Evening star., 1900-10-02
Benning Track to Be Kept Open Until
December 8.
INCREASED PURSES fHls YEAR
Many Improvements Have Been
Made at tie Grounds.
PORTS IN GENERAL

The fall meeting of the Washington Jock
ey Club will begin Saturday, November II,
and continue daily until Saturday, the 9Th
of December. The rules Of the Jockey Club.
the governing turf organization of the east.
prohibits racing after November 80 in this
section. but in view Of the fact that the
local club will be compelled to begin its
autumn meeting somewhat later this year
because of dates assigned to the Empire
track In New York. the Jockey Club has
granted the Washington organization per-
mission to run its meeting until December
8. This privilege. however, has been grant
ed with the distinct understanding that the
meeting is not to be continued after No
vember 80 II the weather Is unfavorable.
The Jockey Club. as is the case with the
local organization, Is opposed to winter
racing, and each has taken such steps to
prevent it that, with the exception Of New
Orleans, where the weather is such as to
permit racing during the winter months
there Is not now and has not been for sew
eral years racing east of the Mississippi
river between the 1st Of December and the
1st of April. This action Of the Jockey Club
1t is expressly stated, is not to be taken as
precedent, and the stewards of the local
club. Mr.. 8. 8. HOwland. its president, and
Messrs. Jesse Brown and Samuel Ross. in
whose discretion q continuance of the meet
ing after November 80 has been left have
been informed that the prevalence of win
ter weather will prevent such an extension
Therefore. the local club has explained to
horsemen and other interested parties that
under no circumstances will the meeting be
continued after the approach of winter
weather.
Successful Meeting Expected.
The coming meeting Is expected to be
even more successful than that OF q year
ago. which eclipsed all previous ones held
here. The purses will probably not only be
larger. but there will be six races each day,
instead Of five. A number OF stake events
have been arranged. the conditions of
which will not only make them attractive
to hOrsemen. but also to the racing public
As heretofore, the club will make a feature
OF races over the jumps. such as will in
sure the entrance In them Of the very best
timber-toppers" in training There will be
three stake events for hunters over the
steeplechase course-the first, the Cham
pion Hunters Steeplechase. at three and
one-half miles. for $500 added money and
500 in plate; the second at two miles, with
$500 added money, and the third q handi-
cap at two and eIhah miles, for beaten
horses. with $4Oo added money and $75 In
Racing THANKSGIVING Day.
The first OF these races will be run on
Thanksgiving day. and on the same day
VIII be rum the Washington cup, for three
year-olds and upward. at two and a half
miles on the fiat, the added money being
1880. The first day of the meeting there
will be stake event for all ages at seven
furlongs. with 500 in added money. and on
the second Saturday there will be a stake
event at the same distances for three-year-
olds and upward, the race to be a heat
affair. best two in three December l. pro-
vided, OF course, the meeting is continued,
there will be a handicap stake event at one
and a half miles for three-year-olds and up-
ward. with $70O in added money, and on
the last day OF the, meeting IT is proposed
to run thea Supreme Trial Stake" at three
miles on the fiat. for three-year-oIds ard
upward, the added money being 81, $40.
improvements at BenninE.
The club has, since the last spring meet
ing, added many improvements to its track
at Benning, the track itself being made, it
Is believed. considerably faster by harden
ing the going by the use Of lime. This ap-
plication Of lime. 1t is stated. has hardened
the sand to such an extent as to kill the
heavy going, and 1t Is expected that the
track will be several seconds faster than
ever before. The ground in front OF the
grand stand has been bricked over, and
brick and cement walks laid to such an ex-
tent as to prevent any mud IN the event of
bad weather. The two upper rooms Of the
mems club house have been converted into
one large one, and it will be fitted up as a
restaurant for ladies, access being had 20
1t by the bridge running from the upper
floor of the grand stand.
Proposed Extension of Trolley Line.
There Is a strong probability that the
Washington Traction and Electric Com
pany. which owns and operates all street
car lines in the District save those con-
trolled by the Capital Traction Company,
will extend It's trolley line to the grand
stand. The club has consented to grant
the company a light of way over its
grounds. and it is expected that the COM
pany will, in the event Of the proposed
extension. construct a loop on the clubs
ground beyond the grand stand, Whereon 1t
will park its cars In such case the COM
pany will run its cars direct to the grand
stand. and inside the grounds racegoers will
find cars awaiting them, thus doing away
with the long walk from the present tracks
of the company.
The same officials that presided over the
spring meeting will off1ctate during the
coming meeting, as follows: Stewards.
Messrs. 8. 8. Rowland, Jesse Brown and
Samuel Ross. and Mr.. F. o. Hanlon secre-
tary; presiding judge. Mr.. Clarence Nc
Dowell; Handicapped. Mr.. w. 8. Vosburgh;
starter. Mr.. Mars Cassidy; patrol and pad
dock judge, Mr.. ]. l.. Hall; timer. Mr.. w.
H. Barretto. and clerk Of the course, Mr..
H. G. Crickmore.