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PLANS OF UNITED HUNTS » Spring Meeting Will Be Held at Belmont Terminal This Year. ♦ Temporary Stands to Be Constructed Superintendent Pels Preparing the Old Course. NEW YORK, N. Y.. April 4 -The spring meeting of the United Hunts Racing Association will be held on Saturday, April 24, and Monday, Aprii 26. at Belmont Park Terminal. It is expected to be the best in the history of this organization, which, from its inception, has represented the best in the field of amateur sport. In selecting Belmont Park Terminal for the spring meeting, president John McKntee Bowman has taken a step which farsighted turf authorities are agreed will add to the prestige and helpful influence of his organization of racing enthusiasts and horse lovers. His prime motive in shifting the meeting from Belmont Park to the Terminal was the preservation of the fine amateur ideals which have always distinguished the United Hunts and to keep it intact from the atmosphere of professionalism. Close observers applaud president Bowmans stand in this respect in view of the surprising interest in the Hunts meetings shown by the public in recent years, resulting in track attendances of record-breaking size and an inrush of professional turf interests. IN KEEPING WITH POLICY. Bowmans plans for the resumption of race meetings at the Belmont Terminal are fully in keeping with the broad guage policy Which has transformed the United Hunts under his guidance, from a struggling handful of turf enthusiasts to its present leading position among the amateur turf organizations of America. A fine program has been arranged, including the two spring fixtures, the Sporting Plate and the Initial Handicap. The Initial Handicap, with ,000 added at three-quarters mile, the chief race on the flat for the spring meeting, closed January 4, with fifty-six entries, including Sarazen. Aga Khan. Catalan. Single Foot, Gliding Fox, Cherry Pie. Silver Fox and other good ones. Three stakes closed Monday. March 15, of which two, the 0,000 added Temple. Gwath-mey Steeplechase, at two and a half miles, and the ,500 guaranteed Blemton Stakes, for two-year-olds at seven eighths mile, will be run at the autumn meeting. The Sporting Plate, the third stake, which closed Monday. March 15, is a private sweepstakes for two-year-olds at four and a half furlongs. Other races for the spring meeting, flat and seepkehase, will be announced shortly. Superintendent Pels of Belmont Park is now actively engaged in the preliminary work of preparing the Terminal for the spring meeting, building a temporary stand, putting the grounds and flat grass course into the best condition and preparing a post and rail course for the hunters steeplechases. The brush course for the open steeplechases is kept in perfect condition as the Terminal is used as a schooling course throughout the year for the many jumpers reguiarly quartered at Belmont Park. Continued on second i :ije PLANS OF UNITED HUNTS Continued from first page As for the Terminal itself no turf follower need be reminded that it is ideally suited for steeplechasing, its course in this respect being decidedly superior to Pehnont Park and surpassed by none in the country. It will be like going back home for the older members of the United Hunts, for, save for the first two meetings, all of its turf activities wero held there from 1907 until 1921. The newly formed United Hunts Association held its premier meeting at Morris Iark, Westchester County, October 21, 25 and 28, 1905. The following year the Hunts meeting was held at the Benning course, Washington, D. C, all subsequent meetings until 1922 being held at Belmont Park Terminal. Not during the "dark days of the turf" — 1910-1912, were the meetings of the United Hunts interrupted, as the association constantly lived up to the high amateur ideals upon which it was incorporated. In thus preserving the sport in the face of the most adverse circumstances, tho 1nited Hunts won the praise of the greatest turf figures of America. The late Major August Belmont paid the association unstinted praise for the manner in which it had helped save the sport from eclipse In this country, and at a Hunts dinner referred to it as the cradle of amateur racing in this part of the country, its nurturing influence having developed a large number of men who have brought credit and distinction to amateur sport in the realm of the turf. The United Hunts elected John McKntee Bowman president in 192P . He is the third president of the association, which at that time numbered 16,?. Since then the membership has grown rapidly and steadily until now the roll includes 540 members with a waiting list. The announcement that the United Huntsj was leaving Belmont lark, followed cordial invitations extended by James R. Hyde, president of the Queens County Jockey Club, i and James Butler, president of the Kmpiro City Racing Association, tendering the use of their race courses for the spring meeting without charge.
