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Tropical Is Remodeling Clubhouse for Next Meet Escalators, New Mutuel Set-Up Among Improvements Being Made MIAMI, Pla., June 11. Tropical Park will unveil a remodeled clubhouse with improved-mutuel facilities and escalators to speed the flow of patrons, along with several other major improvements throughout the rest of the plant when racing returns to Coral Gables in November. The track is currently undergoing a 50,000 renovation program, and, according to track superintendent Henry Collins, all work will be completed at least six weeks before the scheduled opening of Tropical on November 27. "Well use the final weeks before our meeting starts for the usual double check ot all improvements and to take care of anything that may have been overlooked," Collins said. "We started work on the current improvements the day after Tropical closed last January 15 and although rain has hampered some operations, weve been able to keep right on schedule." The. major improvement in the clubhouse has been the removal of the outdated mutuel set-up on the ground level which in the past caused severe jams at the windows. A modern battery of mutuel windows, occupying less than half the space of the former installations, but providing for increased facilities, is now being constructed. Clubhouse patrons also will have an additional 2,500 square feet of lawn space in the paddock area, as a result of a new gate system installed. Decorative floral boxes at the clubhouse entrance have been added to enhance the Italian tile pillars along the walkway. The firm of Steward and Skinner, architects, is currently drawing up plans for the installation of escalators in the clubhouse. For the grandstand patrons, a concrete "lawn," sloped six feet from the stands to the track rail, to provide a better view for standees, has been completed. And for newspapermen covering the Tropical races, a new press box, with all equipment required by the writers, will be built. The old press box in the grandstand has been removed, providing 102 additional seats. Other improvements include the repaving - and enlarging of the parking areas and general alterations in the stable area.
