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Work on Cahokia Downs Plant Nearly Complete . All Barns at New East St. Louis Track Are of Metal Construction By C. A. LINDEMAN Staff Correspondent FAIRMOUNT PARK, Collinsville, 111., May 25. — A recent visit to- the newly built racing plant that will be known as Cahokia Downs shows it nearing completion. The stands, of steel and brick construction, are as near fireproof as it is possible to make k them. There will be ample room for the y large crowds that are expected to attend during the 70 nights of racing, starting July 27. The mutuel windows are located in spacious surroundings and patrons should have no difficulty making wagers and cashing them. Executive manager James G. Hopkins says the lights will be completed in about two weeks. The racing strip is three-quarters of a mile in circumference and has a mile and an eighth chute. All of the barns are of metal construction where possible, and all sleeping accommodations for the stable help are in separate buildings, thus assuring no danger of fire. All barns are built in such a way that men walking their horses can automatically time themselves — as six complete «times around constitute approximately a half hour. Horsemen, who are stabled at the Cahokia Downs track, say that it is one of the finest training tracks over which they have ever worked their horses. At this time the racing strip is rather deep in cushion, which makes an ideal training strip. Track superintendent F. Squires, who has had much experience, having worked at the Gulfstream Park plant, says that .by race time he will have the racing strip in a fast condition. Of the horses stabled at Cahokia Downs and racing at Fairmount Park, they have won close to 30 per cent of the races thus far. They have labeled the plant "Lucky Downs" due to the high percentage of winners they have sent "to the races.
