The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-04-06

The Birmingham Matinee club Is ready
for business. Most lovers of fine horses
and outdoor amusements will remember
the organization of this club last summer,
and its purchase of a superb location be-
tween Birmingham and East Lake, con-
sisting of 100 acres. The club now has
the funds ready for extensive improve
ments on. its property. The building of
half mile track. a club house and grand
stand the fencing of the grounds, and
much other work will be set on foot the
coming week, and the club expects to
give its first series of matinee races early
in May.
Ideal Location.
The location of the grounds is absolute
Iy ideal for the purposes in view. Not
tree will have to be removed for the
building of the race course and the lay
of the land is something like that of the
famous Longchamps grounds near Paris
France, where some of the greatest races
in the world take place. A splendid water
supply is on the tract, partly from the
outlet of East Lake, and partly from
group of copious free stone springs al
most in the center of the 100 acres.
The plans of the club are comprehensive
and ambitious. They embrace foresight
and business judgment, and an excellent
notion of TIE needs and tastes OF Biz
mngham in the line Of 'amusements.
They are, In part, as follows First of
all to establish driving park and pleas
ure resort to which any citizen may take
III. Il; nd hiS children
with a certainty that nothing can be seen
or heard there that will offend the most
fastidious. No liquor will be sold or al
lowed on the grounds and none of the
amusement features will depend for sue
cess on pool selling or gambling in any
form The minister of the gospel and
his family may be seen there with the
same proprtety as any other citizen.
Reasonable Fee.
The annual membership fee will be
placed at figure so reasonable that any
lover of good horses can afford to be-
come a member, and all funds derived
from this and other sources will be de-
voted to improving and identifying the
grounds and appointments, and In prizes
to contestants in the various events. Reg
ular matinee races will be held at suitable
intervals throughout the year and several
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son in which entries will be made from
all parts of Alabama. and from other
states. Many rich and valuable trophies
will be hung up for these trials of speed.
The matinee club started out last year
with the following membership:
Culpepper Exum, Walter Moore ]. V.
Allen, George Bass, 4. w. Cobb, Otto
Marx, f. B. Daniel. W. s. Moughon, W.
G. Lunsford, W. II. Johnson, George
Ward, e. Wilkerson, B, F.. Berry, w. w.
Crawford c. Il. Trout. p. G. Shook, w.
C. Shackford w. A. Porter, DR.. A. Glib
son. Wilson r. Brown p. g. Bowman,
]. H. Montgomery Charles McCrary, j.
T. Glover, w. r. Gum, Lewis Minor,
j. A. l.. Minor. w. c. Agee, ID. j. Fox,
r. NJ Jenkins. Albert Stradford, ]. l..
Tanner A. A. ,Gambill W. Nj. Drennen.
With an expenditure of $4,000 the driv-
ing park which Will be given an appro-
pirate name, will be made the most at
tractive resort, which has yet been es-
tablished i'm the .environs of Birmingham.
Each member will be entitled to attend
all track events. horse shows, fairs. horse
sales etc, without the payment of gate
money, and facilities will be provided at
the park for the stabling and care Of
members horses. finely appointed cafe
will be opened during the season for the
accommodation of members and their
friends to which the general public will
also have access.
The Importance and significance to Bir-