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COL. WINN INSPECTS CHURCHILL IMPROVEMENTS Q MUCH PROGRESS MADE Everything Will Be Completed in Time for Opening on April 25. Visitors to Louisville Track Due for Big Surprise New Three-Floor Clubhouse Ultra Modern. LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 8 Col. M. J. Winn, who on Monday was re-elected president of the American Turf Association, which he has headed since its organization, and which operates Churchill Downs, Lincoln Fields, and Latonia, returned here today from Chicago. Unless he is called away on business matters at other points, Colonel Winn will remain at his Louisville headquarters until the close of the Churchill Downs meeting on May 19. Hastening to Churchill Downs, Colonel Winn made a detailed inspection of the 50,000 worth of improvements under construction there. Although he had been out of the city only a short time, progress made during his absence pleased him greatly. Speaking of the vast number of improvements being made and all of which were designed by Colonel Winn, he stated, "We are going to have this jqb, vast as it is, completed in time for our opening, and I can say without fear of contradiction that our patrons will marvel at what has been accomplished in the comparatively short time since the severe winter passed. For a time I was fearful that our efforts to give Churchill Downs practically a new clubhouse, with scores of features not to be found in any other structure of its kind, together with an improved and enlarged grandstand and other changes in time for the opening, would be upset because of the adverse weather. However, the inspection I have just made assures me of the completion of our entire program in ample time." WORK WELL ADVANCED. Work on the clubhouse, which for only a few parts, is entirely new, is about seventy per cent completed at this time, and some of the workmen have shifted to other parts of the plant. They have started the huge task of repairing, painting and redecorating the grandstand, field stand, entrances and other buildings, and have this work well advanced. A new stewards stand, new quarters for the placing judges and clerk of scales, and a new reviewing stand to be used in connection with the presentation of the Kentucky Derby Gold Cup, are nearing comple- tion. Simultaneously gardeners are busy landscaping the grounds. They, too, are making noticeable progress. When all this work has been completed it will constitute another notable achievement in the long and enviable career of Colonel Winn, who, as a racing impresario, continues to maintain a swift pace in his particular field. Improvements being made are so vast and numerous that Downs visitors this year will experience difficulty recognizing the famous old racing plant. The new three-floor clubhouse embodies many innovations designed for the comfort and pleasure of guests. While its many features are too numerous to enumerate, some of the more important are new lounges, dining rooms, betting sections and cafe rooms. Betting accommodations in this enclosure are provided on each of the three floors, with club and lounge facilities also on all of the three levels. The new main dining room, with accommodations for an increased number of patrons, will be enclosed and beautifully decorated and equipped ultra modern. CONSIDERABLY MORE SHELTER. An increased amount of shelter, also more room for guests not holding box seats, are other outstanding features of this new enclosure. And more boxes to take care of some of the record number of requests for such accommodations received this year have been added in both the clubhouse and grandstand. While actual figures as to the number of boxes it would have been possible to dispose of are not available, Colonel Winn estimates that hundreds of such requests still will have to be turned down. Continued on twentieth page. MATT WINN INSPECTS DOWNS IMPROVEMENTS Continued from first page. With an eye to relieving the traffic congestion and alleviating the annual parking problem, a new outlet, or street, has been constructed which leads into another artery heretofore not open to race track vehicles, and considerable more free parking space has been laid out. As a further convenience, the taxicab lot has been set aside across from the track, replacing the one which formerly was inside the grounds. A new grandstand entrance also has been built, a feature made possible by the abandonment of the old taxi runway, and all of the grounds around the gates have been further beautified by superintendent Youngs expert group of gardeners. The outlet for horses from the paddock to the track has been moved west, as has the stand used for the decoration of the winner of the Derby each year. Beautification of that -paddock outlet and the square reserved for the Derby winner are certain to attract the eyes of visitors. At the same time Colonel Winn is keeping pace with tho iner3?.zsd -demand for press , J accommodations and has provided an auxil iary box for newspapermen on the roof the clubhouse, just adjoining the old two story press room. This addition will tak care of 150 or more writers. Churchill Down; now offers ample space for about 350 scribes together with quarters and room for camera men, newsreel men and radio descriptionists o: f :e is s, s.
