Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-05
SPORTS OF ALL SORTS
Matters Shaping Up for the
Opening at Benning.
NEW TRACK FINISHED
WESTERN HIGH SCHOOL BOYS
BEAT THE BUSINESS TEAM.
Georgetown Glass Boat Races on Po-
tomac-Field Trials at Chesapeake
Beach-Two New Players.
NEW TRACK FINISHED

| The finishing touches have been put upon
| the new track at Bennng and there Is
| practically nothing left to be done in
| preparation for the fall racing season,
| which will be inaugurated one week from
Monday next Visitors to the track this fall
! will find practically new racing plant.
| No money has been spared to make Ben
| ming an ideal race course. The most
notable improvement is the construction OF
the new track officially designated as the
Columbia course. This course is one mile
and seventy yards in length from end to
end, and presents the prettiest half mile
of straightaway racing territory that ever
| a thoroughbred stepped upon. Horsemen
at Benning declare the new track to be a
model in every respect. After leading for
a half mile straightaway like some broad
avenue the track makes a sweeping turn.
pronounced to be the finest and safest
turn on any course in America. The new
track joins the old course at the head Of
the stretch.
The accompanying illustration gives
complete idea of the new track arrange
ment at Benning, which the Washington
Jockey Club officials declare will soon be
the Newmarket of the western hemisphere
1t shows the beginning of the Columbia
of the main track Formerly there was
a series of stables abutting this chute,
known to all Benning turfmen as Irish
Row This row of stall buildings is
thing of the past now. having been elm
mated as to give the occupants of the
grandstand unobstructed and complete
view Of the starts made from the mile and
mile and-seventy-yard marks on the new
course. Between me back stretch of the
main track and the Columbia course is
splendid stream of water. In going to the
post on the Columbia course the horses will
cross an artistic bridge. The track itself,
a the the creek a
crete culvert The cost of the new course
will be appreciated when 1t Is stated that
this culvert alone cost s15.tvv to construct.
The Benning officials have not condned
their attention solely to the construction of
this new course, however. The old course,
or main track, has been entirely rebuilt
from start to finish. The top dressing OF
loan, which presented such a fast sur
face last fall and spring, but which proved
entirely unsuited for local weather condi-
tons, has been wholly removed. The
track shows now a top dressing of hard
packed sand, the same treatment being used
on the Columbia course. This style of con-
structon means the Punishment of muddy
going. The harder the rain pours now. the
better the sand packs. The footing is al
ways safe and sure and weather condi-
tons will not interfere with the sport at
any time. track that may always be
considered "fast" or good will be nov
city hereabouts, and is sure to be appre
ciated by horsemen and racegoers in COM
mon.
Another big Improvement which will be
noted with satisfaction is the entire recon-
struction of the steeplechase course. No
form of racing is more popular in Wash
fngton than the contests over the Jumps.
Heretofore the path for the horses on the
infeld has at times been nothing more or
less than lake. After a hard ran the
horses have splashed 50 that 1t was diff
cult a times to see them. The steeDle
chase path has been built up several feet
at Tlaces and crowned as to-shed water
freely The path has also been resodded
ard presents the handsomest appearance
the track has known. The jumrs themselves
have been rebuilt.
\ new roof has been put upon the big
steel grandstand and the betting ring TIE
old roof proved leaky at times and was the
source OF some annoyance. The new cover
ing is reputed to be well nigh perfect.
The club house has also come in for eX-
teHSive improvements. TIE lower porch has
been extended and the upper porch entirely
lnrioSed in glass, so to he available for
observation purposes no matter what the
weather.
The first race to be run over the Column
bia course Will be the Columbia handicap
which s scheduled as the fourth race of
the first day of the coming meeting