The St. Louis Republic., 1903-12-31
GRADES TO BE ALTERED
AT DELMAR RACE TRACK.
Engineers Now at Work on the
County Course Are Banking the
Turns-General Racing Notes.

Visitors to the Delmar course next sea-
| son will witness decided change in the
appearance of the track, so far as its sur
face and turns are concerned.
Not only will the county course have an
entirely different footing from that OF last
year, but it will be banked at the turns
to a much greater extent.
having the entire surface covered Win
black, porous loan. and three thousand
loads of this soil have been spread upon
eRedeg ehe fTack sc,entcay aa The sur1s
Already the turns are higher than was
the case last season, and when the en-
gineers are through with the track, each
turn will be about so per cent higher.
Speaking of the matter yesterday, Sec
rectary Hachmeister said:
I'VE will have the track banked at the
turns until 1t Is perfectly safe ior autoi s,,
likely be carded during the Fair.
Even had no such events been ar
ranged, however, the directors would have
additional banking will make the track
easier for the horses and Will lessen the
possibility of accident. III,
Moreover, the new sur1acing VIII
change the nature of the course altogether
in rainy weather. In the old days, the
surface was a regular quagmire. SO often
as 1t rained, on account of the track be-
ing composed of clay.
w
have firmer footing in wet weather and
the clay will help absorb the moisture and
draw it away from the upper surface"
AS a result of the work on this track.
the dips" in the course will probably be
even more pronounced the coming season
than they were last year. Last summer
the grading of the turns was easily per-
ceptible from the stand, but this year II
will be still more so.
The Fair Grounds course is being treated
daily, but it is not likely any additional
surfacing will be spread. Two thousand
loads of loan were placed as surface
dressing on the track last season, and the
course was not quite SO fast early in
the year as 1t had been the previous sum-
mer.
This loan was thoroughly worked down
by the fall meeting, however, and IT is
expected that the historic old track Will
be faster than ever before next summer.
Secretary Hachmeister will. depart for
Louisville Memphis and Nashville Janu-
ary 10. and will later visit New Orleans to
secure entries for the various stakes of
the Fair Grounds and Delmar. He will
spend some weeks in the South and will
also attend to the reopening of the
Worlds Fair Handicap.
c. A. Titles, president of the Fair Asso-
c.ation. will likely take a trip to San
Francisco in the spring and visit the Pa
cific Coast tracks in the interest of the
stakes at the local courses. His visit has
iiOt DSSI however.
Architects will inspect the grand stand
at the Fair Grounds this week and will
discuss plans for adding to its seating
capacity for next year. General Manager
Adler will attend to this branch Of the
work. Exactly what means will be taken
to enlarge the stand are not known, but
two methods have been discussed.
One of these systems is strengthening
the supports In the stand and the institu-
ton of fiat roof. This Roof could be
made to afford seating accommodations
for several thousand persons. following
the arrangement prevailing at some of the
Eastern courses.
Another plan is the construction Of field
stands or Of a second grand stand on the
site of the present paddock or at one end
of the betting ring.
Although some statements made by Jake
Hoffman have been conflicting to certain
degree. he has made at least one definite
assertion, and that is. that the next year
will be his last season On the turf.
Hoffman has said that he intends to re-
tire from the racing business at the close
of next year and enter business in this
city. He claims to have saved some money
at the game and expects to start some
establishment.
Although Hoffman abs been getting a
good salary constantly, since his entrance
TO public life as a starter, his earnings
supposed. 1t is doubtful. II on an average.
Re has started for 100 racing days in any
one year. This would earn him 5000, out
Sis M congpdsrsh, 10 @ pay
Of expense.
Although some reports have been cur
rent that the early racing dates at Kim
lcch were to be shifted to the Fair
courses s concerned deny that any such step @
Is planned. Secretary Hachmeister said
Yesterday that no such shift could take