view raw text
NEW lOBKS NEW TRACK. A recent issue of the New York Sun gives the following description of the new track which in the future will be known as Belmont Park: "The property abuts the city line, thereby complying with the requirements of the Racing Commission, which does not approve of the building of new tracks within the city limits. The train sheds are over the city line,, however. South of the Hempstead gtMftilte there is a stretch of 421 acres. On this ground the racing plant proper will be constructed. There will be the regular circular track of a mile and a half. Inside of it there will be a turf course of a mile and three furlongs. Within the latter will be a turf hurdle course of a mile and a quarter, while there will also be the usual steeplechase course through the field. There will be a mile chute straightaway, although only seven furlongs of it will probably be used in racing events, which will be constructed on the lines of the Futurity course at Sheepshead Bay. Outside and beyond the far turn of the main track there will be a mile course for training purposes, which may be used in connection with the regular course if necessary. "North of the turnpike there will be another mile track for the training of yearlings. On this part of the property there will be ample stable accommodations, from which a tunnel three-quarters of a mile in length will extend under the turnpike to the paddock, the idea being to do away with the habit of men and boys leading horses down the track .where accidents are liable to occur. "The main track will be a right hand affair. That is to say the races will be run in exactly the opposite direction to that at the other local tracks. The Jockeys will have the rail at their right "instead of left hand, which will be an innovation, not only to them, but also to the spectators as well. This idea has no been formally decided upon, but it has been under advisement and is at present very favorably thought of. But there may be a change later on when the matter has been more thoroughly discussed. It was tried some at Monmouth Park in 1890, but was not voted a success. "The grandstand will be an immense affair, larger than the one at Westchester. It will be 750 feet long, 100 feet deep and 50 feet high, with a cantilever roof of steel. The seating capacity will be for 11,000 spectators. The stand will be divided in the middle by a promenade leading back to the retiring rooms and the restaurant. Back of the stand will be the betting ring, a huge affair, 200 by 280 feet, with a glass roof. There will be accommodations for two rows of layers. "The field stand will be 250 feet long and will seat 5,500 people. There will be room on the broad lawn in front of both structures for 28,000 more, with unlimited accom modations beyond the field stand and in the infield. "The clubhouse will be a three-story structure with all the modern conveniences. It will have three separate dining rooms, one for women. There will be broad verandas running around three sides of it and there will be a bridge running from the second story to the grandstand for the convenience of patrons. The paddock will be 86 by 275 feet, with a slate roof, having an overhang of 15 feet on each side. It will contain 36 stalls, each 10 by 12 feet. "Between the clubhouse and the paddock there will be a building known as the jockey house, 84 by 58 feet. There will be lockers, shower baths and dressing rooms on the ground floor, with rooms for owners and trainers on the second floor and the offices of the secretary. All of these structures will face the northeast, so that during the hours of racing the sun will not strike the faces of the spectators. The style of Italian renaissance will prevail everywhere. Charles W. Leavitt, Jr., of 15 Cortlandt street, who rebuilt the Saratoga and Bennings tracks, has drawn up these plans and will have charge of the building of the new course. "Belmont Park will be built on level ground. It is ten miles from Hempstead Plains, where a new track was said to be under advisement to replace Morris Park. Five miles away and west of the new race course is the track of the recently organized Metropolitan Jockey Club, in which P. H. McCarren and T. D. Sullivan are leading lights. The present lease of Morris Pork expires on January 1, 1904, and the Westchester Racing Association expects to have Belmont Park in shape by that time. The reason for abandoning Morris Park was the fact that the Messrs. Morris would not lease it for a term of years and recently gave their consent to the New York and Port Chester Railroad to pass through the property. 1 "As the new road will serve greatly to increase the value of property in Westchester county, it was concluded that no race track could be conducted there in " future, except under heavy fixed charges as to taxes and rental. As the Westchester Racing Association has already accepted entries for stakes to be run in 1903, 1904 and 1905, payments on account of which aggregate ,000, and will also accept entries for events to be run in 190S, an immediate change of location was deemed desirable."
