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GRAVESEND THREATENED. If the present intentions of the local authorities of the Borough of Brooklyn are carried put this will be the last season in which we will see racing: at the Gravesend track of the Brooklyn Jockey Club. It is stated on the best authority that there is a movement, fostered by several members of the local board of improvement, to have streets cut through the Gravesend track this year, completely destroying it for racing purposes, says Daily America of Thursday. Such action has been threatened several times during the last five years, but in each instance the calamity was averted. Several years ago the authorities succeeded in securing an extensioon of Avenue U, which cut off one end of the property, but did not interfere with the track proper. Some of the stables owned by the Brooklyn Jockey Club are now located on the property that was cut off from the main plant. This time, however, it is said that the movement is certain to result in the carrying out of the project, and that the streets above Avenue U will be continued through the property. It is said that powerful influences are at work to have the plan carried out, and that a majority of the members of the board have been pledged to it. At the rooms of the Brooklyn Jockey Club it was stated that the officers of the association positively had no knowledge of the proposed action, and had as yet received no official notice that the streets would be cut through. "They have threatened to do it several times," said an officer of the association. "If they succeed in doing it this time, of course we cannot help it." It is understood that the intention of the local board at the present time is to have the work of cutting the streets through begin some time next fall. If this is done it will not interfere with the fall meeting, which ends on September 26 this year. The great improvements and the spread of building operations in the outlying districts of Brooklyn contiguous to the Brooklyn and Sheepshead Bay tracks has been for some time considered as threatening their continuance as racing properties. The Coney Island Jockey Club took the precaution some time ago to have its property thrown open as a public park, and thus . prevented any immediate danger of streets being cut through. The park is open to the public at all times except the afternoons on which there is racing, and during the summer hundreds of the residents of Sheepsehad Bay and persons from other sections can be seen on the grounds.
