Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-23
WAITING FOR THE START.
Opening of the Spring Races at Ivy City
Tomorrow.

The National Jockey club will open the reg
ular season at Ivy City tomorrow, and the
meeting certainly promises to be the most
brilliant ever held there if one is to Judge by
the many improvements made to the already
beautiful racing grounds, and the great num-
Der of horses ready to take part in the races.
The grounds never looked prettier; the trees
are in full leaf, the fields lovely spring green
and the track in excellent condition,
possibly not what may be called fast just now.
but it is perfectly safe and after it has been
used day or two will be as fast as any track in
the country. The unsightly old timers stand
has been torn down, and in its stead has been
erected beautiful dOuble-decked affair on the
grand stand side, which will accommodate both
judges and timers. and as il is on the spider"
order the public will be able to see the horses
all the way around the track. A portion of the
paddock has been fenced off in order to make
path for people to get from the grand stand
to the clubhouse without danger OF being
kicked to death by some vicious racer, The
horsemen viii also appreciate this. because it
will keep idle people where they cannot worry
their charges. The grand stand has been
treated to fresh coat of paint and the roof
has been carefully repaired. The chairs have
all been washed and painted and. in fact, the
entire place is as clean as a new pin.
GREAT sTEEPLE-cHAsE COURSE.
But the improvement that will be appreci-
ated most by the general public is the steeple-
chase course. 1t is indeed a steeple-chase
course now. In fact, it is considered the only
real one in the country. Not Jump is less
than four feet in height. and great many are
several inches higher. and every one is solid.
Horses will no longer find it possible to pillow
through the obstacle. They must lump and
jump high in order to get over. Riders
will find that they can no longer race
at break-neck pace, but must go carefully
and give their horses a chance TO rise at each
wall. 1t is hoped and expected that with these
higher jumps there will be fewer accidents.
Horsemen are i'll love with the new course and
say it will be very much safer than the old
The steeplechase jockeys say they will be
more careful. and that they would rather ride
over this course than any they have ever seen.
THE RACES.
The first race will be called promptly at 8
O'Clock each day, and trains will leave the B.
and o. depot at 1910, ]: 80. and 2:9O D. M, and
possibly another one at $40 p. M. but il would
be better to take one of the earlier trains. Per-
feet order will, as heretofore be preserved. and
no disreputable person admitted to the grounds
The owners, with the rAmber of horses each
has, are W. Il. Jennings 13; w. p. Burch, II;
Capt. S. S. Brown. %; c. ID. Mccoy. 6: Davis &
Hall. IS; t. d. McDermott. 2; Louis Martin. 4;
Governor Oden Bowie, Il; Wyndom Walden
10; Maj. Thos Boswell. IL; J. T. Williams 10:
Green d. Morris, IL: Il. Bradley, 10: Walter
Gratz, A. Frank Taylor, 8; Jere Dunn. 6: c.
Cornehleson, 3; ]. L. Carmody, 4: Mr.. Arthur
Dundas, 81 w. Hayes, 3; while Cotton & BOYLE
with 8, Chas. Littlefeld with 3. and E. HAYES
with are expected to-day, and W. C. Daily
with 6 tomorrow.
GREAT MEETING EXPECTED.
There are several other stables expected, but
they have not as yet signified the number of
horses each will bring, but there are certainly
enough here now to give the best meeting ever
held at Ivy City.
]. I. Carmody is under the ban at Gutten-
berg for a fragrant violation of racing law.
Col. Simmons. or the executive committee may
not allow him to run his horses here.
Mr.. W. b. Jennings great mare struck herself
while at work recently and has been blistered.
in consequence of which she will not run until
the latter part of the Sheepshead Bay meeting.
Messrs. Goodwin Brothers, the well-known
point providers, are at the Riggs house, and are
ready to furnish their patrons with some very
good things for the meeting
1t was said at the track yesterday that the
best work done by any of the Washington
trained horses SO far was mile in l:4S. while
there are at least dozen from New York who
can go the distance in 1:44. it would be as
well for hackers to bear this in mind
mare who must not be overlooked is
Bordelaise, who won at a mile and a sixteenth
recently at Clifton in 1:491l. great many
horsemen think she will win the congressional
handicap Saturday.