The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-06

Succ-s5 Seems Sure.
 With the pool room crowd eonciliated aQd in attendance. the success of the meeting seems to be sure. Yet, Judge sidener assfrts the club has arransed financial matters so that more than s2Or rzs ooo may be lost the first season. The pro motors hope for better luck than such a. deficit but they will not be jarred in the least if the amount assumes this.pro- portion The Western Jockey club off cials will be told this and Substantial proof of the money part will be pro- duced. And not a penny of the amount Uall come from J. Arnold or John J. Ryan; if Judge Sideners positive state ments aFe to be gwen eredenee.
 Locally everything at the plant is as- suming shape for the proper presentation of the clubs strength. The track is graded and sodded, while horses are be- ing galloped over it regularly. The fence around this has been erected. The stables have neaEly all been completed, stalls for more than 600 horses heinz now ready for occupancy. The erandstand which is en- tirely of wood, is half finished while the work of erecting the outer fence is under way. Within a fortnight the first race could be run if desired
 v In fact, the plant is so near racing shape, that John S. BEatton, after mak- ing q personal inspeaiM of 1t, shipped his string thither. Theystring of E. Horton and several other turf men are also on the grounds. These horses are being given regulalzworks sover the track, fact more conclusive ssproof than words.
 A feature of the plant which may prove disappointing to the effete visitors from theJeast is the lack of anything resem- bling fanciness. The whole affair is plain. but decidedly substantial. The greater part of the cost went to the track, {on which. $39, GOO was expended 1.-The barns were next in cost each of the number be- ing modern in every respect and well put together for winter protection of ani- mals. The club house villsbe small. and of wood. while the kitchen5 are small but neat cottages.
 ', Situation of Plant.
 The situation of the plant is six miles from Hot Springs, on Umbrella Bill Me sGuigans farm at Lawrence. One hun dred acres of land form the club property. The track is of soil of sandy nature deposited by the ouaehita river which runs nearby The course is egg-shaned, the width in the home stretch being 6 feet; against 55 feet on the back stretch, and 50 feet on the turns" It is built so as to give true test of the racing qualities Iof horses and is being prasied by visiting 'horsemen. s :, Altogether, the plant is q modest, un- pretentious race course, but the club will give what money it failed to put in fine buildings, to the horsemen in the shape of stakes and purses. The number of the former for the initial season is thirteen. while no purse of less than s4oo is to be offered, At present onlysabout 100 horses are, in thet barns, but the number of n- quixies tat hand augur well for the future. Only the allotment of dates is now hold ing turfmen off.
 a In Memphis Little Rock and Nashville the horseben are praying for favorable action orNthe Hot Springs petition, be- cause of what it will mean Tor the early spring meetings of these places. The sentiment of these turfites is expressed by M. N. Macfarland,s secretary of the New Memphis Jockey club, as follows
 'I trust the Western Jockey club will see it's way to act favorably on the pe- tition if the Hot. Springs club shows fi- nancial strength Sufficient to guarantee its obligations. If so it will mean that several hundred horses to race there will come here. Thus, our meeting will be decidedly helped. So will the meetings of Little Rock and Nashville have larger number of horses to draw from"