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IMPROVEMENTS AT BENNINGS. Mr. A. B. Smith has this to say in the Morning Telegraph of November 30 about the intended improvements to be made on the Bennings plant : "Now, that tho new Bennings racing plant has taken on what may fairly be called the dignity and class of a metropolitan course, it is intended to make it as porfoct in appointment as possible. The. old Bennings plant was entirely inadequate, but tho expenditure of a considerable amount of money has changed all this and the present plant, in. fact, is superior to at least one of tho New York courses, except for the track proper. "This is the main trouble now at Bennings, and it is a very serious, one. The placing of a layer of day soil on the course during the pat summer, it was thought, would relievo the previous unsatis ac-tory condition ; the complaint formarly being that it was too deep and slow. This proved well enough so long as it was fair weather, although the track was what is called in tho west a pasteboard track "But once it rained the course became almost like a country road. Tho brick clay would not dry ont,, .J10!?1111??!?! nordQ.anytbin budget baaviei "Xmk hardoiTto negotiate day by day. With a good hard rain tho track took at loasta week to gat in anything like fair condition. "This is the problem which the association has to solve. Already the track builder, has boen commissioned to take tho proposition in hand, and it may bo necessary to take all the clay off and put on in place of it loam and sand. That will probably put the course in nearly the same condition it Was before tho clay was placed on it. An effort will be made to so distribute new material that the course will be equal in every respect to all the other eastern tracks. "Further improvements proposed are tho removal of tho stables from their preient position next to the paddock along the trolley line to the vacant ground along the backstretch. With tho removal of tho stables and the reconstruction of that part of the grounds, it may be possible for the association to secure an entrance by trolley direct to the clubhouse and grandstand gates. "Negotiations are in progress looking to the purchase of the ground adjacent to tho backstretch, where the stables may. be permanently located, forming a pleasing background to the course. "So far as tho remainder of the racing plant is concerned, there is little to criticise. The walk from tho grandstand to the paddock should be widened and raised to the level of the club house lawn and a section of the latter might easily be spared for this purpose. The roadway from the. paddock to tho track needs grading, tho present road falling away in rainy weather and being altogether too steep. 8everal horses fell there during the meeting, and in tho case of a good animal tho association could well afford fo make tho proper changes. "It is pleasing to note that there waro few features of the sport during tho entire meeting which evoked severe criticism. There were wholesale rumors of doping, and some ground for these rn mors as well. "The stewards took note of one case which they evidently regarded as a flagrant one, where others were permitted to go unquestioned. The recent action of The Jockoy Club relative to this matter of doping may cause a closer watch on the practice in future at other tracks, as well as at Ben-nings. "The Washington meeting was a particularly fortunate ono for tho western stables. Horse3 from that section were the only ones to win threo races True Bluo and Bnckart each gaining this distinction. Bosides these, Ornature, Circus and Lulu Marr won twice each and Echo Dale, Dandie Belle, Ohnet. Syrlin, Great American, Merry Maker and Harry New, all distinctively western perform-era, were successful," Ilk
