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LOS ANGELES NEW TRACK Dr Chares H Strub Returns to Cali ¬ fornia With Many New Ideas Proposed Course Covers 215 Acres of Lucky LuckyBaldwin Baldwin Estate and Will Be Named NamedSanta Santa Anita Park Dr Charles H Strub has just returned to California from a trip through the East and Middle West during which he viewed the Kentucky Derby and inspected several of the principal race courses Undoubtedly he went back to the Pacific coast with some new ideas regarding the construction of the track at Arcadia near Los Angeles in which Hal Roach arid Joseph M Schenck also are interested At any rate after his tour had reached the final stages he was still firm in belief that his proposed racing plant would rank with Hialeah Belmont Saratoga and Arlington in beauty and appointments appointmentsNot Not since Joseph E Widener made over Hialeah Park has there been such ambitious plans for the construction of a race track as those being pursued by Dr Strub and his associates They have an idea one which it is hoped they never discard of putting on racing that is as good as can be found any ¬ where else in the country If able to go ahead as they now intend they may be successful enough in offering winter racing of the highest type although it is very doubtful if the Los Angeles track Hialeah or any other winter course can match the sport at certain summer places placesThe The ground on which the Strub track is being constructed covers 215 acres of the Lucky Baldwin estate It is in the form of an equilateral triangle with two sides bordered by a hundredfoot highway which join and lead off to the nearby town of Ar ¬ cadia Los Angeles is but a few minutes away by motor arid with such fine highways adjacent Dr Strub believes the transporta ¬ tion situation is a very happy one As motor car sand buses are the principal carriers of short travel in that part of the country no other cause for worry as far as getting the people to the track is apparent apparentGrading Grading of the track proper is expected to be completed within a few days and after Dr Strub confers with the architects when he will give them the impressions gained bV inspecting eastern tracks work on the grandstand and other buildings will be started The grandstand is to have a seat ¬ ing capacity of 7500 and the clubhouse 5000 persons These structures will be set well back so as to provide a wide terrace capable of accommodating many thousands more of spectators spectatorsStables Stables to care for 1500 horses are to be built and there will be parking room for 13000 automobiles Dr Strub informed the writer The track itself will be a mile in circumference because while Dr Strub be ¬ lieves finer racing can be had over a larger course the spectators can have a better view of the horses It will have a seven eighths chute and one for races at five sixteenths for twoyearold races At the quarter pole the track will be 125 feet wide to permit a very large field for the 100000 handicap which is on the program programDr Dr Strub and his associates are looking forward to obtaining the best handicap horses in the country for this race and for their general program of racing Present plans call for a purse miniirium of 800 with a daily feature of 1000 and minimum purse distribution of 5800 In addition to the hundred thousand dollar event a similar amount of money will be set aside for other stakes The Los Angeles track is planning to revive long distance racing and its scheme is to begin with races at a mile and one quarter and work up to a contest at four miles with the purse increasing with the distance distanceWhile While not on the spot where the old Ar ¬ cadia track was located the new course to be known as Santa Anita Park is not far away and it is rich in racing tradition On the property is located a small cemetery dis ¬ tinguished by a maltese cross where are buried the American Derby winners Rey El Santa Anita Volante and Emperor of Nor ¬ folk all of which raced for the late Lucky Baldwin On display in the new clubhouse will be the trophies won by the famous Bald ¬ win horses their racing plates the silks and other items of historical and traditional value valueThis This new racing venture is supported by persons of wealth and of vision They are going about the business of building their track in the manner of a solid undertaking and those horsemen who have an idea of going to California next winter can rest assured that Santa Anita Park is no flyby night venture but a proposition of the kind that would only interest the Wideners Whitneys Bradley Hertz and the other lead ¬ ing sportsmen responsible for Belmont Saratoga Arlington and Hialeah
