near the centre of the island as possible, iiut because the 

 faciliti<'s for transportation from Montreal and outside |)oiiils were most superb. 'I^'he 

 option on till- property was secured in October, li)()."i, by I'. M. Fenny and John F. 

 Uvan, aiifl in November a charter was secured, when the new organization was named 

 the Montreal Jockev Club, Limited. The charter menib(>rs were Frank S. Meaghen, 

 John iiodin. (J. W. Stei)liens, James Carruthers, Welton C. i'ercy, John F. Ryan, 

 and 1*. M. Fenny. Tlie ca|)ital stock was fixed at $->.5(),()0(l, <liyided into ',>..)(»(» 

 shares at $100 each. 



Next came the election of officers at a meeting of the provisional directors in De- 

 cember. Sir II. Montagu .\llan was unanimously elected president; The Honorable 

 Juilge Ilobidoux and W. 1'. Higgs, vice-])residents: John I'". Ryan, general managei', 

 iind the following executive committee appointed: Sii- IF Montagu Allan, Welton (J. 

 I'ercy, James Carruthers. Colin Campbell and John Moden. 



