Abram ’Abe’ Orpen racetrack owner, casino operator who also fed the hungry, clothed the poor and buried the dead 

On my walk at St. James the-Less Cemetery in Toronto, I discovered the grave of racetrack owner and philanthropist, Abe Orpen.

Born in Toronto to parents from Northern Ireland, Abe learned the hotel business from his mother, who managed a hotel at Bathurst and Front Streets.

Following in her footsteps, Abe bought the Alhambra Hotel in downtown Toronto. Beyond selling alcohol, he introduced poker, dice, and bookmaking into his establishment, always claiming it was above board.

While many of his non-gambling ventures failed, Abe had a sharp understanding of the wagering business and soon moved into horse racing. His first attempt—purchasing four horses—ended in tragedy when three died after falls. Undeterred, Abe persevered and opened Dufferin Park Racetrack. In 1912, he also invested in Hillcrest Racetrack at Bathurst and Davenport.

With his growing wealth, Abe and his wife became known for quiet acts of charity. During the Depression, they financed a soup kitchen and often refunded losses to gamblers who had bet their rent or food money.

Article in The Toronto Star, September 2016. 

On Thanksgiving Day in 1943 the Dufferin track had its biggest crowd in its history — 22,519 people came to see auto magnate R.S. McLaughlin’s horse Heulwen win a prestigious race started by Abe Orpen’s wife, called Mrs. Orpen’s Cup and Saucer Handicap. It continues today (at Woodbine Racetrack) with a purse just under $200,000 for two-year-old thoroughbreds foaled in Canada.

Abram Michael Orpen, a private man rarely seen in public, died in Toronto on September 22, 1937. He was 83.

1855-1937