New-York tribune., 1901-10-07
TURF CHANGES AT HAND.

Notable changes are likely to be made upon
we'll known racetracks in this city and State
within a short time. The spacious domain Of
Morris Park upon which John A. Morris spent
not far from two millions Of dollars, will be cut
up into building lots ere long. IN the extent OF
its area, in the size, number and cost or It's
buildings, in the outlay for grading draining
and equipment, Morris Park has been first
among the courses in either America, and few
racing properties in any country surpass or even
rival it with respect to those things. Many
famous contests have been decided within its
gates, and the autumn meeting of the West
chester Racing Association will take place upon
its grounds this month Il was the successor
of delightful and picturesque Jerome Park as
the arena of the battles of tie thoroughbreds
north of the Harlem after the celebrated Ford
ham course had been taken by the city as the
site for the immense new reservoir, which is
not yet completed. The transportation arrange
ments to and from Morris Park have always
been slow and unsatisfactory, but In spite of
that drawback there might be racing among
the Westchester hills and dales for a dozen
years more were it not that the land has risen
so much in value as to tempt the owners TO dis
pose Of 1t to builders Of homes.
When the huge grandstand at Morris Park is
demolished as the Monmouth stand was taken
down several years ago, will the meetings of
the runners be kept up in the Borough of The
Bronx? Possibly the association which now
leases the Morris lands and buildings may
acquire control Of the big Empire City track,
some miles distant William II. Clark former
Corporation Counsel, and several capitalists
allied with him sank fortune In the Empire
City enterprise, which has never been success
full, although planned upon a generous scale.
r ic NJ q nd
has never been popular; but if the present
lessees of Morris Park are put out at the end
of their lease they may perhaps go to the
Empire City grounds, meanwhile persuading
the railroads to construct such spurs and
branches that passengers can be carried to and
from the place with some approach to expe-
dition.
The Brooklyn Jockey Club has just closed It's
fall meeting upon Its narrow cramped little
track at Gravesend. That property has been
mine of riches to its owners since the first race
was run there 1t has been managed for the
heaping up of the largest possible profits, with
little regard to public convenience or to the
development of sport of the highest type. Ger
tain influential members of the Brooklyn Demo-
cratic ring own stock in this club, and they
have made great deal of money out Of 1t. SO
far they have been successful In defeating plans
to put streets and avenues through the grounds
but the pressure for the building up of that part
Of Kings County is steadily becoming stronger
and the time is near at hand when the club will
be ousted from it's home. 1t will then probably
start a new track somewhere upon the Long
Island plains within twenty thirty miles at
most from the Brooklyn City Hall. Mr. Timothy
D. Sullivan, of the State Senate, and some Tam
many friends of his intend to open a new
course next spring on Long Island and to
demand dates from the Jockey Club; but should
the Tammany gang be badly beaten at the
polls in November the ambitions of ''Tammany
Tim" and his friends may encounter disaster
The parklike and attractive territory of the
Coney Island Jockey Club will not be invaded
by the engineers Of public highways for
number OF seasons, and in 1902 and for some
years following Sheepshead Bay and Saratoga
may be the most important turf centres in the
Empire State Mr.. Whitney and his associates
have decided to expend generous amounts upon
improvements at Saratoga and to found a series
Of stakes which will equal or excel in value the
turf prizes in any nation. Mr.. Whitney's decision
10 restrict his racing operations almost entirely
to the United States will add to the popularity
of the contests to be decided in 1902 as he owns
a powerful stable containing many horses of
high renown. There Is reason to believe that
several owners, trainers and jockeys who are
now in England will return before the next
season begins, and the second summer of this
century may be expected to show exceptional
activity among the clubs in this State. 1t will