view raw text
| : Unveil All -Weather Clubhouse, Grandstand at Washington Interiors Glass-Enclosed For Heat and Cold; Ready For Balmorals Inaugural HOMEWOOD, 111., May 6. — The first all-weather" clubhouse and grandstand interiors in America will be unveiled on May 13 when Washington Park opens its gates for the 30-day Balmoral spring meeting. All interiors of the stands, stretching for nearly a quarter mile, have been completely glass-enclosed for the 1957 season, with new installations added to provide full air-conditioning in warm weather and heat when the weather turns cool. The new installation highlights Washington Parks 1957 improvement program, the latest phase of a long-range program which has made the Homewood course and its sister track, Arlington Park, among the most modern and comfortable in America. The new air-conditioning-heating system at Washington Park now offers a haven of comfort for the fans from any type of weather, whether it be cold or heat, during the Balmoral spring session. It also will produce cool temperatures for any heat wave during Washington Parks own racing season later in the summer. Last year, only the clubhouse interior was glass-enclosed, air-condtioned and heated, with the grandstand receiving only heat in cool weather. Grandstand Interiors Newly Decorated The 1956 installation in the clubhouse re ceived such strong public acclaim that the same facilities and comforts were added this year for the grandstand patrons. In addition, the grandstand interiors have been newly decorated and newly lighted, with new asphalt tile floors on the upper two levels, and with new photo color murals of famous thoroughbred horses and jockeys. Other improvements which will be ready for the Balmoral opening next Monday include : • 1. A new auto entrance at the extreme north end of the track on Halsted street, with a new road direct to the parking areas in back of the stands. 2. New blacktop paving for all major parking areas. 3. A new gooseneck, aluminum inside rail on the main course. A similar rail will be built for the grass course in time for the Washington Park meeting. 4. Enlarged and more complete hospital facilities. 5. A new chapel-recreation building on the tracks trailer court. Since 1954, Washington Park has had escalators installed in both clubhouse and grandstand, plus a new grandstand section, new parking facilities and completely remodeled mutuel facilities.
