New-York tribune., 1902-08-03
SARATOGA RACING.
GREAT IMPROVEMENT FOR
THE SEASON WHICH
OPENS TOMORROW.
MANY NEW FEATURES OLD RACE
GoERS THERE WILL FIND EN-
TRIES AND EVENTS.

Nearly one million dollars has been spent up to
che present time the Saratoga racetrack, which
ss 10 open tomorrow. The improvements for the
coming season alone have cost S250.0N To an old
<-eouenter Of the course the transformation will
make him feel almost like a stranger. Grand
stand clubhouse paddock and track all have been
altered. enlarged entirely rebuilt He will
6ud new gates 10 the grounds and should he have
-o nav his way in he viii also discover something
new Instead Of admission price of s2, he will
find himself obliged to pay SS.
william c. Whitney, president Of the Saratoga
association in speaking OF the increase of the ad-
mission fee said that 1t had been made maintain
.he standard of racing set by himself and his
sociates at the Springs. Mr.. Whitney said he be-
lieved the public would be willing TO pay the diff
ference in order 20 a higher class Of sport.
Mr whitney explained that the Saratoga track.
mike the ones in the neighborhood of New-York
c4tr was not able TO draw many spectators,
SIS average attendance being not one-half the
crowd each day at race meeting at Coney Island,
Brooklyn Morris Park
Mr. Whitney said further: I'VE have Just spent
ehout s250O50 the course We have advertised
stakes fully up to those Of any track in the United
States and II successful it is the DISPOSE
ton of the men Of the association TO keep raising
the standard of racing here It cannot be done long
without raising the income. This track has passed
through great many vicissitudes. We trying
a new experiment: but II is pleasant TO feel that
we have the cooperation and support.
10 have OF those who fond OF horses and of
racing as a sport Thus Mr.. Whitney emphasizes
again the purpose Of the association. in its
full name which is. The Saratoga Association for
the Improvement Of the Breed of Horses"
Old followers Of the turf explain the willingness
OF Mr.. Whitney and his associates TO draw thus
heavily upon their purses in making improvements
10 the tune of quarter of million dollars by
saying that the racing enthusiasm OF this year has
exceeded all bounds. and that the interest in the
sport was never keen, both or the part of horse
owners and the public at large. Since the opening
of the metropolitan season II Aqueduct. the crowds
at the tracks have steadily increased. Nor has the
track itself ever been faster. The horses seem to
have caught the contagion. and to want 10 run
faster Record after record has been broken. And
she END does not seem to be in sight yet.
The racing season of the Saratoga track. which
begins tomorrow, August /, and continues until
August IS promises sport OF unusually high
order. The feature OF the opening day, the Sara
toga Handicap, is enough to warrant some sensa-
tIonal developments for among the dozen or more
feet runners who will go the post that day, ur-
less the Unforeseen happens, will be the famous
Gold Heels the winner OF the Suburban. the victor
OF the Brighton Handicap, and by all odds the
prime favorite in to-morrow's Gold Heelss
performances have. in the opinion of old turfmen,
ushered in a new epoch Of handicap racing and as
Beach track for the handicap event, it is the cur
rent belief that the gallant Of The Bard will
be able TO clip of fraction Of the Saratoga record
Of I:5ss. for a mile and three-siXteenths, which
was established three years ago on a much IN
.fer.or track.
The horses which are entered for the Saratoga
Handicap are in the following list. together with
the weights at which w. 5. Vosburgh, the official
Handicapped. has decided they should run: