view raw text
EASTERN TURFMEN ELATED MR. BELMONT CONFIDES HIS VIEWS TO NEWSPAPER MEN AND IS DECIDEDLY HOPEFUL. Probability That Belmont Park Racing Davs Will Be Increased if Todays Attendance is Up to Expectations. New York. May 11. — August Belmont aad a mini licr of press representatives held all informal conference in the directors room of tl;e great Iiclinoiit banking quarters on Nassau street thi- afternoon. Every racing reporter in New York was there. Ike chairman of the Jix-kev Club discussed the local racing situation very frankly, prefacing his remarks by requesting that they were aol for publication and that he would not be ready to be quoted until after the close of racing on Saturday, when a statement to the press covering everything of importance would be given out ollicially. No violation of contiih nee is involved, however, in saying that Mr. Bl klllial was sanguine — even confident— «* toe outcome. So. to fact, is the whole local racing colony. Bvcry oil-present agreed that the lieliiiont Park opening dav was successful licyoud their wildest expectation. that this outpouring of people, necessarily debarred from betting under the restrictions of the new ar.ti-lietting law, was a revelation, aud that If a great crowd turns out for Saturdays racing tlie whole country will be rial I land that wholesale betting is not an indispensable adjunct to American racing The reopening of the so-called free tield has been discussed by the Jockey Club. Mr. Belnioii1 said that he was in favor of doing it. believing that the masses had as much right to enjoy racing as those v. ho patronized the more exclusive enclosures. Iur theriuore. he thought it would be outting tin popularity of the s|M rt to a supremo test, if sin;, was done under existing conditions and big pat age resulted, and that all doubts as to the outcome would be Immediately dissolved. It is thought that the Westchester R.icin as elation will give a number of extra lavs racing at the present Beunoat Park meeting, an increase of the present schedule from ten lo liltecu davs beiug probable. Parse; mav also be rahtefl. A tine ami well balanced card i- promised for de caUoa tomorrow. The Juvenile stakes for two-year-olds, and the TuhORgaji JUtudlcap. are Its si it • 1. tures. King .lanes, th.- Metropolitan Handicap vie tor. Is a conspicuous entry in tin aecoad race at one mile. There was i heavy downpour of rain tonight and the track may he noddy for Saturdays racing.
