Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-28
GOOD RACING PROSPECTS
The New Track of the Virginia Jockey
Club.
st. Asaph's Junction Will Welcome
ture-No Winter Racing.

Mr.. H. D. Mcintyre, secretary OF the
Brooklyn Jockey Club. was in town for a
Few hours yesterday, looking after the
interests Of the Virginia Jockey Club. Mr.
Mcintyre was accompanied by Mr.. Kirk,
well-known man in the eastern racing
world. Both are financially interested in
| the new racing organization, together with
other eastern racing men. They ran over
| to the track of the club formerly the prop
erty of the Gentlemen's Driving Club of
Alexandria. Va, near st. Asaph's juno
ton, about half way between here and
Alexandria, and later in the day returned
| to Brooklyn.
To a Star reporter Mr.. Mcintyre stated
| that the work of converting the old half
mile track into a modern one Of six fur
longs, with a fve-furlong shute. would be
| commenced today, the contract having
been already awarded. A portion of the
old track will be used, but the greater
part of the new track will be entirely new
ground. Work will also be at once begun
Upon the construction OF commodious
gland stand, club house and stables sufti-
Gent to hold four or five hundred horses
Additional ground will be purchased, and
everything done to make the course one Of
the finest in the country. To do that some
thirty or forty Thousand dollars will be ex-
pended.
The track. like that Of the Old Dominion
Jockey Club, on Alexandria Island, will
be shaped like a figure 6. the oval track
being one of six furiongs. The grand stand
Will be erected upon the north side of the
track, and a railroad siding will be run
from the main line Of the Pennsylvania
railroad into the grounds Of the club. so
that passengers will be landed upon a plat
fern directly back Of the grand stand. The
run from Washington station of the road to
the grand stand will be made in twenty
minutes or less. Special cars for ladies
will be provided, and trains will be in wait
ing at the grand stand to convey race
Immediately
the races are finished.
While a number of eastern racing men
will form the financial backing Of the or
ganiZation, a club will be formed in which
membership may be secured by subscrft-
ton. Mayor E. E. bowman of Alex
andria will be the president of the club,
the most prominent members of the Metro
politan Club Of this city. Indeed, II Is the
purpose of the organizers Of the new jockey
club to put II upon the same social founda-
Of this city occupied when its race meet
ings at the Ivy City track ranked second
to none in the country.
No Writer Racing.
Mr.. Mcintyre explained that it would be
the purpose Of the club to transfer the
scene of racing next fall from the New
York tracks to that across the river, and
said that assurances had already been re-
ceived which insure ed the running there next
fall of the very best horses in training.
The Getting, said Mr.. Mcintyre, woulc be
inaugurated on the 18th of October. and
would continue until the LIST of December.
He assured The Stars reporter that there
would be no attempt at winter racing, and
empf atically stated that there had never
been any intention whatever of conducting
a winter race meeting, Indeed, he said that
the club would not only not attempt such
a thing, but II would do all IL could to pre-
vent ally other organization running a win
ter race meeting. There would be two race
meetings year, the spring meeting be-
ginning about the LIST of March, or as soon
thereafter as the weather would permit,
and the fall meetings would commence i'm
mediately after the close of racing In the
north, where 1t closed on the 18th OF Oc-
tober.
Big Stake Race.
Mcintyre explained, and the purses would
aggregate from 5000 to S, 500 day. On
the opening day he said that the largest
stake ever run for in this section of the
country would be arranged. 1t would prob
ably be a handicap for three-year-olds and
upward at a mile and a quarter, and its
guaranteed value would be not less than
so 900. 1t was also proposed to give sew
eral special races during the inaugural
meeting at 81 600 each, which would bring
together the finest horses then IN training.
Nothing would be omitted to make the
track one of the finest in the country. and
IL the jumping races at the Coney Island
course this season proved q success similar
races would be given across the river. Mr..
Mcintyre will be the secretary Of the new
club, and Jimmie Rowe or j. +. Caldwell
will handle the flag.