view raw text
READY AT UNITED HUNTS Lack of Club House Only Drawback to Successful Opening. ♦ Huge Tent Erected to Care for Members of Turf and Field lub — Courses is Fine Condition. « NEW YORK. N. Y.. April 18— These are days of exceptional activity at Belmont Terminal. Those who journey there next Thursday will be greeted by a scene that reminds one of hunts events in England and a huge tent will supply additional novelty to the picture. The tent has been erected to provide a dining place for the members of the Turf and Field club, who will not be able Id enjoy the comforts that are found usually in the capacious club house. The work of renovating the old Manice mansion has not been completed and it will not be oj en for the two days of the Inited Hunts Racing Associations meeting When plans for remodeling the club hous-* and increasing its facilities were adopted and the contracts awarded for the work, mere was no intimation that the Hunts meeting would be held about one week earlier than usual. The conti actors are not ready to turn over the building and grounds in time for the Meeting. The officers of the Turf and Field club were notified a few days ago that it would not be possible to have the dining rooms finished and the grounds have not been fully graded. President John McE. Bowman decided that the situation offered an opportunity to add a bit of novelty to the occasion and he ordered the lawn adjacent to the western end of the grand stand cleared and leveled and a hugh circus tent erected. DINK I NDF.R CANVAS. Complete kitchens will be installed. The ground under the tent will be carpeted with a heavy cocoa matting. Tables will be placed under canvas and there will be an abundance of decoration that will add to the attractiveness. Cnder the grandstand ladies rooms have been built and the arrangements for public comfort have been greatly increased. The lawn in front of the tent is along the track. The tent will be so arranged that those seated at the tables will have a good view of the races without leaving the tent. The space occupied by the tent will be 70 by 170 feet Several hundred diners can be accommodated. The various courses at the Terminal are in superb condition for the meeting. Horsemen who have been schooling their jumpers over the steeplechase ground are pleased with the going and the placing of the obstacles. The turf on the flat course has been rolled persistently and it compares favorably with that in Kngland. There is every indication of big fields in each of the jumping contests for there is a splendid supply of horses now at Belmont Park and the extensive J. E. Widener string will l e among the early arrivals this week. The exceptionally favorable season for training has enabled the horsemen to get the jumi er.s in first-cass condition much earlier than is usual. Several stables that wintered at Aiken will send seasoned horses out for the pursea STF.KPLECHASF.RS TRAINING. Steeplechasers attracted the attention of the morning work watchers at Belmont Terminal Saturday as the trainers sent their charges over the course in preparation for Thursdays program at the United Hunts meeting. Several impressive trials were noted. The jumping division of the Greentree Stable In charge of Vincent Powers was out early, and schooled to the satisfaction of the young trainer, while John Kermath had the W. J. Salmon fencers out for exercise. Tom Mc-Creery brought out the horses he will race through the field for the Sewickley Stable. Following the close of the Hunts meeting next Saturday the majority of the steeplechasers will be shipped to Pimlico, and thence to Woodbine Park at Toronto. The best of the fencers have been named for the renewals of the different stakes to be run at each point. 1 Minks Green, from the Salmon stable, which was an absentee from racing for the greater part of last year, has rounded to in good condition, and will be one of the main reliances of the New York sportsman in the stake events. Dunks Green has been named for all the important fixtures. He will be seen under silks at Pimlico. I.OIUNA IN BRISK WORKOUT. Training activities on the main track at Belmont Park were brisk, although no outstanding trials were noted. The best work of the morning was that turned in by Lodina. a Greentree Stable candidate for three-year-old honors. This speedy miss negotiated a mile in 1 :40, eased up. Several other smart moves over the shorter distances were recorded. The track was lightning fast and horsemen took full advantage of the excellent weather conditions. The extensive Rancocas Stable is expected at Belmont Park from Jobstown. N. J. today. Silver Fox, which was shipped to Havre de Grace from the farm, to start in the Harford Handicap, will he returned to Belmont lark. Frank Hackett. who went to Maryland to saddle the hoise will be on hand to receive MM main stahle. Jockey Iaverne Fator and his brother Mark will do most of the riding for the stable. The two-year-olds, which outnumber those of Ia.st year at Belmont Park, are progressing well in harrier manners, under the watchful eye of "Boot" Dickerson. first assistant to ■tarter Mars Cassidy. 1 »ickcrson reports that the juveniles are well advanced and on Issfca compare favorably with any crop that he has ever handled.
