AND OTHER SKETCHES 43 



A GALLANT OLD-TIME RACE AT TORONTO. 



One day I stumbled across two or tliree old-timers and 

 many a yarn was unwound as to the doings on the Cana- 

 dian turf in the days of auld lang syne. One of the com- 

 pany started talking about the celebrated mile-heat race, 

 three in five, that eventuated in Hamilton, and certainly 

 that was a red-hot fight from end to end, and by the time 

 Bay Jack won the sixth and deciding heat of the race, 

 wigs lay thicker on the green than ever was seen in 

 Donnybrook's palmy days. 



One of those present, who saw the prolonged struggle, 

 claimed a point better for an old-time race that he had 

 seen in Toronto years before down on Tinning 's race 

 course on the banks of the sluggish Don. It was in the 

 days when Mr. Parish, of Ogdensburg, came over here 

 in state, extended a princely hospitality to his Canadian 

 friends, in turn being by them feted and honored. Those 

 were the days when talk about the thoroughbred was a 

 popular theme at Chief Justice Robinson's table and 

 more than one match was made while the legs of the 

 owners were stretched under the mahogany of the popu- 

 lar Judge. 



In the days alluded to the late Charley Gates was a 

 power on the turf, and it took fast horses and keen judg- 

 ment to get the better of him. As related, the big race 

 in question was at three mile heats, two in three, and 

 the horses entered were: Colonel, the property of Mr. 

 Parish; Country Maid, belonging to Charley Gates; 

 Phoebe Dodds, belonging to the well-known blind turfman 

 Phil Caswell, and Pilot, the name of whose owner is for- 

 gotten. In those days the pool box was an unknown 

 investment, and those who wished to back their fancy 

 walked the quarter stretch and interviewed all comers. 

 One of our present judges was then on the turf and, with 



