The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-18
FASTEST TRACK
IN THE WORLD.
ALAMEDA'S NEW STRAIGHTAWAY
RACE COURSE SAID TO
HAVE No EQUAL.
1T IS NOW READY FOR USE.
WILL BE REGULAR MECCA FOR
OWNERS AND LOVERS OF
FAST HORSES.

There would have been some good sport
in Alameda yesterday afternoon had it not
been for the drilling rain, which began to
fall about noon and continued throughout
the day. Three well-known San Francisco
horsemen were billed to try the bottom
and surface OF the newly built Alameda
straight-away speed track. The gentlemen
and horses in question were A Ottinger
with Allie Dick, Mabry McMann with
Mabry, and 1. L. Borden with Allie
Cresco. But the rain spoiled it all and the
test runs were postponed until the weather
clears up.
The people of Alameda know how to
keep the wheels of progress going around
in the right direction. They are not salts
fled with having the best and cleanest
streets on the Pacific coast. They want the
best boulevards and speed tracks, too, and
when they make up their minds that such
and such thing would add to the attrac-
tlveness OF the Encinal City they just go
ahead and get it.
The new racetrack is a splendid acquisi-
ton, and Sanford Bennett deserves mon
ument for having successfully engineered
the scheme. That is the sentiment preva-
lent among the devotees of the sport of
kings. The track is one and a quarter
hll4GS lO1lS1 giving OIle-SISnbH VI d IlllG dI
each end for starting and finishing. 1t
begins at Prospect street and runs westerly
to Grand street, and is perfectly level with
the exception of eighteen inches decline on
the half mile toward the homestretch. Mr..
Bennett and other lovers of horse speeding
have asserted that this is the fastest track
in the world. 1t is 100 feet wide and is
constructed of slickens, clay and adobe,
on sound and springy bottom. 1t was
finished, ready for use, only a few days
ago, and has been repeatedly rolled with
an eight-ton roller.
The principal men at the head of the
concern are Sanford Bennett, John Lutgen,
William Leydecker and 0. A. Zingg. Mr..
Bennett secured the land by deed Tor five
years from the Alameda Board of Trustees
Tor the purpose OF constructing boulevard
and speed track. 1t is believed that when
the five years have expired the city will
make the grant perpetual. The expenses
OF building the track were betrayed by pri-
yate contributions, and the cost of it at the
present time is 1923. 1t was built by O. A.
Zingg.
The work OF putting up necessary build
ings and other needed conveniences will be
commenced this week. Two large trading
stables will be built at the Grand-street
end. Distance poles and signals will be
put in place and electric-wire connection
made with start and finish. The track is
almost straight, having slight curve that
is barely perceptible when one views it
from one end to the other. Scores of
prominent horsemen, owners and drivers,
have already signified their desire to have
place on the track for racing and training.
They will be charged small fee per
month for using the track. The Board of
Trustees OF Alameda has appropriated $50
month for the maintenance of the track
o. A. Zingg. has been appointed police
man and placed in charge. Sanford Ben
nett is the warden.