Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-10-14
Fine Prospects for the Race Meeting
at Benning.
IMPROVEMENTS NEARING COMPLETION
New Steel Grand Stand, Club
House and Betting Ring.
SPORT IN NOV EN- B E r

RACING unOer the auspices OF the AIhefi-
! can Jockey Club viii close in the eastern
circuit for 1901 with the meeting at Ben
ming under the auspices of the Washington
Jockey Club. which opens November IL
| and closes November 80, with considerable
likelihood of being extended week or two
longer.
Turfmen and patrons alike will be emf
nently we'll pleased with the new order OF
things that will greet them when the meet
ing opens. Mr.. August Belmont. Mr.. s. y.
Rowland. the president Of the Washington
Jockey Club. and their enterprising asso-
ciates determined when they obtained con-
troll of the Benning track to eventually
| make it the equal of any in the country.
and substantial steps in this direction have
been in progress for the past two months.
| A new grand stand with all structural
portions of steel, Is approaching compile
ton on the site of the former stand 1t Is
$50 feet In length, and the rise of the seats
will be such as to afford every occupant
full view of race from start to finish. A
broad OVerhanging projection in front Will
protect patrons from sun or rain. The rear
will extend over thirty feet further back
than the former structure, and arrange
ments are in progress to have the Columbia
electric cars run into the Enclosure and de-
poSit passengers Immediately at the en-
frances to the stand. mezzanine floor
rooms for patrons.
Architect George s. Cooper, who planned
the new stand and other structural i'm
provements, is giving the work his personal
supervision. The new stand extends over
the former site of the women's club house,
which has been moved to a site east of the
stand, where the mems club house former
ly stood. The betting pavilion will be I'M
der the east end Of the grandstand and
will extend out a considerable distance fur
Their. The former pavilion has given way
TO the paddock. This will contain twenty
saddling stalls. new steel club house for
men is being built opposite the homestretch.
1t VIII have a cafe and restaurant and will
be moderniy equipped throughout. A sub
stantial and attractive dwelling house for
the use of Superintendent Lee has been put
up on the site of the former paddock
Work on the Track.
While all these improvements have been
IN progress work the track itself has
been diligently prosecuted by an expert
force under Mr.. Lees direction. Especial
attention has been paid to the turns, and
the entire mile has been worked so as to
assure even going from start to finish. 1t
is now as perfect as any In the country.
The Chute has been heightened consider
ably and widened, so that now 1t will be
possible to start twenty horses there safely
and easily. The turf over which the steeple-
chases run has also been carefully gone
yer, and is in excellent shape.
Fine Prospects.
Prospects for first-class meeting are
better than ever before. Horsemen are al
ready making numerous applications for
stable room. and In this regard there has
been Improvement also. All the stables
have been .remodeled and repaired where
necessary. and four new ones, containing
thirty stalls EACH have been erected.
Many of the eastern and western cracks
eyDected TO he here n.
closing conclusions with each other.
There will be six races each day, and
good fields are expected in all.
Monday, November H. the new Grand
Stand handicap will be run. 1t is for three
year-olds and upward, with 800 added, at
seven furlongs.
The District special. seven furlongs, to
be run in heats, for three-year-olds and
upwards. will be run Saturday. Novem-
Der 16.
Washington Cup.
The second Benning special at a mile
and a half, will be run on Saturday, No
vember D. The race is for three-year-olds
and upward with S1GO added
On Thanksgiving day, November %. the
chief event Of the meeting will be run
This will be for the Washington cup. In
which three-year-olds and upward may en-
ter. The race is by subscription of $40
each, SIS additional for starters. to go to
the winner. with 81 800 added, of which $500
goes to the second and $500 to the third
horse. The race Will be at two and
quarter miles.
On the last day of the meeting which
will be on Saturday. the three-mile maxi
mum will be run. This is for three-year-
olds and upward by subscription of $40
each. S15 additional for starters. to go to
the winner, with $500 added.
Hunters SteepIechase.
The huncars' champion steeplechase viii
be run on Saturday. November %. All en-
tries must be qualified under the rules of
the National Steeplechase ard Hunt Asso-
citation or the Canadian Hunt Association.
The race is to be by subscription of So
play or pay. the Washington Jockey Club
to add $1,000 and plate Of the value of 800
presented by w. b. Hibbs.
Only members of the associations named
viii be allowed to subscribe. Each sub
scTiption entities the maker to two entries
member of the same hunt club or nunt
The winner will receive the plate, $50 of
the added money and 80 per cent of the
subscriptions; the second will get $50 Of
the added money and 35 per cent of the
subscriptions. and the third will receive
300 of the added money and 10 per cent of
the subscriptions.
SATURDAYS FOOT BALL GAMES.
Georgetown Played to StandstiII
and GallaQdet SmOthered.