view raw text
i 4 i i . i AQUEDUCT COURSE GREATLY IMPROVED Attractive New Club House Has Been Built and Surrounding Grounds Are Beautified. New York. June 22. — Visitors to Aqueduct on the opening day of the spring meeting of the Queens County Joe-Ley Club, will be impressed with the improvements in the plant and in the manner in which the directerato have planned for their comfort. James Shevlin. president of the organization, is authority for the- statement that the changes cost i 00,000. Perhaps the greatest improvement has comein the form of a new club house of stucco, built on the site of the former structure, which was utterly inadequate to meet the ilemands of Aqueduct patrons on a Brooklyn Handicap day. or when some other big feature was bring run. In place of the old structure, there is a three-story building with every comfort for the guests. Twelve new boxes are a feature. Spacious galleries, from which an unoh- i structeel view of the entire course may be had, are noteworthy improvements and it is estimated that | 2.000 p.-rsons may be accommodated without undue crowding. The restaurant, bar and lavatories are on the second floor and no i-xpensc has been snared in their equipment ami decoration. On the third floor, spe-cial quarters have lieen provided for womeu patrons, with parlor ami retiring MM furnished lavishly in a subdued shade- of brown. An attractive feature of the new building is a mansard roof, from which patrons may view steeplechases, or it will render additional accommodations on a big day when space is at a premium. An entirely new kitchen and steam table outfit will enable caterer Me-Grath to maintain the excellence of his servie-e. His chief aide. Giis Piggott. has lieen on hand daily superintending its installation. Momlicrs and their guests will in the future reach the club house by means of an overhead stairway direct from the new landing place for automobiles, to the right of he main entrance. Three machines at a time may be accommodated and visitors arriving by motor will not bare to mingle with those who arrive by train, thus relieving a congestion which formerly existed. There will be a parking space of 34. HXI square feet, many loads of dirt and cinders having been employed to complete the four foot fill back of the grandstand. NEW CINDER DRIVEWAY BUILT. A splendid new cinder driveway and ornate brick and c. in. .it Mated entrance improve the property immensely. The driveway is through a double dow of fine linden trees, and in a few years this feature of the c.iurse will be one of its most attractive attributes. Approaching the field stand the linden trees have been artistically plotted, and it is the intent ton of the management to have the entire three-quarters of a mile approach as beautiful as flowe-rs and shrubbery, combined with the landscape gardeners art. can make it. Those who remember the former unattractive conditions will appreciate the change. The paddock, which has been enlarged, occupies a portion of the former site. It has a lofty roof and quarters for three times the number of horses it formerly housed. The paddock will, as of old, be reached by a covered walk, which has been floored with iirick. The roof has a wide over-hang with an ornamental border, and it forms not the least attractive feature of the many improvements. The lackeys quarters and offices of the association are on their former site also, but the building is so changed that it is not recognizable. It is virtually a new structure with every improvement, a gallery from which the jockeys may view the races, being a distinguishing feature. That portion of the lnwn in front of the grandstand has been cemented for a width of fifty feet, mil the builciings all have been painted a rich shade of brown and cream, which are the dominant colors throughout. The w«.rk has been done under the watchful supervision of Messrs. Shevlin and Courtney of the directorate, both of whom have been on hand almost daily in order to see that nothing was overlooked. The course itself, long regarded as one of the best in the Initeel States, is ready for a record-breaking • est. It is now in the care of superintendent Jame-s Kreunan. who has been connected with the Brooklyn Joekev Club for twenty -five years. Mr. Brennan grew u; under Ben Brush and James Dunphy. foraie-r suiierintcndents at Gravesend. and he will fill the bill at this course as well as Aqueduct under the new arrangement. *
