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THE NEW SARATOGA, Concerning tho changes and improvements being brought abont at tha Saratoga tract Jndga Joseph J. Bnrke 3 ay a in a recent ieano of Daily America: "Through tho courtesy of the officers of the new Saratoga Racing Association I havo been 9nabled to look ovor tho plans cf the renova-tions now going on in connection with tho lovely bit of natnre which has for years been the subject ! of enthusiastic comment at the hands of every man and woman who ever saw the place. Mnch that is misleading has been printed abont the improvements now being made . The fact is, that the present grandstand will be retained, for, in spite of its being made of wood, it is one of the best and safest that was ever bnilt. The stand, however, is now being moved abont 500 feet to the right of its present position. It wUl be divided into threo parts, and each part placed advantagoonsly, with a rfap of abont sevsnti-five feet between each. These gaps will be filled by newly bnilt material and the entire structure, now 400 feet long, will, when finished, be 530 fest in length. The club house and betting pavilion will bo moved and each will fill the same relative position that it now does. A new paddock building is proposed, to contain fourteen box stalls. "This structure can be overlooked by all the persons in the club house and grand stand who enjoy club house privileges. There will be improvements in the lower part of the grand etand for jockeys room, offices, etc. A new judges incloscra will be built. Tho field stand will be moved and there will be a "bleacher" for jockeys. It will be placed beyond the paddock inclosure. A feature of the Saratoga race track always has baen tho horticultural part, which will probably bo maintained. All the ground will bo beautified. There will be a new entrance gate. Wrought iron railings will replace the present board fence. A parklike look will bo given to that part of the property which fronts on Union avenue. "Mr. Robert Pinkorton has bean shown certain plans looking to the Bafe handling of large crowds and he indorses them. "It iB from a horsemans point of view, however, that tho changes aro most important. In the first plaeo, tho course will be entirely new and nine furlonga in circumference. "All the two-year-old races will be run along the backetretch, around the far turn and up the main stretch. There is no room for what is known as an Eclipse, or Futurity course, The public will be the gainer by this, though horsemen may prefer the straightaway when -the fields are large. I say may prefer, but I think that an owner is like everybody elea and would like to aes what goes on in p. race, not alone with his own, but with other paoplos. The ground admits of a chute for seven furlong xaceB. Anything between that and a mile mus$ be Btarted out of another chute, which starts at right angles with the first turn, and in which there will be a straight run of more than a furlong before there is a bend of any kind. Then they begin to negotiate the ordinary circular track at a point about where seven and a half furlong races would be started on a mile track. It is not considered advisable to start races at a mile on the main oval, becauso at that point the first turn commences. Bo the chute was necessary. All races at nine furlongB will, of course, be started immediately in front of the grand stand. The mile starting point will be about 700 feet to the right and in front of the end of the club houBO. "All these improvements and alterations are being carried on under the direction of Charles W. Leavitt, Jr., who is one of the most eminent in his profession. He constructed the Empire City course, Mr. Whitneys private track at Wostbury; Mr. Howard Taylors polo field at Cobalt, Conn. ; the polo field at Newport, R. I. ; all the grounds around Mr. Whitneys stable at Hompstoad, and the steeplechase course at Gladstone, N. J., for Mr Charles Pfizsr. "Mr. D. Bradley has tho contract from Mr. Loavitt of moving tho grandstand. W. S. Robsrtson has the contract from Mr. Leavitt for the additions and alterations to the grandstand. The nnmbar of men actually at work upon the place a few days ago waB 350 laborers and quite a number of mechanics, as well as 120 teams. "Mr, Leavitt is free from one worry. No iron or steel will be used, as tho stand is of wood. So busy are the iron mills of Pennsylvania, that no reliance can he pieced upon receiving iron to be usad in any large quantities, unless a cast iron penalty clause is in tho contract."
