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To Build New ,200,000 Grandstand atTimonium Completion of Modernization Program Set for June 1, 1958 TIMONIUM, Md., May 16. — John H. Zink, president of the Maryland State Fair and Agricultural Society, •which operates Timonium race track in connection with the Maryland State Fair, announced today the letting of contracts for the building of a completely new modern grandstand. To cost ,200,000 the grandstand is a part of Timoniums ,500,000 modernization program. A new paddock, walking ring, jockeys quarters and racing secretarys office were completed last year. The contract for the general construction of the stand went to W. H. Sands, Inc., of Towson,~Md., and the contract for constructional steel was awarded Dietrich Brothers, of Baltimore. Contracts call for the delivery of steel by December 1957 and the completion of the grandstand is set for June 1, 1958. Arrangements have been completed with the Baltimore fire department to burn down the old wooden stand, which has stood since "around 1900. This will take place on September 15 following the 1957 I fair and race meeting, scheduled August 26 through September 7. s The burning ceremony," as general J manager Johnny Heil puts it, is expected . to attract a lazge neighborhood crowd and j the fire department will conduct a series , of practice drills. "We believe the main feature of our new grandstand will be the width of the seats and the three -feet of walking space between rows," Zink said. Our seats will be 19, 20 and 21 inches wide whereas at most race tracks they are only 17 to 18 inches wide and are uncomfortable for the heavier patrons. "There will be 4.000 seats in the new stand as compared to 2,200 in the old structure. Then Timonium will be able to seat about 8,000 patrons. "There will be a main floor betting ring and a mezzanine betting section with 60 sellers and 60 cashiers on the ground floor and 30 of each of the same on the mezzanine. There will be five exits frdm the grandstand and the three entrances to the mezzanine have been so arranged to avoid congestion even on the biggest days. "Now the concourse in front of the grandstand provides only 28 feet of standing room between the first row of seats and the race track. The plans for the new stand provide for a 58-foot concourse, sloping toward the track to provide standees with excellent view of the races." Booths for stewards, judges, cameras and the press will be located on the roof of the new stand.
