Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-13
NEW STRINGS OF SCORCHERS
Arrival From New Orleans of
More Race Horses,
INCLUDING CRACK JOCKEYS
Owners Appear to Be Well Pleased With the
Equipment and Appointments of the
Birmingham Race Course.

The Birmingham special from New
Orleans, comprising seven Burton &
Arms stock cars, filled with fast race
horses, which was to have arrived here
at o'clock yesterday morning, did not
arrive on time owing to the derailing of "a
freight car in train between this city
and Montgomery. They arrived about
noon, and as soon as possible were trans
ferred to the Birmingham and Bessemer
dummy line for removal to the race
course. AS soon as possible Superin-
tendent ]. b. McClary of the Birming-
ham Railway and Electric company,
with the assistance of Master Mechanic
Harry English and large engine and
ew, got to work placing the cars. By
sunset the horses were in their stables
and jockeys, trainers, stable boys and
owners were looking for self comfort
the horses, of course occupying first
place.
A State Herald reporter went out to
the grounds during the afternoon and
witnessed the unloading of the cars. EV-
erything under the direction of Secretary
Dargin of the Jockey club went off with
clock-work precision. Every owner had
his stables, and as his horses were
brought from the cars the stable boys
led them off to their respective stalls
Some of the improvements.
After viewing the unloading for time
the news gatherer wandered over to the
stables. Here all was life and stir.
Stalls were being bedded horses made
comfortable and men and boys preparing
for stay of some days.
The old machinery hall was next Wis
tied 1t showed a complete transforma-
ton. Stalls had been arranged around
three walls and a double row of them
down the center of the large room,
There were excellent stables for sixty
horses. In fact, to use the expression OF
one horse owner they are as good as
can be seen in the SOUTH"
The grand stand was also viewed by
the news gatherer Here an improve
ment more marked than that at ma
chinery hall was noticed In front
loomed the judges stand, and directly
behind it was the stand where arrange
ments for thousands to view the races
had been made. Instead of bare boards,
which formerly graced that place, COM
Portable benches, with backs, were to be
seen. This alone deserves more than
passing MENTION Another feature, and
one which will bring encomiums from the
patrons, is to be found beneath the grand
stand Here toilet rooms for ladies and
gentlemen have been prepared. This
feature OF COnlOTI HeIclOlOlt was III
ticed by it's absence.
Reyond the grand stand is seen a pa
yilion known as the betting ring. This
has been arranged not only for the com
fort of the ''bookies," but for ''plungers.
The only paddock on southern race
track is also to be found just beyond the
betting ring. This is a most admirable
arrangement and something new and
novel to the average sporting man of this
city. =
The last, but by far most important,
place visited was the scales and pockey
rooms. Here the nimble jocks dress and
are weighed in previous to mounting
their horses. This place is complete In
all details and well worth seeing.
The last piece of pipe was fitted yes
terday by Messrs. Wright & Ruffner,
and now the race course has a complete
NINA ture water works system. Hy-
drants are placed at every stable and
kitchen and every closet is flushed,
large tank stands near machinery hall
for fire protection, and at the grand
stand and paddock plenty of water is
available for drinking and other uses.
The water is procured from the large
spring just outside the fence.
Despite the snow, which began falling
shortly after the first car of horses were
unoaded every one of the people who
arrived with yesterdays special seemed
well pleased with the situation of every
thing at the track and around the
grounds.
Some Of the New Arrivals.
Among the horses which arrived yes
terday not noticed in the last issue of
this paper were j. belongs stable.
There were twelve flyers in the lot. as
follows: Eagle Bird, Queen Bess, Lula
t. Souvenir, Cossack Lady Falkland,
Belle of Niles, Lotus, Hazel, Hatch,
Buck Knight, Charley r. and Deluder.
Jockeys Morris and Wynn are. with this
sta BILE and their colors are blue and old
gold Mr. DeLong reports very pleas
amt Journey and says he is very favor
ably impressed with the manner in
which the club has arranged the grounds
and buildings.
Messrs. May & Halls stable was also
among yesterdays arrivals. In this
string are to be found Captain Brown.
William T. and Albert Sidney, three very
high class horses.
Colonel May, who is a Virginian and
one of the best known and most genial
owners on the turf, was well pleased with
the appearance of everything. The snow,
however, was not to his liking. He re-
marked that the sudden transitions from
fruits and flowers to snow and slush was
O little too much.
lGrand Stand All o. X.
To satisfy every one as to the sta ability
of the grand stand, the club had compe-
tent architects to visit and examine
same The following letter explains the
result.
Birmingham, March H. 1896.
Alabama State Fair and Racing Associa-
ton, City
Gentlemen: We have this day made a
careful examination of the grand stand
at the fair grounds and beg leave to re-
port that we consider the same safe and
secure. Respectfully submitted.
CHARLES WHEELOCK & SON,
Architects.
Names for the Race Days.
Tho eaveral daya of the meeting have