Stampeders' horse allowed in Toronto hotel after all

The Calgary Stampederswereallowedto recreate the magic of the team'sfirst Grey Cup victorywhen a Toronto hotel allowed a horse to enter the premises,just a few hours after locking themascot and its entourage out.

Staff at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel on downtown Front Street West on Thursday morning initially refusedto allowa contingent from Calgaryto parade thehorse named Marty through the hotel, as they had done in 1948.

News ofthe denial soon made the rounds on social media. The hotel later backtracked and extended an invite to Marty, an Ontario-bred horse standing in for the Stampeders' regular mascot Quick Six.

Martywalked through the front doors just after 2 p.m. amid a crush of reporters and Calgary supporters.

The stunt comes as Toronto gears up for Sunday's championship game at the Rogers Centreagainst the hometown Argonauts. The game itself had its ownequine controversy it didn't appear that the Stampeders would be allowed to bring a horse into the stadium.

That issue was resolved Thursdayafter the CFL and the Stampeders reached a compromise on the idea.The CFL said that"due to a lack of available space and resulting safety concerns,"the horsewon't be allowed to gallop up and down the sideline after a touchdown, as the Stampeders had hoped.

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"But the CFL is happy to announce that one of Canadian football's fine traditionsCalgary's touchdown horse will be part of Grey Cup history once again," the CFL said in a statement.

It's not clear whether the Stampeders' regular mascot, Quick Six, or a stand-in like Marty will be present at the game.

Marty had an eventful morning Thursday. After the Calgary contingenttried unsuccessfully to persuade hotelstaff to let them enter with the horse at around 10:20 a.m., a group photo was taken in front of the hotel.

He was then led up University Avenue to First Canadian Place.

Upon entering the building, Marty was allowed into a branch of the Bank of Montreal, where a bank executive took a turn riding him.

Calgary football fans remember 1948 fondly. It was the yearthe Alberta city won itsfirstGrey Cup, and saw local fans bring pageantry to the championship festivities in Toronto.

The100th Grey Cupgamewill be heldthis Sunday at Rogers Centre.