Lovers of the Horse 



III 



THE CENTRAL CANADA RACING ASSOCIATION 



THE Annual Ice Races held on the Ottawa River each winter, under the auspices 

 of the Central Canada Racino- Association, are. perhaps, the most unitjue and 

 notewortliy racing events in the Harness Horse World, and have done a great 

 tleal to advertise Ottawa as a centre for racing sport. 



It was away back in the early seventies that the first ice meeting was held, and 

 during the succeeding years races took ])lace on the Ottawa River, Leamy's Lake, 

 St. Louis Dam, McLay's Lake and Aylmer, hut it was not until 18S7 that the first 

 club was formed at Hull, under the name of Leamy's Club, with Ed. Chevrier, George 

 Moreau, I). I)uj)uis, Charles Rouleau and Christy Wright, as the original members. 



WiNiHR Track uf thk Central Canaoa Racing Assdciation 



This Club held races for seven years, after which the present Association was 

 formed, with Aid. Lauzon as President, Ed. Chevrier as Secretary, and Fred. Chevrier 

 as Treasurer. From that time the Association has met with marked success, each 

 season bringing faster racing and better fiekls, for the stakes are higli and have attracted 

 American, as well as Canadian, horsemen, although Canada continues to hold her 

 own, Samuel McBride, of Toronto, getting more than his share of the events in 

 190S, with his horses King Brvson and Johnny K. 



Every possible arrangement is made for the comfort and convenience of those 

 attending the races. The track, a half-mile one. is built on the Ottawa River, a little 

 to the Quebec side, with well-built portable stands that can be removed after the meet. 

 There is a large room for the sale of pools and refreshments, while on the opposite 

 side are the judges' and ladies' stand. It is a most expensive plant, the eight-foot 

 fence surrounding it costing a large sum alone, while the work of keeping the track 

 clear of snow is also very costly. 



Some very fast records are made on this track, a specially noteworthy one being 

 that of Lady May, who, in 1908, in a four-mile I'ace, went a mile over a half-mile track 

 in ^i.Ml 



This is, practically, only the tenth year of the Association's existence, as it was 



