Thorncliffe Park Raceway
Encyclopedia
Thorncliffe Park Raceway was a racetrack in Leaside
, Ontario
, Canada
that operated from 1917 until 1952. It was located east of Millwood Road, south of Eglinton Avenue East and north of the CPR railroad tracks. It was the first home of the Prince of Wales Stakes
. The name is retained today in the name of the current Thorncliffe Park
neighbourhood in Toronto
.
, the wealthy founder of the Dominion Brewing Co. An avid participant in horse racing
, under the banner of Thorncliffe Stable, he raced both thoroughbred
and standardbred horses. After Davies' death in 1916 his estate sold the property to a group of investors from Baltimore, Maryland who built a horse racetrack
. Home to Thoroughbred horse racing
, the track also revitalized harness racing
in Toronto following its opening on July 21, 1917. Among its thoroughbred races, the track notably hosted the Prince of Wales Stakes
, the My Dear Stakes
, and the Clarendon Cup
. The track operated until 1952 when it was sold to the Ontario Jockey Club who shut down thoroughbred racing on June 23, 1952 and harness racing on the site on August 12, 1953. The property was sold to a newly formed real estate development
company.
Today, the old racetrack site is commemorated by two streets named Grandstand Place and Milepost Place and the number of buildings that took on racetrack stable names like Churchill, Maple Glen and Wellow Glen.
Leaside
Leaside is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The area takes its name from William Lea and the Lea family, who settled there in the early years of the nineteenth century. The area first developed as farmland along with Toronto through the nineteenth century. It was incorporated as a...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
that operated from 1917 until 1952. It was located east of Millwood Road, south of Eglinton Avenue East and north of the CPR railroad tracks. It was the first home of the Prince of Wales Stakes
Prince of Wales Stakes
The Prince of Wales Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Fort Erie Race Track in Fort Erie, Ontario. Restricted to three-year-old horses bred in Canada, it is contested on dirt over a distance of a mile and three sixteenths . In 1959, the Prince of Wales Stakes became the...
. The name is retained today in the name of the current Thorncliffe Park
Thorncliffe Park
Thorncliffe Park is a densely populated, multicultural neighbourhood in central east Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in the former Borough of East York. East York merged with five other municipalities and a regional government in 1998 to form the new "City of Toronto"...
neighbourhood in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
History
The site of Thorncliffe Park was a farm owned by Robert T. DaviesRobert T. Davies
Robert T. Davies was a Canadian businessman and Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorse owner and breeder.Born in Toronto, Ontario, he studied at Park School and Upper Canada College, in the early 1870s Robert Davies married Margaret Anne Taylor, the daughter of John Taylor, owner of paper mills...
, the wealthy founder of the Dominion Brewing Co. An avid participant in horse racing
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
, under the banner of Thorncliffe Stable, he raced both thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
and standardbred horses. After Davies' death in 1916 his estate sold the property to a group of investors from Baltimore, Maryland who built a horse racetrack
Race track
A race track is a purpose-built facility for racing of animals , automobiles, motorcycles or athletes. A race track may also feature grandstands or concourses. Some motorsport tracks are called speedways.A racetrack is a permanent facility or building...
. Home to Thoroughbred horse racing
Thoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
, the track also revitalized harness racing
Harness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
in Toronto following its opening on July 21, 1917. Among its thoroughbred races, the track notably hosted the Prince of Wales Stakes
Prince of Wales Stakes
The Prince of Wales Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Fort Erie Race Track in Fort Erie, Ontario. Restricted to three-year-old horses bred in Canada, it is contested on dirt over a distance of a mile and three sixteenths . In 1959, the Prince of Wales Stakes became the...
, the My Dear Stakes
My Dear Stakes
The My Dear Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually in late June at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Open to two-year-old fillies, it is contested over a distance of five furlongs on Polytrack and currently carries a purse of $150,000....
, and the Clarendon Cup
Clarendon Stakes
The Clarendon Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario. Held in early July, the sprint race is open to two-year-old horses foaled in the Province of Ontario and is contested over a distance of five and a half furlongs on Polytrack synthetic...
. The track operated until 1952 when it was sold to the Ontario Jockey Club who shut down thoroughbred racing on June 23, 1952 and harness racing on the site on August 12, 1953. The property was sold to a newly formed real estate development
Real estate development
Real estate development, or Property Development, is a multifaceted business, encompassing activities that range from the renovation and re-lease of existing buildings to the purchase of raw land and the sale of improved land or parcels to others...
company.
Today, the old racetrack site is commemorated by two streets named Grandstand Place and Milepost Place and the number of buildings that took on racetrack stable names like Churchill, Maple Glen and Wellow Glen.