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GETTING READY AT NORFOLK. Jamestown Jockey Clubs Plant Now Being Furbished Up fcr Approaching Meeting-. Norfolk, Va., October 23. Having concluded his duties as starter at Piping Rock, track superintendent George T. Miller is now busily engaged in directing a large force of men in bringing the course and plant of the Jamestown Jockey Club up to date. All Indications, according to General Manager Bob Levy, are that the approaching autumn race meeting, which begins Thursday. November 13, to last for fifteen days, will be the best meeting ever given in the Old Dominion. Superintendent Miller let no grass grow under his feet on his arrival here. He set a force of 25 men at work with hoe and rake to destroy the weeds on the boulevard-like approach to the course, and as soon as this work Is finished, new material will be spread to re-grade the Jamestown boulevard entrance. While this is being done, carpenters and painters are touching up the stalls, aud scon their attention will be turned to the clubhouse and grandstand, though little work is needed on these structures. Next the course itself will have Mr. Millers attention, though it is doubtful if anything further than a good harrowing and dragging is- needed to make it as fast as. it ever has- been. The sandy going lias packed to an ideal consistency, and trainers already on the ground are favorably surprised with the ease with, which the track, lent itself to fast work-outs. Two. special work trains of the Norfolk and Portsmouth Electric Railway have been renuistloned by superintendent Miller to transport lumber and other material for the extensive refurbishing which the Jamestown plant Is receiving. An idea of the extent of this task may be gained from the fact that fifty men are constantly kept busy. The announcement by Manager Levy that the open iug dav, which will be featured by the running of the Merchants Selling Stakes, for all ages at six furlongs, will be ladies day, when all ladles will be the guests of the jockey cub. has met with unusual favor. The interest manifest this fall in the races by the hunting set up-state is attested by early requests for stall reservations for the best of the back-country junipers, and the society element will be more than usually prominent on this occasion. Michael Burns aud Joe Cooper- are among the latest arrivals at the Jamestown tracks. They came from the uplands of Virginia, together with W. T. McGivney, II. Warner, Jack McPherson aud others, and their horses will get a rest prior to the inauguration of the racing here. Willie Martins will be the first big stable to arrive. He expects to ship his horses, twelve in all, before the end of the current week. Martin is a liberal nominator for the four stakes provided as stellar attractions this fall, and his horses will be benefited by their rest and acclimatization here. In addition to the horses of William aud Lewis Garth, Gwyn R. Tompkins, Hunter Breckenridge, Theodore F. Coles and II. II. Emmons, all of which are Virginia-owned, G. C. Brenton, a Petersburg hunt club enthusiast, will add some timber-toppers to the Dominion equine colony. Three of his thoroughbreds have been sent across country behind the hounds during the summer. Capt. Philip M. Walker, of Winchester. Va.. also will be represented by a division of his stable, prior to going into winter quarters at Benning. He will divide his time this winter between Washington and his country estate near Winchester. Clerk of the Course Joseph McLennan expects to come east in a few days from Latonia, where ho has met with great success in enlisting owners to ship on the special train which will leave Latonia the day after the end of fall racing in Kentucky. Upwards of a dozen carloads of horses will be Included in the shipment. Wayne .Toplin has written Manager Levy that he has abandoned his plans to ship hack to Kentucky, and he will bring his entire stable here from Pimlico.- Joplin has the riders M. Nathan and A. Wilson under contract. There will he no lack of saddle talent for the meeting, for the best riders in the heavyweight and apprentice division will be ready to accept mounts. The saddle brigade from Maryland will include Butwell, who will rest for the winter after the Jamestown meeting; J. Callahan, F. Teahan, T. Davies, T. McTaggart, J. McTaggart, Wolfe. Ambrose. Musgrave. Clement, Fairbrother, Rightuiire. Hopkins and Schuttinger. Mortimer Malioney, who. as usual,- will be in charge of advance information, has assurances that lu his department this. , year , there will be, more faces than ever before, a condition in which the firevious excellent meetings at Jamestown and the ong winter meeting at Charleston to follow the close of racing at Jamestown are factors.
