The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-07
THE EMERW|LLE TRACK,
Great Improvements to Be
Made by the California
Jockey Club.
Meets to Be Held There
Twice Year.

The old Emeryville racing grounds are
to be rehabilitated at cost, it is said, of
$75, 900. Everything is to be remodeled
throughout and fine double-decked grand
stand erected.
The California Jockey Club is the mover
in the new enterprise. It's president, Mr..
Williams, told all about it yesterday, pre-
ferring not to have his good works hidden
under a bushel.
1.-THE Emeryville track has been an eye
sore to turf connoisseurs for years." said
Mr.. Williams. "The fence around it is
battered and shaky, the grand stand is a
misnomer and almost everything on the
grounds bear the marks of age and use.
"a year ago the California locke Club
secured lease OF the grounds for seven
years with an option of nine years ex-
tension, so that 1t can look to sixteen years
of possession.
1--WE had in mind for some time the ex-
tensive improvement of the track, and re-
Gently orders were given to the architect to
prepare plans for a modern, frst-class
grand stand that will cost upward of 500
600. The plans will be completed in few
weeks. and the work of construction will
thereafter be promptly commenced.
'Its length will be about 800 feet and the
depth 80 feet. The ground will be foored
with asphalt. From the rear there will be
the main entrances to the grand stand
proper, and a promenade thirty-six feet
wide will extend the entire rear length of
the building.
1.-THE height of the stand will be about
fifty feet, and the seating capacity not less
than $500"
There will probably be some alterations
made on the track, for the club is not
satisfied with its present condition. The
back stretch will be widened twenty-fiv
feet, and the turns even more.
Many of the stables are old buildings not
fit rs>house good horsefesh, and the inten-
stance the new buildings will be superior
in design and materials to the DID, and
money will not be spared to make them as
comfortable as possible.
South of the track building will be
erected to serve for the secretary's Office
and for the club headquarters. New
scalesrooms and dressing-rooms will be
built and, in fact, the entire architecture
on the grounds will be removed, and the
old buildings gradually torn down.
"My idea in spending so much money on
the Emeryville track, said Mr.. Williams,
sis this: The track in this City has not
been patronized very much by Oaklanders
and persons living further in the interior
of the country.
This patronage can be induced to come
to the Emeryville grounds, which, of
course, will be also we'll attended by the
local followers at the turf
at must be distinctly understood the
tracks on each side of the bav will not be
run in opposition to each other. They
will both be controlled by the California
Jockey Club.
eve will have meets on the Oakland
track twice year-one in August and the
other in November. Perhaps we will have
running meet for three weeks in the sum-
mer.
'The first meet will be held in Novem-
Der next, when we expect the grand stand
and other improvements will have been
finished.
1.-The features at the dedicatory meet
will be two, three and four mile dashes-a
sort of innovation on the coast turf that
MO avpact will he very nOnuIar,,