The Washington times., 1902-10-27
MANY IMPROVEMENTS
At BENN|NG TRACK
Course Presents a Pretty APP
pearance.
MUCH FASTER THAN BEFORE
Predictions Made That Records Will Be
Broken Early in the Meeting
Advance Guard Coming.
MUCH FASTER THAN BEFORE

A visit to the Benning race course is
necessary in order to comprehend the
number of improvements that have been
made in the course of the summer. Pa
irons of the track the coming meeting
will be Surprised and delighted with the
changes made. Everything looks cleaner,
brighter. and prettier than ever, and it
is safe to say that there is not race
track outside of New York that is more
complete and attractive than the present
Benning course.
The track itself shows the greatest
ington Jockey Club was organized sew
eral years ago the track has been the
source of more complaint than anything
else. 1t was always deep in dust or on
rainy days very muddy and holding.
Many trainers refused to start their
horses for fear Of injuring them
In July Superintendent Strahan began
the improvement of the track, and now
it presents a remarkable change. A top
dressing of rich loan, four inches in
thickness, has been placed on it, and
the surface is now hard and smooth yet
springy enough to save the runners from
injury. The turns have been banked SO
that there is no danger of falls, such
as have occurred in the past.
Good System of Drainage.
A thorough system of drainage has
been installed that will cause the track
to dry out in case of rain in very short
order. Concrete drains have been con-
structed on the inside of the track the
whole length of the stretch. and the rest
of the course is also thoroughly drained.
Water pipes have been strung around
the entire track on the outside, and the
going can now be sprinkled in the east
est possible manner, and quickly. too.
Trainers already on the ground are
delighted with the track, and predictions
are made that all track records will be
smashed long before the meeting ends.
A well-known trainer stated yesterday
that he believed mile would be run
before the meeting Is over in close to
it can easily be seen what change has
been wrought.
Another marked Improvement is seen
in the green lawns that are to be seen
everywhere. At the first turn. where
heretofore have been ugly banks Of dirt,
there are now pretty green lawns, nicely
graded; and in the inf1eld the grass
seems also to have taken on verdure
never known before. The steeplechase
course has been leve!ed and improved
n many ways.
Advance Guard to Come.
A new judges stand has been erected.
and also timers stand. both of which
add to the beauty of the place. Several
new stables have been built, and there
is now accommodation for more than
500 horses, all of which have already
been applied for.
The latest stables to apply for stalls
were those of Carruthers & Shields and
J. E. Seagram. The former owners will
ship their entire string of horses, in
cluding the crack. Advance Guard. This
horse will likely start in the Washing
ton Cup. the Maximum Stakes, and
the Special Besides Advance Guard.
Shields will have Hunter Raine. 70
roaster and Andy Williams. Hunter
Raine was only recently purchased by
Mr.. Shields and is one Of the good three
year olds of the year.
Mr.. Seagram is the Canadian turfman
whose horses won many stakes in Can
ada and are of stake class.
Mars Cassidy, who will handle the
flag at the meeting, using his own gate
at the starting posts. was at the track
Yesterday and pronounced new Benning
the finest race track this side OF New
York. He thinks track records will be
broken on the opening day.