220 Lovers of the Horse 



J. Weiiiii;iii. .1. D.ivis ;iii(| J. T.ock. wlio has lirld tlie office of treasiirev since tlie first 

 nieetiiiti\ 



O. IJ. Sheppard was chosen as the first president, and nnder his i^iiidance the 

 Cinl) met with a great (h'al of success. It was (hiring his tenure of office tliat the 

 first matinee was held in May. lf)00, an innovation which met with such ])ronounced 

 success that every one hehl since lias sliown a l)etter class of horses. 



At the annual meeting in 1!)()1. Samuel McBride was elected President, which 

 office he has filled for many years. It was during that year that the question of building 

 a speedway was first taken up by the members of the Club. This matter was laid 

 before the council of the city of Toronto, who put it through, and the speedway was built. 



In the spring of ]!)()() it was thought advisable by some of the members that the 

 Chil) (jiiarters should l>c moved to the Exhibition (irouiids. as the Dufferin track was 

 not in very good >hapc. Some of the meiiil)ers were ojjposcd to this move, and withdri'W 

 fiom the .\ssociation. forming an opposition club, which has also been very successful. 



I'lic first matinee of the original (lub to be held at the new (juarters took place 

 in May. \\)iH, and succeeding races were all held there, until the track was destroyed 

 l)y the fire in the grand stand in !!)()(). The Clul) then moved l)ack to the Dufferin 

 track, which had been rejiaired. and where they now hold their matinees. 



In the season of ]!)()(), Charles Snow was selected as the secretary for the .second 

 time, and has remained in office ever since. He has been most careful in handling 

 llic matinees, and through his clforts the horses were divided into classes, so that every 

 owner had a chance of winning some of the prizes donated by tlie Club. A very strict 

 surveillance is maintained over the I'aces. and when ])rofessioiial drivers are put up, 

 thev have to drivi- to win. Not only at the matinees, but at the bi"' meetiuirs where 

 l)etting is allowed, this surveillance is maintained, and there is no possible chance of 

 trickery during the licats. 



TIk' organization has given away thousands of dollars at their weekly meetings, 

 iiolli in cups and money prizes, and this alone has created a new interest in harness 

 racing in 'I'oronto. Many first-class ])acers and trotters have been developed through 

 llic (lub. and the custom of liolding a big Iwo-davs" meeting just liefore the Industrial 

 I'lxhibition enables the best of ihc harness horses shown at the l'"air to compete in these 

 laces without additional expense. 



Il was during the month of .lauuary. I!><).'5. that the first ice meeting was held. 

 and some valuable prizes distributed. While the first ice meeting was not so suc- 

 cessful as anticipated, each succeeding year has brought better horses to the front 

 In these events. 



The season of 1!)()S was the banner one in llic history of the Club. It lasted 

 from May sixteenth to December twenty-fifth, and over seven thousand dollars was 

 expcndcil in cups and prizes at its numerous matinees. 



Many of Toronto's most |)romincnt merchants and Ixisiness men belong to the 

 (lub. and nearly every member has a <lrlver of some sort, while a large percentage 

 lia\i' horses readv for racin<r. 



