Auroras Opening Day: Everything Ready for the Twenty-Five Days Race Meeting, Daily Racing Form, 1924-09-06

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AURORAS OPENING DAY Everything Ready for the Twenty-Five Days Race Meeting : Fields Large and Contestants Well Matched for Inaugural Program-Transportation From ; Chicago Direct to Grandstand AURORA, 111., September C. Ther -was no let-up in activities at the Aurora track Friday and an extra- force cf workmen were marshalled to assist in putting the finishing touches to the constructive work now on. The contractors are sanguine that by working a; full shift during the night and tomorrow morning everything will be in completo readiness for the opening cf the twenty-five day race meeting. The track proper is completed. It is now undergoing the harrow .process to level it. Track superintendent Kcegan has no hesitancy in announcing that the new half mile added to the old strip will be safe and firm. The soil is rich farm land and solid to a great depth: Progress cf cutting down the hill is steady and this is the part that the builders are now centering attention on. Its removal will give a clear view of tho running of races from every section of the course. The paddock and offices, which includes the jockeys room, was turned over completo during the afternoon. The only drawback to the new appointments will be a lack of paint. The transfer of horses from Hawthorno was completed without incident during tho morning. Two special trains of twenty cars take part in the meeting. Other owners elected to convey their horses from, Hawthorne to the new track by van. At present about 400 horses are on the grounds and several applications from owners now on Ohio tracks will probably add fifty horses to those already available. The opening days card, considering tho newness of the track, has filled well and among the entered ones are several consistent winners during the past Hawthorne meeting. Its a worthy offering to start off the meeting and will attract a good turnout of Chicagoans. The racing will begin at 2:30 daylight saving time and its is aimed to have the six races completed by 1:30, which will enable the Chicago visitors to be back in the city before C p. m. KEEP RACING CLEAN. The officials who will preside at Aurora, are determined to keep the racing free from suspicion and have already made it patent that no undesirables need seek admission to the grounds. Several trainers and jockeys who came under tho ban at Hawthorne and who sought to get permission to come to Aurora were firmly told to keep away. Several Pinkerton operators will bo at the gates with instructions to deny admission to tlioso regarded as undesirables. It is expected that at least fifty layers will be quoting odds on the opening day. The betting method at Aurora will be more elastic than at Hawthorne. It will be more cn the order of New Orleans. Tho arrangement for special train service direct to the grandstand from Chicago is expected to spell the success of tho meeting. Last year a trip to Aurora entailed a hardship. There were special trains, but they unloaded passengers a mile away from tho grandstand and the running schedule to and from Chicago was irregular and tedious. With a schedule of under an hour and fifteen minutes and nominal railroad fare charge it is expected that Chicago will furnish tho bulk of patronage daily to make the racing a success. The exposition grounds is only about four miles from Aurora and is reached from the latter place by street, cars and over "good automobile roads. It is expected that tho track will derive a good patronage from tho home city. Licenses that were issued to trainers and jockeys at Hawthorne and who are now in good standing will not require any other, licenses at Aurora.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1920s/drf1924090601/drf1924090601_1_4
Local Identifier: drf1924090601_1_4
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800