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Del Mars Building Program Is Approved GrandstandClubhouse Additions Among Improvements Planned DEL MAR, Calif., June 1. Approval ox a major building program to increase the facilities at the Del Mar" Turf Club has been given the go ahead, it was announced today by president Alfred Hart. Work will start at the close of the forthcoming summer meeting, which runs from July 27 through September 11. The project, involving the expenditure of more than one million dollars, is jointly sponsored by the Twenty-second District Agricultural Association, operators of the Southern California Exposition and the San Diego County Fair, and the Del Mar Turf Club. Inasmuch as the building improvements are to be on state-owned property, approval of the program was required from the Department of Finance at Sacramento. Hart and the management of the Del Mar Turf Club had hope to get the building program under way so -that some of the structures would be ready for use. for this summers fifteenth turf meeting. However, the nature of the additions and changes and the resultant necessity for quantities of structural steel forced a delay. Rather than have patrons inconvenienced with building in progress during the 1954 meet, it was decided to begin construction in mid-September. Ready for 1955 Season Included among the improvements to be ready for the 1955 season of both the race track and the fair are an addition to the present grandstand, extension of the turf club and clubhouse buildings and major remodeling of existing facilities, new stable accommodations, improvement of parking areas and beautifying the infield. Plans for the grandstand and turf clubhouse additions have been drawn by architects Arthur Froelich, of Los Angeles, and Sam Hamill, of San Diego, as consultant. Froelich is recognized as the nations outstanding authority on race track architecture; Hamill originally supervised the building of the present-Del Mar plant. The grandstand addition will be 160 feet lopg and 116 feet deep and will tie in with the present grandstand structure. It will have seats for 2,400, as well as up-to-the-minute refreshment, wagering and rest-room facilities on the mezzanine and main floors. The clubhouse-turf club structure will measure 80 feet long and 100 feet deep and will extend toward .the first turn, occupying the area presently known as the clubhouse patio. This will enlarge the clubhouse dining and lounge areas on the main floor-and provide more than adequate similar facilities on the turf club level. It will also increase the turf club seating by 50, as well as provide 28 additional tables on the dining terrace.
