The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-04-30

miles. The straightaway chute Is sev-
 en furlongs, and it is an ideal course
 for sprinting races, as it is without
 curve or angle, the only absolutely
 straight course of this length in the
 United States. The training track is
 located near the stables and separated
 from the main tracks in order that
 these may not be cut up by exercising
 during bad weather. All of the tracks
 are 100 feet wide.
 Tracks Thoroughly Tested. Unusual care and time have been spent in bringing these tracks to the highest possible state of perfection.
 They have been completed for several
 months and thoroughly tested. In con-
 struction they do not differ materially
 from other standard, well built tracks. except in the matter of drainage, to which especial attention has been given by the builders. Each of the main
 tracks is crowned at the middle, and transverse drainage takes off such water as may seep through. The sur plus water from the surface Is taken off by gutters at each side, running into larger drains, and at intervals there are large catch basins. The top surface of the track is a sandy loam, the original soil excavated to make
 way for the foundations of the track. This soil was carefully preserved and replaced dIlef IL ndO been screened. Sandy loam is considered by experts
 the ideal covering for a race course. Every care has been taken to make the track dry and firm, compact and fast, but just as much care has been
 exercised to avoid making them hard enough to be injurious to horses. In dry weather sprinkling device, con- sisting of a four-inch water main run ming along the rail the entire length of ha in hIns the SnriDl 1Op to be rendered uniform.
 The clubhouse is the handsomest building ever erected at a race course, and has a frontage of 100 feet, with wide balconies on three sides. It is | built of solid masonry, in the style of the Italian renaissance, with a ten | dency toward the modern. It is three
 stories in height, and Is furnished in fitting style
 The grand stand Is 750 feet long, 90 | feet wide and 70 feet high. In addi- | ton to the three tiers of seats covered | by its roof bleachers have been placed | on top of the building. and from this
 point the work of horses In the back stretch can be observed in a manner
 that has heretofore been impossible.
 The actual seating capacity of this | stand Is 15,000, while the field stand, l which Is 100 feet to the eastward, will | seat !, ,000. Both of these structures are l flreproof, being constructed entirely of l steel stone, brick and iron, with very | little wood in any portion. It is esti- | mated that a crowd of 60,000 persons
 can move about in comfort in the
 stands and lawns in front of them, and there Is an air of roominess and l comfort that Is unusual at the average
 race course.
 1 Railroad Facilities Adequate.
 The park is located at Queens, L. l.,
 and the railroad facilities are on a scale in keeping with the surround
 ings. The terminal of the Long Island
 Railroad has been completed at a cost | of $500,O00, and visitors who travel by this route will enter the park though a
 subway under Hampstead Turnpike.
 which rises gradually to the covered
 walk to the rotunda of the grand stand.
 At the clubhouse entrance stand the four columns that for nearly a century
 marked the entrance of the famous old Jockey Club at Charleston. S. c. l The Turf and Field Club will also | make its home at Belmont Park, and
 for It's club house will use the Man
 nice residence. Surrounded by formal | gardens and green houses containing | many rare plants, it is to be one of the most attractive country clubs in Amer | lea.
 Belmont Park will be recognized as the Newmarket of American turf, and | upon it's tracks many of the most i'm | portant turf events of each year will 1 be ran. among them may be mentioned | the Metropolitan Handicap. the Bel
 mont Stakes. and the Whitney Mem | orial Steeplechase.
 1 All races run at Belmont Park will | follow the English system. or, as Amer ] jeans express 1t. be run the reverse | way of the track. This system has I only been tried at one other track in | this country, but the change has been approved generally by horsemen.