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FEW CHANCES FOR MUD RUNNERS Art of Building and Takin Care of Modern Tracks Have Revolutionized Conditions By J It Jeff cry crySaratoga Saratoga X Y August 12 The mud runners en ¬ joyed one of their rather infrequent opportunities to show their ability here Friday and Saturday They have not had many such opportunities ia the east this year One reason why horses partial to soft going get fewer chances nowadays than formerly is that the art of building and taking care of the modern race track has advanced to such a fine point that even with the normal amount of rain ¬ fall the duration of muddy track cuiiditioiiK has been greatly reduced The installation of modern drainage methods saves the uptodate track from the soaking which its subsoil would get under nat ¬ ural conditions and this coupled witli progressive methods of working the top tuil of the track which have developed with the general demand for a safe and quick drying course has revolutionised condi ¬ tions and robbed horse of pronounced mudrunning ability of many an opportunity to win purses pursesThe The track that remains wet for more tlifiu a few hours after the cessation of a driving rain is now the exception in the eastern section of tlu United States and the local course brought to a high state of perfection under the master hand of its new superintendent Billy Myer is a shining example of the efficacy of modern methods in this particular respect It will dry even more quickly when well settled Other tracks in this section that dry out with particular rapidity include Belmont 1ark Aque ¬ duct and Empire City The Laurel track will show marked improvement in this respect the coming fall as the result of the recent installation of a modern drainage system Douglas Park and Latonia are con ¬ spicuous examples of western tracks that have been brought to the same state of elliciency
