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JAMAICA TRACK READY FOR OPENING. Grandstand Rebuilt with Roof Covering, While ! Course Is Made Most Attractive. New York. April 27. — With the opening of racing on the metropolitan circuit less than a month away, it is interesting to know that the Jamaica race track, which will be the scene of that opening, promises to be well prepared in ample time for the first day. Friday. May Is. This will be preceded by Hunt meetings of no small importance, but it will be th" beginning of regular professional racing in this state. Racegoers, who will be present the opening day, will find that the Metropolitan Jockey Club has not been idle since the close of the last meeting on its track. Last year the absence of a roof for the greater part of the grandstand proved a serious drawback to the comfort of the clubs patrons. If the weather happened to be bright :.nd warm, spectators suffered from the dazzling sunlight and consequent heat, while even a slight shower put the occupants of the grandstand to no end of inconvenience and discomfort. Resides all this, the clubhouse gallery was a cramped ami insufficient affair, and many of the clubhouse natrons found it impossible to obtain an adequate view of the racing except by walking over into the grandstand building to find a seat there. Then. too. the buildings except the stables were not in good repair, and there was a general air of shabbiness about the plan which did not appear to be fully in accord with the univorsally-ad mitted theory that racing finally had come into its own once more. All Remedied This Spring. All these drawbacks will be found to have been remedied this spring. An excellent roof has beea built to replace the one which originally covered that portion of the grandstand which had been unroofed, while that portion which remained intact baa been so reconstructed as to correspond with the architecture of the new roof, and now the grandstand at Jamaica presents a better appearance than it did when first built. A well-finished ami commodious addition to the clubhouse has been constructed, which leaches nearly far enough to connect with the grandstand proper, and this is reached from the clubhouse enclosure by a broad, ornamental staircase, as well as by a short walk, or gallery, connecting directly with the original grandstand. This new building will contain thirty boxes, each of which will command an ideal view of the racing and. at the same time, be convenient to the clubhouse and grounds, the paddocks and the grandstand. The clubhouse, grandstand. Jockey Club offices, paddock and the restaurant and llftMbawat Im.oUis under the grandstand will be found to have b, a thoroughly overhauled and looking as bright and dean as it" they had been wholly rebuilt. The infii hi lias been cleaned up. and the territory occupied by the training stables has been cleared up: tail grass and weeds have been removed, and the whole place will be found a thorough exemplification of energy, neatness and efficiency. The stables were in good order last year, bat all accumulations of refuse, bedding and rubbish generally have disappeared; the roadways are in good condition and throughout the place looks neat and attractive. Takes Place Among Most Attractive Spots. Track superintendent Thomas Maher has done himself no end of credit in his track management this season, and as :: result. Jamaica will take its place among the really attractive race tracks of New York state. Of course, the track proper is one which affords a superintendent admirable opportunities, as the soil is faultless for the purpose to which it is devoted, but. in addition to working the light springy loam, of which it is composed, into the best possible condition, he has trimmed the border I carefully and evenly, making them resemble those of the drives through a large and parklike private estate. Jamaica race track has B88 stalls, and every stable is already eaaraced, although up to Saturday morning only two strings were represented there. These were John Sanfords string of thirty-one thoroughbreds, in charge of Preston Purch sad Harry Heches and George WiiigfiehCs I Neva. la Btork Farm string of twelve t horoughbroils. in charge of trainer Barry. It will be reaaeaahered that Mr. Wingfield imported a fin ■ band of thoroughbreds late in 1818, and it is assumed that some of the ■ ven dozen which lie now has at Jamaica were among those importations. Mr. Wiliglield. who is ■ gentlem: f liberal means, evidently is desttaed to cut an important figure, not only in racing, but the breeding of thoroughbreds iu this country. He has a large and valuable ranch near Reno. Nevada, and there he is getting together what promises to lie the nucleus of ■ valuable breeding stud. In his importations of 1810 was included the Cambridgeshire winner llone.v-wood. by Polymelus — Honey Pird. by Friar*s Balsam, lloneywood was a four-year-old when imported, and as he was intended for stud service, it is assumed that now. as a six-year-old. he bids fail-to lie represented by his get on the American turf in the near future. Other Reservations to Be Taken Up This Week. Several other reservations at Jamaica will be taken up this week. Among these arc John Miller, with eight or ten thoroughbreds belonging to that popular veteran of the turf David Gidt : O. C. Rasch. with three, including the good three year-old Gloomy tins and the two year-olds Dustpan and Confiscation, while his other uood two-year-old. Little Roy. will rejoin his stable at the close of the Maryland circuit. Thomas Murphy, who has nine of Oscar I,cw isohns horses and tin- Klkwood Park Stables good four-year-old filly Cclandria. will take his horses to Jamaica this week. Others also are expected this week or early next week. Ed HelTiicr. who has the Ilallenbcck string, now numbering eighteen, is expected within two weeks at the latest. His band will include eight good looking two-year-obls. bought from the Rugby Stud through Mr. Heather, who brought them over several months ago, but had them stabled in Manhattan up to the time of their purchase by Mr. Ilallenbcck. John Whalen has engaged forty-four stalls for the Wickliffe Stable, but he will not be expected until that stables engagi meuts in Kentucky shall have been filled. Suiwrinteiideiit Maher is enthusiastic over the merits of Jamaica, both as a winter and summer track. He insists that at times this spring, when other popular Long Island tracks were practically under water, or hopelessly encumbered with snow. Bead and slush. Jamah a was high and dry ami that horses were galloping over it creditably.
