112 CANADIAN TUEF RECOLLECTIONS 



THREE-MILE HEATS ON THE DON RACE 

 COURSE IN 1846. 



Once more I travel back to the days of the old timers. 

 To the days when Messrs. Boulton, Romaine, Gates, Lit- 

 tlefield and others were in the bloom and prime of life 

 and never so happy as when making a match or watching 

 a race. The year 1846 was a red-hot one in this province. 

 Mr. George Parish, then of Ogdensburg, but later of 

 Vienna, and while there a prime favorite at the Court of 

 the Emperor of Austria, came over to Canada with his 

 stable of thoroughbreds, prepared to give battle to all 

 who chose to challenge him or accept his offers. Mr. 

 Parish was deservedly popular with all who had the 

 pleasure of his acquaintance, and whether on the quarter 

 stretch or in the salons of fashion, he was alike the courtly 

 gentleman and accomplished scholar. During his visit 

 to Toronto, at the time I allude to, he was the guest of 

 the late Chief Justice Robinson, father of the popular 

 John Beverly Robinson, afterwards Lieutenant-Governor 

 of Ontario ; who was himself an enthusiastic admirer and 

 a warm supporter of all legitimate sports. 



One night, over their wine, Mr. Parish, who was never 

 so happy as when chatting apropos race horses and rac- 

 ing, offered to match his horse Americus against any 

 horse in Canada, three mile heats, for one thousand dol- 

 lars a side. The offer was no sooner made than it was 

 accepted by Mr. C. E. Romaine, who named Gosport, a 

 bay stallion, lately brought to Canada by Charley Gates. 

 The race was to be run on the Don track in four weeks, 

 and straightway Romaine purchased Gosport from Gates 

 and entrusted his training to Sage Armstrong, who a few 

 years later became well known as a trotting horse owner 

 and driver, both in Canada and the United States. 



