34 - CANADIAN TURF RECOLLECTIONS 



THE QUEEN'S PLATE AT WHITBY IN 1870. 



No denying it, there have been a good many tame runs 

 for the Queen's Plate, but a race there was some years 

 ago for the blue ribbon of the provincial turf that was 

 worth a long pilgrimage to look at. Where was it, you 

 ask? Why, at Whitby, in Jack Bell's year. Talk about 

 a surprise party. There wasn't anything of the kind; 

 it was a regular blizzard that flopped the knowing ones 

 upside down, and turned their pockets inside out. It 

 was the year of Terror's debut, and the popular "White" 

 stable being then under the training control of Dick 

 Leary, it was generally expected that his horses would 

 have a little the best of it on the Score of condition. 



Again, the aftei-wards distinguished brown son of 

 Euric and Maritana, had shown so well in his work and 

 Leaiy was so satisfied with him, that the followers of 

 the stable looked upon their chances as of the rosiest 

 kind. With Nettie, then in her prime, she was a good 

 judge b}^ which to try a youngster, and when the question 

 was asked. Terror answered so well, that, bar accident, 

 the Plate was considered as already garnisheed. For 

 several days before the eventful one, quite a number of 

 horsemen filed an appearance at Whitby, and on the even- 

 ing prior to the race, both the eastern and western trains 

 added a large delegation to the list. All the celebrities 

 were to the front, and the Robson House, which was 

 headquarters, was packed like a sardine box. 



In the stables connected with the hotel were a good 

 many race horses, and nearly every stall around town 

 was occupied by a thoroughbred. No sooner had the bet- 

 ting men arrived than straightway, trainers and rub- 

 bers were interviewed and every scrap of information 

 seized upon. Charley Boyle's stable was then in its 

 infancy, he having but one string to his bow in Rapid 

 Roan, then and ever since unknown to fame. Leary 's 



