Lovers of the Horse 9/ 



meeting was held in the office of Mr. William Hendrie, with only half a dozen in at- 

 tendance, the original members of this Club being : Mr. Alfred Rogers, William 

 Ilendrie, junior, Mr. ('. Balfour. Mr. J). Osborne and Mr. (Jordon Henderson. Mr. 

 Rogers was selected as the President, which office he filled for the first three years 

 of the Club's existence. In 1!)()4 he was forced to resign, owing to his moving to 

 Toronto. Mr. Rogers' departure was keenly felt by the members and he was made 

 the recij)ient of a handsome silver service. Mr. (lordon Henderson was the next 

 President in line, and filled the office in an al)le manner for the years 1904 and 1905, 

 when he was succeeded by Mr. (reorge Hope, who still fills the office. 



When the Hamilton Riding Clul) was first organized there was a membership 

 of only half a dozen, which in two years had increased to over fifty, with a goodly 

 number of ladies, 'lliis, in the past few seasons, has shown a wonderful increa.se, 

 giving the organization a meml)ersliip list of over a hundred. The fir.st year of the 

 Club's existence oidv a few runs were held, but the foUowiuij season recoonition was 

 asked from the Hamilton Jockey Club and Mr. Alfred Rogers was chosen as the rep- 

 resentative on the board of directors of the Hamilton Jockey Club. At the spring 

 meeting of 1901. the Hamilton Jockey Club put on the first of its events for gentle- 

 men riders, and from that time they have kept it up, for the purpose of encouraging 

 tlie purchasing of thoroughbreds by the members, "^riiis has proven a success and 

 many good horses have been purchased at the annual weeding-out sales held in To- 

 ronto, to be used as hunters for such races. All of the jockey clubs of Canada now 

 recognize the Hamilton Riding Clul) and accept their entries in events for gentlemen 

 riders, the horses being qualified in the paper chases, while other Clubs are qualified 

 with the hounds. 



In the year 190'-2, the Riding Club held its first gymkhana, which was most suc- 

 cessful, some twelve luuidred dollars being made clear of all expenses. Half of this 

 was given to the city for the olil boys' reunion, while the other half went to the Clul)'s 

 treasury. Through events of this kind a neat little club-house was arranged for, att'ord- 

 ing every comfort and enjoyment to its patrons. 



Each fall point to point races are held at which the attendance grows yearly, 

 the members of the other hunt clubs throughout Canada being well represented, 

 making the rivalry much more keen. The members of this Club can be found among 

 the competitors at the annual gymkhanas of the Toronto and London Clubs, while 

 often they are to be found as far east as Montreal and Quebec with their horses. For 

 many years Mr. Rogers came to the point to point race of the Toronto Club, winning 

 it with his horse Revelstone, who has won so many ribbons for him. Nearly all of 

 the original members are still taking an active part, giving encouragement to the new 

 ones coming in, and thus kce])ing up the interest in the association. 



