Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-07
BUSY At .BEkNING
Army Of Wofkmea Finishing the
Varied improvements.
ALL WILL Be RHADY MONDAY
Prospects Arel Bright for a Fine
Races Meeting.
A VISIT TO THE TRACK.
A VISIT TO THE TRACK

It would be difficult to find a buster place
Just now than the race track of the Wash
ington Jockey Club at Benning. Every eff
fort that energy backed by generous capt.
tai can put forward is being exerted to
have everything in satisfactory shape for
the opening of the fall meeting next Mon
day afternoon. and as many mechanics, la
borers and teams that can be intelligently
utilized and directed are engaged in this
behalf. Finishing touches are being made
to the new steel grand stand and when it
is remembered that work upon the demoli-
ton of the old one to make place for the
present structure began only two months
ago the accomplishment is something TO
wonder at. A Star reporter visited the
scene this morning and was struck by the
admirable Judgment shown in the new ar
rangements
Full View for Everyone.
There was not point in the grand stand
from which an unrestricted view of the
track could not be secured, and the drop in
the seat tiers will permit every occupant
to enjoy a full view of a race without
standing or rubbernecking. The roof over
hangs the front of the stand 10 a consider
front rows absolute protection from rain
or SUM- Another advantage of this over
hang will be in the shelter 1t will afford in
case of bad weather to the crowds that al
ways occupy the lawn when races are be-
ing run. The cafe and other rooms IN the
new stand are being finished up tastefully
and will be equipped with their movable
furnishings Friday and Saturday.
The ladies' club house, which occupies
the site of the former mems club, has A
glass front: on the lower floor, which can
be removed in fine weather. The mems
club at the west Of the stand and betting
ring, has very little work left before it
will be in apple-pie order. The betting
ring will be as welcome to patrons as other
improvements. 1t is as commodious as
| most of those at metropolitan tracks and
will give ample room for both bookmakers
and hackers alike.
The new paddock, which occupies the
space of the old betting ring, compares ia
vorably with any in the country. 1t con-
tains eighteen commodious saddling stalls.
protected by iron top ratings, and is under
cover in all portions.
Getting the Lawn In Shape.
The lawn in front of the grand stand is
| in a chaotic condition at present, as 1t is
being excavated land tleveled preparatory
! to being sodded and Supplied with cement
| walks. but laborers are at work on this
| seemingly as thick as aNbee swarm.
While there Will be, necessarily new
ness ABOUT Cn1nSS-aL beuH1HS DIT Tie COtu-
| ing meeting, the sport to be enjoyed prom
| ises to be of such high character that
| lovers Of it would berilling to undergo
| even temporary discomfort to participate
| in It, There will be no trouble on this
score, however, because Mr.. August Bel
| mont and his progressive associates in the
| control of the track under the presidency
| OF Mr.. s. s. Rowland, have given positive
orders that in case the permanent work
| cannot be completed in time that tempo
| rary arrangements of equally complete
| character must be mader~
nous In the opiSioa hat the track was
| never in better Condition. The prevalent
| dry weather has made it dusty. Of course,
| but clouds of the puverized dust have little
! effect on the going The stables are filling
| up rapidly, and for the next four five
days carloads of horses will continue to ar
rive. The four new stables erected re-
Gently will provide room for great num-
| Der. but 1t is possible that outside accom-
modations will have to be secured by late
| corners. The jocular horsemen already at
| the track call the stables the WAL
| dorf-Astorias," because stalls in the latter
| have been placed at the rental of dollar
week, while stalls In the old stables are
| obtainable for so cents a week.
The Grand stand Handicap.
| Considerable interest is being shown in
| the announcement to be made Friday of
| the weights for the first big event of the
| meeting-the new grand stand handicap, to
| be run on the opening day. There is some
fear expressed that the Handicapped will
| make the weights too heavy for several
| formidable candidates including Knight Of
| Rhodes, and thus prevent their starting;
| but plenty Of good ones will remain to
| make the event close and interesting to OBJ
| servers and spectators alike. The beauti-
| ful black mare Guesswork, who Is said to
be second Imp In quality, as well as
! color. may be prime factor In the new
| grand stand go. She is in charge Of w. P.
| Burch, the famous trainer, who makes his
| home in Washington. who also has in his
| string the only horse VIM. c. Whitney ever
year-old Of great promise. who has already
| landed stake race In handy style. Mr..
Burch, In addition to the horses brought by
him from eastern stables. including those
| ceived six yearlings from Kentucky yester-
| day. They are Of kingly breeding and fine
| appearance.
Mr.. Burch ON the Outlook.
| Il look for very good meeting" said
| Mr.. Burch today. There are some very
fair horses here. The large number Of
| horses to be here assure, 1 think, good, big
fields in all the events. The class of jump
ers Is particularly good. and race-goers who
| like that kind Of running will be very well
| satisfied, am. sure"
| Morning hours are given up to exercise
by nearly all trainers at the track, and at
one time this morning there were eleven
| uciSeS peilS given IFldlS, Wnle those In
charge of them watched them from infleld
points Within stable Enclosures and breath
Ing spaces other nags were being walked
| and breathed. Inquiry developed that there
| was no sickness on the grounds.
The arrangements to carry the crowds to
| the races will be as perfect as heretofore
| In the past year or two. The Columbia
electric cars will run on a two-minute sched-
| oie from 10Th and New York avenue, ard
| the pennsylvania railroad will run ample
| excursion trains at convenient Intervals
For the first tims In thE history of the club
all of the great raoing Etables of the east.
| with single exception, will be represented
| here. ex-SecretarY w. ca Whitney. John f.
Madden, F. r. and Thomas Hitchcock, the
| Belmont stable and the other prominent
racing establishments sending representa-
| tive horses nn fbaao mill Il,