view raw text
EXTENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS AT LAUREL. Baltimore, Md., September 21. AAhcn the gates are thrown open for the Maryland State Fairs annual October racing season at Laurel two weeks from last Monday, over 0,000 will have been expended this season for improvements on the plant, which is now unquestionably one of the most complete in America. These improvements are in line with the progressive policy assumed by M. J. AAinn when he and his associates took over the Southern Maryland plant from II. 1. Brown five year ago. During the four years of his service as general manager of the Maryland State Fair not less than 50,000 has been spent by Mr. AAinn to transform Laurel track into one of the finest in the country. No sooner was last falls meeting closed than work was at once started on the changes for the betterment of the course, and visitors at Laurel next fall will be agreeably surprised over the general condition of the plant. Not a single thing has been overlooked to place Laurel Park on a par with the best equipped homes of thoroughbred racing in America. AAhile much building has been going on, including the erection of a new paddock, secretary and jockey rooms, the enlargement of the pari-mutuel plant and the construction of 400 or more new stables, the track itself has been rounded into perfect condition. Through the stretch it has been raised two and a half feet and on the backstretch and far turn it is three and a half feet higher than it was last year. No longer does the unsightly hill loom up around the turn leading into the homestretch. This has been graded and in the background new stables of modern pattern have been built. Finishing touches are now being put on the new steeplechase course, which has been patterned after that at Pimlico, considered one of the safest in the country. The Liverpool has been built at the eighth post and the water jump near the five and a half furlongs post. In order that the jumping course could be made as nearly perfect as possible, there was no steeylechasing at Laurel last fall. The course was raked thoroughly and sowed with grass seed. As a result, it has an excellent cushion where before it was hard as asphalt and many of the owners and trainers declined to race over it. If the races which will he earded through the field at Laurel in October do not fill, it will not be due to lack of interest in this branch of racing on the part of the management. The steeplechase contingent raised a howl last fall when it learned that there would be no jumping contests, but they fully realize that it was a sensible move on the part of Manager AAinn, and they have promised to do their part toward making the steeplechase part of the program equally as successful as the flat racing. Already a number of steeplechase establishments are .quartered at the track awaiting the opening on Monday. October 2. The jumps will be sixty-five feet wide, and when the flags are placed at the jumps the infield will present a pretty picture, for at present it is a sold green, with big oak trees here and there giving it a beautiful setting. The finishes will be on the turf and not on the track as heretofore. The hill and the tree which stood opposite the grandstand have been removed and supplanted by a variety of plants. The old secretarys office and jockey room building, just north of the grandstand, has been torn down, and the new one is located north of the paddock. Both the paddock and the now secretarys and jockeys buildings are of the latest type. The paddock, which has been enclosed, is of western stvle, with stalls in double alignment to accommodate sixteen starters, and on all four sides are fenced in walks, which will safeguard patrons against injury. The quarters of the secretary and the jockeys will appeal to the visitors. The office of the clerk of the scales adjoins the jockeys quarters, in which there are many lockers, and a shower bath. Special quarters have been provided for the steeplechase riders. Across a spacious hall are the stewards room, the bookkeeping department, the office of the racing secretary, Joseph McLennan, and a hospital ward. There will be thirty-three mutuel machines m use as against thirty last year, and to avoid any congestion paying off, the cashiers windows have been increased to forty. The big blackboard, upon which are displayed the total amount of money wagered, the nriccs, the names of the jockeys, etc., has been moved from the west side of the ring to the east side, where it can lie seen equally as well as heretofore. The ring will be splendidly lighted, despite the fact that its north end has been enclosed. The new mutuel machines are to the right of the ring at the bottom of the incline leading from the main entrance. The Baltimore and Ohio railroad is co-operating with General Manager AAinn and work is being rushed on the construction of another tunnel leading from the trains and running under the tracks. Tins move will surely be appreciated by the public, for it will relievo the congestion in handling the crowds. ... Although there will be 1,150 stalls at the disposal of the horsemen, the demand for stabling two weeks in advance of the opening day, indicates that there will be quite an overflow. Arrangements will be made to take care of as many horses as possible at Laurel, while others will have to seek accommodations at Benning, as has been the custom at previous meetings, notwithstanding the increased number of stalls within the confines of the course. That Laurel Park will attract turfmen from far and near can readily bo imagined. During the twentv-six days of racing, approximately fchiO.OOO will be distributed in stakes and purses. Nineteen stakes are to be decided, with values ranging from 1,000 to S2.500 udJcd. Increased purses will be in vogue, with no race of less than 00. The stakes have filled handsomely.
