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SCENE OF MATCH RACE Belmont Park One of Worlds Most Notable Race Tracks. Large, Beautiful and Modernized — Crowd of 50,000 or More Can Be Accommodated Easily. 1 Belmont Park, where the 00,000 match race between Seabiscuit and War Admiral will be run on Decoration Day, May 30, is one of the largest and most commodious race tracks in the world. It comprises 650 acres with a racing strip of 1% miles, a straight course of 6% furlongs called the Widener course and a training track of one mile. The Belmont Park property, located at Queens, Long Island, was purchased in , 1904 and the mammoth plant laid out and opened in 1905 for its initial meeting. At first the races were run the reverse way of the track with the inside rail on the right hand instead of the left as all other American courses were built. The grandstand was r an enormous structure 650 feet in length with a seating capacity of 9.000 and the unusual feature of the roof being made ■ailable for spectators. The clubhouse was HbsUntlal affair, furnished with dining looms be ; joms and balconies and was connected w h the grandstand by a bridge. The administration building adjoining the OltlMwi was complete in all its departments i .ie saddling paddock was one of the fi:i I the country. Stately oaks and ches-nui s shaded the grounds. Beyond the MMJ ; was the quarters of the Turf and Field Club, a quaint and beautiful old mansion. BELMONT PARKS OPENING. Belmont Park proved a revelation when it was opened on May 4, 1905, and the big crowd present witnessed some of the best racing of the time, including a dead heal between the marvelous Sysonby and Race King in the Metropolitan Handicap. All of the famous stake races which had originated at Jerome and Morris Park were transferred to Belmont Park. These included ■ the Withers, Belmont. Jerome, Ladies. To boggan and Metropolitan. Other additions to the stake features at Belmont Park were the transfer of the Futurity, Realization and • Suburban, three noted fixtures of the old Coney Island Jockey Club. i In April, 1817, fire destroyed the grand stand and many other buildings at Belmont Park, which were replaced by temporary structures until in 1920 when the stand was rebuilt and a change made in the direction of the running of the races. The old field stand was removed and added to the grandstand, making the entire structure 950 feet in length and increasing the seating capacity to 17,500. The seating was brought closer j to the track. Over 50,000 people can be ac commodated in Belmont Park and it would not be surprising if that number or more crowded their way into the immense plant, ** especially with the Infield being thrown open to the public at the nominal price of .50.
