New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-01
BELMONT PARK OPENING.
Great Track Ready for Thursdays
METROPOLITAN Handicap.

tho stupendous task Of completing the great In
closure at Queens, Long Island, has been com
pleted time is in itself a triumph the magni-
tude Of which be appreciated only by those
who know something of the obstacles which have
confronted the builders since the first shovel
Of earth turned more than two years ago
Since that time armies of carpenters. woodchOppers
masons and Iaborers have been constantly at work.
frequently under electric lights. and the result OF
their labors will be seen on Thursday. when the
greatest racecourse the New World has ever
known win be formally thrown open 70 the public
\ few figures concerning the specifications OF Bel
mont Park will give idea not alone OF its magnI
fcent distances, but of the work which has been
accomplished by Mr.. Leavitts army Of workers
The park itself is square mile IN extent sixty-six
acres were originally woodland and had 10 Do
cleared away. To do this sawmiu was erected at
the edge OF the strips Of timber and as fast as
the trees were felled they were cut up and used
for fencing and building operations OF track fence
alone there Is 1890 feet. and in addition TO this
200 feet was used In building board fence eight
and one-haIf feet high. To establish the proper
grade it was necessary to remove 3S00o feet OF top
SOIL of which $1,000 feet was replaced -Four hun
dred and fifty thousand cubic yards of earth were
excavated in all As much Of the woodland as pos
sbIe has been left untouched. The grandstand or
solid steel will about 1400o people and the he4d
stand about 1000 more. 1t has always been MI.
Relmonts ambition to place racing here-so far as
II concerns the poorer element Of the population
upon the same footing 1t enjoys in England ana
the field stand and the spacious commons which
surround It will do much toward bringing this to
pass
What will probably be known as the main track
is in the standard form and gives circuit Of one
mile and half. Besides this there IS straight
away OF seven-elghts OF a mile Another of one
and one quarter miles, third of mile and three
furongs on the turf. and steeplechase course
of a mile and quarter, which can be extended
over the training track and the infeld to give
a total distance OF two and three-quartsr miles
Each track is hundred feet wide and the
grandstand has been built at such angle that
practically every yard OF every race can be seen
from It. Along the outer fence fOur-inch water
main has been laid so that every foot OF the track
be watered simultaneously and to any ex-
tent that may be desired without the slightest
possible delay.
AS is the custom on many English courses
the will be the reverse way Of tho track
Eprints Of furlongs or less will all be run
on the straishtaway course Contests of mile or
in length will begin at some point on the bac,
stretch. The start for the Metropolitan Handicap,
which is at mile, will be almost opposite the end
OF the graadstand nearest the clubhouse. This
clubhouse, bv the way, will be known as club
stand to distinguish it, possibly, from the Turf
and Field Club, which has brought the famous old
Mannice homestead, and win keep it open the year
around. Admission TO the club stand can be had
at other tracks by the payment of STIPULATED
fee.
The main entrance to Belmont Park is from +ha
Hampstead Pike. through superb grove Of oaks
1t leads to wide covered way. which rises easily
until 1t reaches the mezzanine floor of the grand
stand having passed over the roof Of the bIr
rotunda that stands just back OF the building The
ground floor OF the grandstand will be given ID to
bars and lunch rooms.
The clubhouse. modeller in italian Renaissance Is
three SORES high. with frontage Of 102 feet and a
depth of 80 feet. The ladies' dining room Is on the
second floor. the ground floor being given I'D to
cafes and kitchens. There other dining rooms on
the third floor, and a cafe for men, and elevators
have been installed throughout. Wide observation
balconies have been built in front Of all the din
ing rooms, so that members and their friends have
no need to go to the graudstand to get fell view
OF the races.
The stables. long rows Of story frame buf1d-
ings. have been erected in semi-detached groups.
aEd with their low roofs of dark slate make
picturesque block. Close by are the Jockeys quar-
ters-a large two story building finished In white
1t Is simply but comfortably fitted UP. This build
Ing. like the grandstand and clubhouse. has wide
observation balconies from which the horsemen will
be able to watch the races without joining the
crowds in the paddock and along the rails As
soon as the jockeys arrive at the track for the
days racing they with be required report their
quarters here. and they viii the building only
actually to ride in races. Their path to the pad
dock is private, and only owners or others who
have legitimate business with Jockeys trainers
will be allowed in the paddock after the saddIing
bell has rung, and then only those who are taking
part In the particular race.
1t is still too early to attempt with any accuracy
forecast OF the field for the Metropolitan Handt-
cap which Will be run the fourth race on Thurs
day. but it is safe assume that it will bring
gether company worthy OF the day and the race
1t will be worth this year approximately $4,000.
There are still thirty-four horses eligible for 1t,
and Of this number possibly a dozen may so to the
post Top weight in all likelihood. will fan 10
Mr.. Bemont's Beldame. which Mr.. Vosburgh
has placed 124 pounds. This honor would have
n rD1iS brIt
has virtually decided that 1t will be impossible to
start the horse in the big handicap and he will
be left in his quarters. John Shields, Hermis's
present trainer has done his utmost TO get his
charge ready for the Metropolitan. and two weeks
ago thought he had succeeded but the cold weather
has prevented him from putting the necessary
finishing touches. and under these circumstances
it IS felt that it would be doing the little horse
grevous injustice ask him to take up l29 pounds
and carry it for mile at sprinting speed.
Mr.. Belmouts coo-s likely to be carried also
in the handicap ty Lord OF the Vale, winner OF
the Saratoga Handicap lest year. and now five
year-oId. Lord Of the Wales -mpost Is us pounds
BeIdame's work this spring has kept Fred Bur
lew her trainer enatively plunged in the depths
Of despair and riding the top wave Of elation.
One day she will willingly and kindly, and it
is all O'Nen can do TO keep her from running away.
and as Ike as not the next time cut he has as
great difficulty in getting her TO gallop at al.
ALTOGETHER the reports from her training quarters
at Gravesend have not been encoUraSins but IN
spite OF them she is likely to go tC the post a red
hot favo-ite and If she to her last years form
the public will probably not have 20 look elsewhere
for the winner.
Lexington. KY. April 50 (SpeciaD.-JuIius Bauer
whose racing string is now at Sheepshead Bay, has
signed Reamy Macy. of this city. as jockey for
three years. lie has first call the boys services
Macy can ride at eighty-six pounds, and will go
directly after the Lexington meeting. al which ne
Will ride for 7. (. Mcdowell