The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-29
COMING Of THE RUNNERS
Prospects for a Great Meeting at
Benning Daily Improving.
Many Horses Expected as Soon as
the Empire and Aqueduct Tracks
to Be Fnster Than Ever Before
other improvements Under Way.

| The officials of the Washington Jockey
Club are bard at work preparing for the
opening of the fall meeting at the Benning
racetrack, and when the bell rings calling
the horses TO the post on the first day,
| November Il, nothing will be lacking for
the comfort of the public and horsenen
alike.
OF the track itself it is not saying too
much to state that it was never in better
| or safer condition that at present, ard the
experiment of lining tried by Superintend-
ent Lee has improved it wonderfully, and
it may be considered fast. So far the ar
rivals of horses are few, owing to the fact
that the racing season is not yet closed
either East or West, but with the closing
of the Empire City and Aqueduct
tracks there will be more horses at Ben
ming, and of better class, than ever ue-
fore in its history.
Washington racegoers will be glad 10
learn that their old favorite, Beau Ideal,
is at the track and notwithstanding
severe campaign on the Canadian circuit,
he Is looking as fit as fiddle and stands
! an excellent chance of pulling down one
of the long distance purses hung up by
the Jockey Club. The public~w.ll pleas
antly remember his race last ThanksSiv-
ing Day, when he ran for the Washing
ton Cup at two miles and a quarter only
getting beat a nose at the wire by War
renton. Mr.. Hanna, his owner and train
er, says "Old Beau as the boys call
him, was never better in his life, and
that he is certain to get some Of the
money with him at this meeting. He in
tends schooling him this winter to go
over the jumps and thinks the old horse
ought to make a grand steeplechaser.
An improvement under way and nearing
completion is a new board walk from the
car line to the main gate. 1t is all Of two
feet wider than the old walk and makes it
possible for five or six people to walk
abreast. This will be appreciated by the
public, as the old walk was entirely too
narrow to accommodate the increasing
patronage that now comes to Benning. The
Jockey Club under the direction of Presi-
dent Rowland, is leaving nothing undone
and sparing no expense for the comfort Of
its patrons. 1t has been generous in its
purses for the horsemen and 1t is lavish
In providing for their accommodation.
Mr.. McGrath, who controls the cafe and
restaurant privileges on all Jockey Club
tracks, was at Benning yesterday, and was
pleased at the many changes, but more
particularly at the increase of space given
him to do business-more than twice what
1t has been heretofore.
Gwynne TomDkins, with his stable of
timber toppers, is due to arrive at the
track this morning from a very successful
season in the West and will no doubt
gather in enough to pay his winter feed
bill before he goes into winter quarters.
He has been unusually successful with his
string. and in FrOnd he has shown the
best steeplechaser in the West, and for
her size one of the best In the country. She
is very small, and her limit is about 145
pounds. but she is grand flly. and at
that weight will give any Of them race
Algernon Dangerfeld is in town, looking
robust and rugged as ever. and ready to
assume his position OF assistant secretary
and assistant Judge at the coming meet
ing, positions he is admirably qualified to
fill
H. C. Crickmore is to arrive here on
Saturday next, to confer with President
Rowland regarding Jockey Club matters,
and from now on everyone will be working
tooth and nail getting ready for opening
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