view raw text
Waterford Park Gets General Overhauling New Items for 758 Meetlnclude Grass Course, Outdoor Paddock CHESTER, W. Va., May 3.— Waterford Park is slowly emerging from the effects of a general construction overhauling and will be completely ready in time for its prescribed June 4 opening day. The beautiful mile race course, operating under brand new management for its 1958 season, will present a vastly different ap-. pearance on opening day. Among major improvements currently underway are: A new infield turf course, first in West Virginia racing history. A connecting bridge between grandstand and clubhouse. A new mezzanine floor, complete with mutuels department and rest rooms. A. new outdoor paddock, colorfully surrounded by posts and railings, painted to conform with the racing silks of famous stables. A new cafeteria-style restaurant on the ground floor of the grandstand. . A revamped clubhouse box and seating area, complete with 25 private boxes and approximately 350 free seats on the balcony for patrons. I Enlarged wagering facilities in the clubhouse area. A new winners circle. To all this add hundreds of gallons of paint, grandstand seats painted in bright colors to add zest and life to a racing afternoon, new water fountains spotted throughout the grounds, and numerous minor provements and innovations to make "new" [Waterford Park one of the most improved race courses in the nation. Executive offices are now open at the track and construction work is racing! ahead to successful completion, with contractors assuring president James F. Edwards that everything will be in readiness several weeks prior to the June 4 getaway date. In all, upwards of 00,000 will have been expended to Improve the grounds and give to West Virginia racing fans a veritable showplace of the American turf. The stables are to be opened for the reception of horses on May 15, and the first thoroughbreds of the season are expected shortly after that date. They, too, will find facilities vastly changed from previous meets. All. "stalls have been painted, improved and lined with new wood, tack rooms have been renovated, a new drainage system installed, and a new fire-fighting program initiated and the whole area generally beautified.
