The Washington times., 1901-10-28
BENNING FALL MEETING.
The New Grandstand Now Rapidly
Nearing Completion.
W. p. Burch, With n Stable of
T'venty-four Horses, to Arrive To-
day - The stnU Accommodations
Promise to BE Largely Overtaxed.

day - The stnn Accommodations
Promise to BE Largely Overtaxed.
Delightful weather attracted a large
number of visitors to Benning race
track yesterday, who came to view the
great improvements now in progress and
nearing completion, and incidentally to
pick up information concerning horses
that are to compete here during the fall
meeting, which opens two weeks fromsto-
day All doubts about the new grand
stand being ready for the opening day
are set at rest. Such headway has been
made within the past week that its COM
pletjon in time is a certainty. Some minor
details may have to go over for few
days, but the main features will all be
in working order by the time the ben
rings. calling the horses to the post for
the first race
II is 20 be regretted that the arrange
ments with the Washington Traction and
Electric Company for the extension of
their tracks, whereby passengers would
| he brought directly under the grand
stand, cannot be carried out in time for
the coming meeting. but will unquestion-
ably be ready for the next meeting. Fail
urc to carry out this much-needed ac-
commodation for the benefit o. Benning
patrons was through no fault of the
Jockey Club. and. it may be said. through
no unwillingness on the part of the street
railway company. The latter, however.
was busy with plans of reorganization,
and could not undertake the work until
it was too late to do so with any GER
tainty Of completing it in time.
The Pennsylvania Railroad is evidently
awake to the fact that there will be a
heavy traffic to Benning. Many improve
ments at the Deanwood Station have been
made locking to the convenience Of pas
sengers who will patronize their road.
The station platform has been extended
several hundred feet and a sheltered or
covered walk has been erected which leads
from opposite the driveway to the main
gate BY this arrangement passengers
who take the Pennsylvania line COM
ing from or going to the track.
have only a few steps to walk, and
should the weather be inclement are pro-
tected Many will select this way OF
travel in preference TO riding on crowded
open cars. particularly in bad weather
The Pennsylvania Railroad will also run
a special train from Baltimore to Ben
ming, without stop, during the entire
meeting for the accommodation OF race
goers-
The programme for the first six days is
ready for the press, and only awaits the
entries for the New Grandstand Handi-
cap, which is to be run the opening
day There are so far eighteen entries,
with a probability Of more to follow, of
which due announcement will be made
in The Times
A matter OF considerable interest to the
horsemen is: VIII the purses be in
creased? While this question has not
.Ha.NNv- UUrvfa t.sasz t.aEgH
said to warrant the statement that suth-
cient added m Dney Will be given by the
Jockey Club to make an Increase in many
nf the nurses This Will be manifest in
the second weeks programme, as then
Mr. Crickmore will know just exactly
what horses are on the ground. their
class, and what to cater to- Horsemen
will have no cause to grumble, as the
Hockey Club is as willing to give as to
No evidence OF their liberality is want
ing. They have shown no hesltattpn s ION
whatever in spending vast sums Tor ihe
comfort of their patrons. ana promoting
and sustaining interest IN racing IN thls
they have acted wisely BY doing So me
keen the public with them, for without
nubiic support racing would soon cease
Racing as a business or enterprise was
never in so fiourishiug a condition as II
Ie todaY Increased attendance has been
general at every race meeting all over
the country, indicating that the pubhc
takes kindly to the sport anu - ptN'lii-
inc educated to 1t. 10 keep this inter-
EST alive. the highest standard OF RACING
must be maintained. and promises to the
uublic faithfully kept. The Washington
Hockey Club has done more in this re-
snect TO promote high class racing than
any other club In the country To this Is
due the success of its past meetings, with
out any doubt of the success of its meet
ings to come.
Racing conditions are very different
NOW from what they were a few years
ago. Then men of capital ana standing,
yshiI. they might own race horses, were
ayerso to becoming identified with the
snort as owners, claiming that IT would
hiirt their credit in business Now 1t IS
entirely different. Prominent men in the
financial world and in society are invest
ing fortunes in thoroughbrcds, and care
moi who knows of their connections as
owners of racing stables. The business
has become as legitimate as any other,
and will continue to be So as long as
n is confined to honest sport. conducted
on business principles, and free from
everything that saVCrs of crookedneSs.
All the stables at the track are being
uIt i'm readiness for arrivals this week
~ p BuTch is to arrive this evening
with twenty-four horses, and his stalls
are all bedded down, awaiting him. Ihe
T.. up.r stable is expected here during the
v.ek The track IS in first class shape,
and every horse at the track Is doing
v-,lI Superiutendcnt Lee has already al
IattCd stalls for nearly 500 horses. lie
saws that all of $50 horses VIII have to
be accommodated outside the track