Lovers of the Horse 229 



T 



THE HAMILTON JOCKEY CLUB 



HE City of Hamilton, famous for its "ambition," has shown as much initiative 

 and enertfy in e(juestrian affairs as in those of trade and manufacture; so 

 that the HamiUon Jockey Chib is an institution of high repute among the 

 horsemen of the continent. It is of an honorable age for a club of that nature, iroinsr 

 back over a score of years to 1888. when the first meeting of this Club was formed bv a 

 few prominent citizens, the late William Hendrie Ijeing the most enthusiastic sup- 

 porter of the movement. He, like the majority of the charter members, lived to see 

 the Jockey Club a flourishing association, while Mr. Frank Bruce, of the firm of John 

 Bruce and Company, is the only survivor of the original charter members of this Club. 

 It was in the season of 189'-2 that the present site was purchased for the purpose 

 of making an up-to-date track, and from year to year it has been im])roved until, at 

 the present, it holds an enviable condition of completeness among the racing tracks of 

 America. Taking an especial interest in events of field and turf, this Club had a first- 

 class turf course constructed. The steeplechase field is one of the best, and manv 

 memorable records have been made over it. 



The Club has a large membership, which shows an annua! increase. At first, 

 only one meeting a season was held, until the racing game became popular in tlic Citv 

 of Hamilton, and then it was decided to adopt the custom of other Canadian cities 

 and hold both a Spring and a Fall Meet. Some valuable stakes are won at these meet- 

 ings, and there has been a steady increase in the value of the purse. In the olden 

 days, the jnirse never amounted to much more than two hundred dollars, while now it 

 is as valuable as that of the Woodbine or ^Montreal. Some three years ago, the Ham- 

 ilton Derby was inaugurated and this has proved the attraction for some of the largest 

 strings in America. It has, however, nearly always been won by a Canadian owner. 

 Mr. Allie Loudon, who holds the office of Secretary, has been instrumental in placing 

 this Club in its present position. He has devoted special attention to the comfort of 

 the horsemen, with the result of an increased demand for stabling accommodation 

 each Spring. The Hamilton Jockey Club has proved itself (piite worthy of the Am- 

 bitious City and of its original members. 



