History of horse racing in Toronto
March 12, 2024
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 […]
