The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-05
CROWD SWELTER AND sHITER
Cold wave Tragedy Of belmont Park
RpenInE.

Cold wave Tragedy Of Belmont Park
Opening.
The first patrons Of the turf to arrive
NJ Belmont Park yesterday were two
young men who had made bet that they
could see the first days racing without
tickets. They left Jacks at o'clock yes
tertlay morning, crossed the Thirty-fourth
street ferry and advanced by easy trolley
stages through Flushing Jamaica, &c,
I arriving at the trackside about o'clock
I They passed through the gates, remarEing
l lightly to a suspicious employee that they
/ supposed Mr. Belmont hadn't come yet.
| They had the first drink sold at all the bars
l In and about the track and were able TO
see the preparations made on the morning
/ Of the opening OF what is perhaps the
/ greatest raceoourse in the world.
II was a bright, hot morning with not
thing 10 forecast the bleak afternoon that
| was 70 follow. Gangs Of Italian laborers
were busy about the grounds, putting IN
Z their final ticks at the grading OF the walks.
Z Carpenters we're busy with ratings that had
: been found necessary az the last moment.
/ Portsrs employed by the restaurant folk
carried tons Of pie and bread from the
arriving trucks. The butchers we're busy
unloading enough meat to feed all the
standing armies Of South America. Beer
came in cases and barrels. The other
kinds Of liquor we're already on hand. but
the champagne cases had to be broken open
and the quarts put on ice in preparation
for the arrival Of the Tammany lights.
Scores Of men were busy dragging hose
about the straight and laying The dust
which was thick and yellow. The betting
ring was swept clean Of the sawdust and
- In HTNa
makers stools were piled in great mass
IN the center Of the -gentlemen's enclosure.
August Belmont came, looking a bit
tired and anxious, and suggested things
10 his stan. He vas busy about the grounds
until ~ o'clock. By that time the first Of
the crowd began to arrive, and the young
men who had won their wager rose from a
brief sleep in the shade Of a fr tree In the
Grove and began TO wonder how thsy could
make bets without having badge numbers.
The bookmakers came on the first train,
of course, with their sheet writers, cashiers
and paraphernalia. Their assistants I'M
tangled the mass Of stools and set them
about the edge Of the betting ring form
ing a great semicircle. The formation
looked absurdly large Nothing like it
Was ever seen at Morris Park or any other
large track. One could scarcely throw a
baseball from one tip Of the crescent TO
the other.
why said the newly arrived, there
can't be a crowd big enough 20 al that
spaoe.' Later they learned TO the con-
trnry. By half an hour after noon the
crowd was coming in earnest. Trains
were running from Long Island City and
BROOKLYN as fast as the tracks could accom-
Inodats them, Passengers were let down
IN a narrow line paved with binders that
were not pleasing to the tread Of women.
visitors got bad impression OF things at
the outset. After trudging along the Gin
der path for 100 yards they dived into q
tunnel which runs beneath the railroad
traolB. In one part this tunnel was as
black ~ a pocket and one took his next
step on faith. But sunlight finally came
and there was the entrance 20 the park,
It WAS a long walk even after that, but
not unpleasant. The arrangement Of trees
makes the entry lane resemble the APP
proaches at Saratoga and Morris Park,
ALTHOUGH It lacks many Of their natural
beauties
The visitor went up gentle incline which
carried him 70 the grand stand and over
the betting ring Here he was able TO APP
preciats for the first time the beauties
u the new course. IL has been described
often but Il must be said Of il once more
that nothing is lacking In the gardening
OF the track and that in the scenery be-
yond there Is a suitable setting
II was said a week ago that when Belmont
Park should be opened it would look as
well % though IL had been in operation,
under constant care, for years. This Il not
tf1ie. There is still a considerable air Of
nswness about the buildings and there is
patching and painting that will have 10 be
done. IN q month, say the place will
verify the prediction made for Il. Tbs
aSPods ss S NJ Ra GR a9S St onS
natural, II IL 40 new. II is great deal
better, however, than the sand and gravel
seen on the lawns at some other Metro
politan Trucks In three weeks, with care,
u will be good enough TO sit on, which Is the
test Of lawn.
There was little newness about the crowd.
The PinkeTtons estimated II at 5000,
perhaps more, aud probably $1,000 OF those
were folks who knew what a good colt
Sysonby was last year, how fast Delhi
bad worked IN his preparation, how Tat
Beldame was reported TO he and what great
talk there was Of Jacquin's try-out To the
remaining few, Il was novelty. They had
never seen the pencil pedlers or heard the
cry Of the program sellers.
The masses took their early discomforta
with good nature. They stepped from the
crowded trains and obeyed the mandate
Of the guides on the cinderpath: Grand
stand TO the right! Field stand 10 the
lsftis and went their ways according 70
the tickets they held.
Just here Il might be noted that the
prioe Of admission 10 the field stand, 50
cents, "a the cheapest charged on a great
raoetnpk. IL cost q to be admitted 10
the hdsiand and the price Of a reserved
seat was IS. OF course man who goes
alone 70 the nces doesn't give boot for q
reserved seat. For him the betting ring
and the maddlng crowd.
There was plenty Of jesting in. the dark
reoesses OF the tunnel.
They put us in a hole before We got 10
-. N.NEf.-- - Il -
alvaye kicking about their losses.
sHere's q good chance for a piokpocket
10 win a bet = aid others.
Prom O'Clock until Il was q constant
- IL. -. ~