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BELMONT PARK CHANGES Horses to Run the "Right" or American Way of Racing. Work of Transforming It from Left Handed Course to Right Handed Already Begun. NEW YORK, N. Y., November 20. The work of changing Belmont Park into an American race track is well under way. Some two months ago the Westchester Racing Association resolved to make the changes because owners would not mn their horses, the left hand way and could not be educated to do so. The left hand way did not suit American trainers or their horses, which on every other other course were asked to run right handed. They worked right handed and developed right hand rail and turn running. After working this way and being asked to race left handed horses went wrong. Many notable horses weakened under the strain and in consequence owners were shy about Belmont Parks left handed course. Major August Belmont wisely decided to "fit the tools to the trade" and Belmont Park will next spring be a regular race rack on American lines. Terry and Trench, the hig local contracting firm, began the work of construcion November 1 and much has been done since then. Between 150 and 200 men are on the job. The old steel field stand east of the grandstand is down and its concrete being used to build new roads about the noble racing plant. This field stand is to be replaced by Jv..new field, sructure to be built of the old stand "material, but which will stand at such an angle that the stretch will be in full view from all its seats. There will be two additional sections added to the eastern part of the grandstand. One or both sections will be used by the members of the Westchester Association and will be known as the club stand. . All the stalls in the entire stand will be raised twelve feet and brought out on a level with the supporting columns. Belmont Parks new paddock will be "directly behind where the old field stand stood and will occupy the greater part of the turf and field clubs grounds. The old paddock is to be used as an automobile parking inclosure. The old paddock building is to remain, but all the stalls will be removed to the new paddock. A later use is to to be found for this structure. It is proposed, but not yet decided, to use the old betting ring with its semicircular walls for a bad weather paddock. This may be done. BUILD BROAD PROMENADE. There is to be a broad promenade the entire length of the stand behind the upper row of seats. There are to be refreshment booths at intervals along this promenade. The old clubhouse west of the grandstand is to bo employed as the race tracks general restaurant. All the soil of turns and stretch of the course has been taken up and piled and the entire Belmont course is to be regraded as nearly level as possible. Superintendent Pels has contracted for a great amount of the best top soil in Queens and Nassau Counties, which will be used for a new cushion on the regraded track. This soft mat will cover over and eliminate the old gritty mat about which trainers have bitterly complained as the cause of sore heels of the horses. When the new grading and soiling of the course, the changes of the turns and fences are completed, there will be a race course of the Belmont Park proportions with gentler turns and more public conditions. But it will be a right hand course and the horses will run as on other New York tracks and exactly opposite of the Belmont Park running in the past. The new finish will approximately be at a point where the old eighth post stood, about the eastern end of the old grandstand. The present chute will still be used and the horses coming, from it will run the left hand way to the eye, though there is really no right or -left hand way on a straight course. The finish of all races up to the five and a half furlongs will be at the new winning post. Should three-quarters or seven-eighths mile straightaway races at Belmont Park be adhered to the Champagne Stakes and the Autumn is a. race at. seven furlongs straightaway second and third finishing posts will be necessary. But the probabilities are that these . races will be run to suit the owners, trainers and the public. The work going on will last all the winters workable days. While the changes are being made horsemen and horses will not be disturbed, but must do all their exercises on the mile training track, which will be kept in first-class condition.
