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GOSSIP OF THE TURF. A dispatch from New York to the Cincinnati Commercial Tribune of Sunday says: "The deal for the control of the Louisville race track, which has been hanging fire ever since the opening of the Saratoga meeting, was completed a few days ago, and the control of the track passes into the hands of a syndicate headed by Mayor Grainger, of Louisville. "As soon as all details of the deal are complete, Mr. Grainger will be chosen president, to succeed W. F. Schulte. Mat Winn will be vice-president and Charles F. Price secretary and general manager. "The new officials are all men of great popularity and of good standing. It is expected that racing at Churchill Downs will again be as popular as it was in days of yore. The purses and stakes will be increased and every effort will be made to get the best class of horses and owners. "The entire plant will be thoroughly overhauled and a new betting shed will be erected, with seats on the roof. The grounds will be beautified and a great deal of attention will be paid to the neglected infield. "It is the purpose of the now owners to use the grounds in the summer time for a pleasure park. Sousas and all the leading orchestras in the country will be secured and other attractions that are found where out-of-door performances are given. " Tho change of control will mark a new era for the historic race course. Mayor Grainger and Charles F. Price are names to conjure with. The first named has made a great record for himself as the boss of the town, and surely no one is more respected by the horsemen and the race-going public that Charles F. Price." W. C. Whitney at the dinner he gave to his associates at Saratoga the other evening, made several novel suggestions as to the future conducting of racing, among which was the plan to provide spectators with field glasses so that all might see a race like the Futurity run down a straightaway course. Mr. Whitney, it is said, explained that under present circumstances it is impossible to see the early part of such a race, the struggle in the last quarter of a mile being the only part discerniblo to the naked eye. In order to facilitate matters, therefore, Mr. Whitney suggested that a powerful pair of field glassesmight be attached, to each reserved seat in the grandstand, after the style of opera glasses in a theater. It is said that next year the plan will be tried at both Sheepshead Bay and Saratoga.
