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NEW OWNERS FOR AQUEDUCT TRACK Probability that J. E. Widener and A. K. Macom-ber May Securo Controlling Interest in Course. By Ed Cole. New York, September 13. There is every reason to believe the Aqueduct track will change hands and management before next year and possibly in the near future. Sinee the death of the. late Philip J. Dwyer, who was president of the institution for many years. Aqueduct is practically like an orphan. James Shevlin, the present dictator and president of the association, is not a racing man, though he was associated with Mr. Dwyer in his racing ven-: turps almost since the advent of the now discarded Gravcsend track. It is probable lie does not wish to spend liis time looking after racing affairs and. for that reason lias listened to propositions to purchase Aqueduct and given an option on twenty-five hundred shares of the four thousand issued, which would give a purchaser controlling interest. It lias been asserted that Joseph Widener and A. K. Macomber, two of the wealthiest horse owners and members of the Jockey Club, have talked the matter over and made an offer for the plant, but the Offer was not considered quite up to its valuation. . The question of purchase is still under discussion, however, and it Is not beyond hone that Mr. Widener and Mr. Macomber will eventually become controllers of the property. Should they do so, race-goers can look forward to great changes in the establishment. I.t cannot bo denied that Aqueduct is the most desirably located track of all like institutions around, the city, being within about fifteen minutes ride of the Pennsylvania station, and. the track proper is considered almost perfect iu its formation. AQUEDUCT TRACK NOW IN POOR ORDER. The opportunities for improvements in the surroundings are many. At the present time Aqueduct is in a somewhat devastated state, little money having been siient on it since it was twisted around from the country affair it used to bo years ago before it was bought by the late Thomas J. Riley." More land was bought at that time and a wooden grandstand was erected, stables built and the track was also enlarged until it attained its present one "mile and; a quarter dimensions, but all these things happened years ago and the buildings are now somewhat delapidated, in fact, the whole string of buildings and stables could be Avell torn down and rebuilt. Should the property come into the hands of Mr. Widener and Mr. Macomber, no doubt this would, be done and a new steel grandstand substituted. Even should the Widener-Ma comber interests fall down, there are other enter-j prising men of the turf who are considering the question of purchase who will no doubt step to the front and buy a controlling interest. It is unquestionably the best paying institution of the kind on Long Island under the existing conditions and could be made much more profitable under able and generous management. The general public have always approved of Aqueduct and given it bountiful patronage, even under the existing conditions, What would the attendance amount to if it was rebuilt and enlarged to such extent that it would compare with the best institutions in the country? Aqueduct is on the verge of new life. Somebody is going to get a rich racing plant in the near future and whoever gets it is going to clean off the rubbish which now exists and establish a race course that will probably lead in popularity in a short time.
