The morning times., 1896-02-18
BUILDINGS At BEHN|NGS
Many Improvements at the POpu-
lar Old Course.
GRAND STAND ENLARGED
The New Wing VIII BE Carried Out
Over the Old Betting Ring-Pad-
dock Fully Three Times as Large
as the Old One 10 be Built-Not
Many Horses at the Track

Those OF the racing people who are pre-
dieting failure, both from a racing stand
point and financially. for the Washington
Jockey Club when they open their gates for
the spring meeting at Jennings, would
have their predictions wet blanketed,"
should they take Il trip TO the track and see
the improvements now under way there.
In their attempt TO revive the sport in this
city. place il on Il sportsmanlike footing and
create an interest in clean legitimate racing,
the members OF the club intend to spare
neither pains nor expense.
There is no reason why the good old days
when thousands OF the elite of Washington
visited the track and crowd of ten thou
sand was an every day occurrence, should
not be revived, and that revival is the
object and aim OF the Washington Jockey
Club.
The members OF that body, who are
all old-tinle racing men OF much expert
ence, understand that this cannot be done
so long as racing is conducted by gamblers
and for the sole purpose of financial gain.
knowing this they intend TO see that this
contingent is kept entirely i'll the back
ground and only the best element of
racing society catered to-
SHOULD BE A SUCCESS.
How successful they viii be yet remains
To be seen. but no one at all familiar with
the question can doubt that when the
public comes TO realize that they can at
tend the races without fear OF coming in
contact with all kinds and conditions of
humanity they would much prefer TO hold
aloof from. they Will snatch at the chance
OF witnessing the sport.
Iu carrying out this idea il was found it
would be impossible to give hish-class
race meeting under the conditions they
were aiming at. without first making many
improvements on the buildings and stables
at the grounds OF the club.
President Howland therefore caused plans
TO be drawn showing these necessary inn
provements, and after having them APP
uroyed by the committee in charge OF such
work they were put into the hands of COM
petent persons with instructions to carry
| them out, and hang the expense"
Work on these lines has been going on for
some time, and when The Times visited
the track Yesterday the place was hardly
recognizable. Track Superintendent Cor
man has been at Rennngs for the past
month and has personally sovcrseen all of
| the work that has been done about the
place.
CLUBHOUSE MUCH CHANGED
One Of the biggest changes is in the
! grand stand and clubhouse. The latter is
! being completely overhauled and an addi-
| tion added 10 il that has changed the eX-
terror entirely. The work has not yet
reached a stage where it can be seen just
! what Tie place win look like when finished,
bdt the old clubhouse viii he a thing of
the past.
The grand stand is being extensively en-
| larged. the addition extending out over
the betting ring, which lies TO tie left as
one enters the main gate into the track.
| The stand will be carried out TO the ex-
trene end OF this structure. which, by the
way, under the new conditions Will no
| longer be used As "A betting nDg.
This ring will be transformed into lunch
room. with all modern conveniences, and
| The fruit, peanut and Coney Island" sand
wich stands, which We're run under the
| erandstand near the stairway, will be
relegated 10 this part OF the new stand.
There will be very little work necessary
| on the track proper, as il has always been
| kept in good repair for the use OF the horse
! men who stable at the grounds. Down the
! back stretch il has suffered somewhat from
| the weather but a little shaping up Will
soon remedy this trouble.
| There Will be several new stables built.
They will be situated down inthe hollow, the
old stables which are over against the fence
| being torn down To ma Ike way for them. All
| OF them will receive a fresh coat of paint,
as will in fact. every building, large and
small. on the track.
BRIDGE TO THE CLUBHOUSE.
In connection with the clubhouse a
covered bridge is being built from it to
| the grandstand The want Of such a con-
| yenience was much felt on stormy days
when it was very disagreeable walking
over on the uncovered bridge that spann ed
this space.
One thing that will undergo a great
Improvement will be the paddock. For
| such large track tire old paddock at Ben
ming was probably the worst i'm the coun try
and many is the horseman that has 'cussed'
at its cramped quarters.
The old one will be torn down and one
fully three times as large put up. AS
vet. work on this has not been started
1t Will not take very long TO finish the job
however, when once Mr.. Gormen gets
his force OF men at work Box stalls will
be provided in the new paddock, which
viii be quite an innovation.
There are very few horses at Benning,
mostof the horsemen whohave been winter.
ing in the North prefcrring to remain there
until just before the meeting opens. They
have good accommodations ut the New
! York tracks and would lie taking chances
10 come down here and put up with in
ferior quarters during the winter months
About the first OF April, however, they
may be expected 10 arrive in droves. In
deed, so many have announced their in
tention of taking part in the meeting thai
| the probabilities are some viii have tC
/ e,1-x TH-rv