Lovers of the Horse 



203 



Grand Stand. Quebec Turk Club 



THE QUEBEC TURF CLUB 



UNDOUBTEDLY one of the oldest ami most in)|)ular s]iortino- oruanizatioiis iii 

 the Dominion is the Quebec Turf Ckih. Avhich has had an intenu])t((l exist- 

 ence reacliing away hack into the dim and misty ])ast. The early records of 

 the Clul) are not now available, but Lieut. -Col. .Vshmead. the present genial and 

 active Secrctarv, has in his possession minute books datinii- from the year 1!S;56. A 

 glance through is fraught with interest, and reveals the fact that the Club has had a 

 notable career. Li its early <lays the officers of the different British regiments which 

 then garri.soued the ancient Capital, took a leading part in the affairs of the Club, and 

 in the vcar 1S4.J there is a note in the report of the Stewards to the annual meetmg 

 of the Clul). to the effect that they viewed with regret the departure of the 74tli Regi- 

 ment and the (iOth Rifles, which'would de])rive the Club of .some members, but the 

 arrival of the S!)th Regiment, it was hoped. wouM make uj) the dehciency. In those 

 days the (Queen's Plate was run for at (Quebec. Three Rivers and Montreal alter- 

 natelv. and anf)thcr remarkal)le incident is chronicled ui the fact that in the year 1840 



