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Here and There on the Turf Delaware Park Track Ready First FirstLandscaping Landscaping Set Before Con ¬ struction structionLawn Lawn Well Raised Above Track TrackTwo Two Railroads Serve New Course William DuPont Jr doesnt care for pub Jicity and he means it but he necessarily jnust prepare himself for the fame that will come his way when the public gets ac ¬ quainted with Delaware Park upon its open ¬ ing June 26 The Delaware sportsmans name doesnt appear anywhere among the officers of the Delaware Steeplechase and Race Association but he is the leading per ¬ sonage behind the construction of the new course and many of his ideas are being Carried out certainly the manner in which the plant was laid out and built Hundreds of workmen are striving night and day to have the place in complete readiness at least several days before the opening but Hvhen the public is permitted its first visit to Delaware Park on June 26 they will be amazed to find a plant that has all the appearances of having been in existence for jnany years yearsThe The first step in DuPonts plan of con ¬ structing Delaware Park was in laying out the track and steeplechase course and the landscaping Both tracks have been in ex ¬ istence for a year with the course for flat racing being given daily attention so that it will be in tip top condition when the first torse is permitted to run over it Steeple Chasing will lot be staged at Delaware Park imtilthe 1938 season because it is desired fco have grass roots so thoroughly imbedded hat horsemen will find no fault with the HERE AND THERE ON THE TURF TURFContinued Continued from second page course Meanwhile the fences are all in order The skinned track is composed of sandy loam and is well drained James Ross the superintendent who fulfills a similar position at Havre de Grace predicts that trainers will find it one of the very best in the country countryThe The newest contribution to American race tracks has been placed in a natural setting with trees around Nevertheless many more have been transplanted so that the horses will race against a background of green foliage Nestled in a beautiful woodland near the lower turn is the administration building containing the secretarys office and jockeys room with the paddock adjoin ¬ ing These buildings are constructed of wood with outer walls of stained shingles Off to one side is sufficient room for horses to be saddled beneath the trees if their trainers desire Directly between the administration building and the clubhouse end of the grand ¬ stand is the walking ring Between the walk ¬ ing ring and the track is a raised enclosure permitting clear views of both the paddock and the race course This part of the plant is readily accessible to general admission patrons patronsConsiderable Considerable thought has been given to arranging the grandstand and standing room so that every part of the track will be visible The lower side of the lawn which is terraced is on a level with the outer rail of the track so that patrons lining the fence will be in a position to see the horses in the back stretch despite the tote board in the infield The judges stand is cut in with the level of the track so that it doesnt interfere with the spectators vision A grandstand seating about 7500 persons is now nearing completion while on top of the roof girders quarters have been constructed for a club similar to the Turf and Field and Post and Paddock Clubs This section will be served by an elevator constructed at the rear of the grandstand Beneath the club quarters will be a glass enclosed room which the occupyA stewards will occupy A good portion of the 350 acres occupied by the new plant is given over to the stables These are located beyond the upper turn and are well spaced apart to permit large walking rings The barns are of the open variety as no winter or spring training is contemplated at Delaware Park except by the Brandywine Stable which will have its own private stable with an enclosed gal ¬ loping track Considerable grading has been done in the stable area so that drainage will be way from all of the barns The course will be reached by way of the mile and onequarter chute at the head of the stretch special lanes having been laid out for the horses to reach the track from the stables Only the roofs of the stables are visible from the grandstand so well lined is the turn with trees It should be very rare that a horse will run out looking for the roadway to his stable stableNo No track in the country ever has had the aware ParkThe main line of the Baltimore Ohio Railroad runs right by the rear of the grandstand and the electrified road of the Pennsylvania passes the far side of the property but a Y spur has been con ¬ structed leading into a terminal near the upper end of the grandstand Both railroads have installed firstclass platforms and they will vie for the patronage of persons going to Delaware Park both from Wilmington Chester Philadelphia and New York to the north and Baltimore and Washington to the south Near the upper end of the grandstand is a parking space for persons such as owners and trainers holding badges while on the other side of the B O tracks Is a vast parking space for patrons driving their own cars Chauffeurdriven cars serving the clubhouse will have a separate parking area The main parking lot is connected with the track by a tunnel beneath the rail ¬ road Beautiful gateways to the clubhouse and grandstand were installed a year ago Such is the writers preview of Delaware
