Abe Orpen

Orpen was born in Toronto in 1854, at the family home at Oxford Street and Spadina Avenue. ==Career==

After marrying Isabella Srigley It had three bedrooms and a bar. It became a den for poker, dice and bookmaking. According to Orpen, keeping a book and writing a sheet for Toronto bookies "was not legal, and not quite illegal" at the time. The second race track that Orpen invested in was Hillcrest in Toronto, at Bathurst and Davenport. Opened in 1912, it operated only until 1916. During World War I, race tracks were closed and Orpen was forced to sell the property. and the site was developed as a housing subdivision. In the 1920s, Orpen established the National Sporting Club gambling casino in Mimico, just outside the Toronto city limits on Lakeshore Road west of the Humber River. According to Orpen, the police always tipped him off when a raid was occurring. "Club members had keys; the police were the only ones that rang the doorbell." In 1937, Orpen arrived at the National Sporting Club early one Monday morning. When he arrived, he was held hostage by three men who had broken in but could not crack the safe. Orpen could not open the safe, not knowing the combination. The robbers then demanded $5000. Orpen negotiated with them, promising them $1000 and that he would not reveal their identities. They went to his bank and Orpen withdrew the money. Orpen never revealed their identities. He is reputed to have told them to get another job and return to his club, where he could potentially recover his losses. ==Character==

Orpen was well known for his many small acts of philanthropy and charity. He financed the operation of a soup kitchen for two years, although he shut it down after people complained that the soup was not good enough. Orpen opened his office on Fridays to whoever needed help. On one such occasion, when Canadian boxer Sammy Luftspring could not afford to go to the 1935 Canadian Boxing Championship, Orpen gave him $50. On several occasions, Orpen refunded a gambler's losses when it became known that the gambler had gambled their rent or food money away. Orpen never recommended that people gamble; only that he would take their bets if they wished to bet. In 1890, sports writer William Hewitt bet with Orpen at amounts he could not afford. Told that Hewitt made $9 a week, Orpen offered to let Hemitt bet privately with him for one month, betting on any horse in North America at 2–1 odds, one bet a day. After one month, Hewitt owed $18, or half his salary, which Orpen offered to forgive. Hewitt paid the debt and learned his lesson, "It was a cheap lesson and saved me thousands," wrote Hewitt. Although Orpen was involved in gambling when it was illegal, his gambling club and racetracks did not open on Sundays when opening on Sundays in Toronto was illegal. Orpen was also known for his lack of racial discrimination. Blacks and whites worked side by side at the Orpen tracks. Facilities were the same for both. On his 80th birthday, Orpen received congratulations from the Mayor of Toronto, the Premier of Ontario and the Prime Minister of Canada. Orpen was quoted as saying "I will start to think I am a respectable citizen if this keeps up." ==Death==

On July 31, 1937, Orpen had a heart seizure while in the Metropolitan Racing Association (MRA) offices at King and Bay Streets. On September 22, 1937, Orpen died in the family home at the corner of Carlton Street and Sherbourne Street after a lingering illness. When the MRA vacated its offices at King and Bay in December 1938, they kept the hat rack and hats that Abe had left the day he had the heart attack and placed it in their new office in the Crown Life building. Fred kept it in the office until the MRA was sold. Abraham and Isabella were the parents of nine children. At the time of Orpen's death, his wife, two sons, Abraham Jr and Fred, and a daughter, Mrs T. Ambrose Woods, survived him. The two sons took over the racing businesses and operated them until they were sold in 1955 to the Ontario Jockey Club. The Orpen home at 380 Sherbourne Street is a designated heritage property. It has been converted into an apartment building. ==Legacy==

Two stakes races that originated at the Orpen tracks continue to be run. The Canadian International Stakes and the Cup and Saucer Stakes, originally the Mrs. Orpen's Cup and Saucer Stakes. In 1954, the Orpen Memorial wading pool in Dufferin Grove Park was opened, donated by his son Fred Orpen. In 1980, Orpen was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame. ==References==