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PIMUCOS SPRING MEETING HERE e Maryland Jockey Club Offers Long Established Dixie Stakes as Principal Attraction Today at Popular Baltimore Course ♦ BALTIMORE, Md., April 30.— The Maryland Jockey Club, one of the oldest and most progressive racing organizations in the country, will inaugurate its spring meeting of 1928 at historic Pimlico, where racing has been conducted since 1870. While the area of Pimlico is practically the same now as it was when first acquired, improvements and additions have transformed the property into one of the most modern and well-equipped plants in the country, with excellent stabling for 1,150 horses, accommodations of the most comfortable description for help, an enlarged grand stand, having a seating capacity of 16,000, with all conveniences for the public, attractive club houses, beautiful grounds, and an unsurpassed steeple- Schase course. When Pimlico was first thrown open to the public the Maryland Jockey Club arranged the Dinner Party Stakes as the feature for the opening day in October, 1870. It attracted thirty entries at ,000, each half forfeit, and was worth 8,500 to the winner, a big sum in those days ; the distance was two miles. Later this stake was named the Dixie and only a few years ago it was revived and is now again the inaugural stake feature ot the Pimlico spring i.ieeting3. For the 1928 running of the Dixie, with its 5,000 added, thirteen are named to start and a grand race in keeping with its past traditions appears most probable. The supplementary program is such as to assure sport of the highest caliber, such as is usually witnessed at Baltimores popular racing grounds. An inspection of old Pimlico finds everything in complete readiness for the bugle call. The improvements made since last autumns meeting last year give assurances that the public, as well as the horsemen, are well taken care of. The most striking innovation is the loud speaker, which has been installed in front of the grand stand. Erected on three slender but substantial poles, with a cluster of eight speakers on each, the crowd will be able to follow every movement of the horses as explained by the announcer, stationed in a bay-window booth just under the roof of the stand. The pari-mutuel plant has been overhauled It now contains 104 machines, the largest number of any track in Maryland. The roads have been treated to a fresh coat of oil. The club house was opened last Wednesday. With its homelike surroundings and tasteful furnishings it will be an attractive place for the many social gatherings planned by members and their guests. It will be the headquarters for visiting horsemen. With almost every box reserved and a brilliant attendance from all over the country assured everything points to one of the most successful meetings in the history of the Maryland Jockey Club. !
