The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-03
VALUABLE HORSES FOR LONDON SHOW Aggregate Value Is Placed At
 S2,OO0,OOO LARGE PRIZES OFFERED Seating Accomm odations for 100000 Persons In Mammoth Building. Striking Innovation Will Be
 the Big Promenade.

London, May 2-London wants to outdo New YorEs record for horse shows. Last year the difficulties in finding superla- tives adequately to describe the wonders of the international Horse Show at Olym- pia were great-this year they are he roic.
 Lord Lonsdale tells The American that the show this year will be by far the greatest spectacle of It's kind ever seen.
 Some of the details on which he based this assertion are these:
 First, the show is to be held in the biggest show building in the world, building in the annex of which Madison Square Garden can be comfortably tucked away
 During the nine days which the show lasts there will be seating accommoda- tion for ovef~ = "nn persons.
 Value of Horses $2,ooo,ooo.
 An additional 7O,OOO spectators will be able to cew the performances from the promenade which is to be constructed around three sides of the arena.
 There are over 2500 entries in the va rious classes and over 1000 horses will be shown The value of these horses will exceed $2000,0O0.
 Two thousand attendants, including grooms and ushers, to say nothing of judges and officials, will be required.
 The prizes to be given exceed In amount those ever offered at any show in the world.
 Special trains will be run to Olympia from every part of the United Kingdom.
 Every European nation will be repre- sented in the entries.
 The show Is already such an assured success that seats are being sold at premium, and the moment the doors open at Olympia seats will be on sale for the 1909 show.
 Heavy Insurance Bought.
 The insurance effected at Lloyds alone makes extraordinary reading. Olympia itself has been insured against fire for S70O,0OO. The public is insured against any kind of accident for $50,0OO; the grooms for similar amount, and the 300 horses which are to be stabbed in the building for $1O0,000 Minor insurances have been placed for another s4o0O0.
 The most striking feature of this years show will be the introduction of a prom enade like that at the New York show. Last year the directors, after turning away thousands owing to the lack Of seating capacity and listening to the many complaints, came to the conclusion that the public went as much to the show to see each other and get close look at society as to see the horses.
 This promenade which will surround the arena on three sides will accommodate about 10,0aO spectators a day. It will have 21 bays or boxes of 32 feet each, and each bay will contain lounges. settes, easy chairs and refreshment tables.
 The promenade floor will be covered at.fls nf a grass carpet, measuring length two and a half miles, In a Suffolk village 26O men are at present engaged making this art- ficial grass walk.
 Decorations to Be Fine.
 Three thousand crimson rambler roses in nots will trail over a lattice round the promenade and its background will be hundreds of tall trees which convert Olympia into a forest glade.
 There will also be provided 2oOo palms each between % and 50 1eet in height as well as a large number of fullv grown trees Fifty two-horse vans will carry to Olympia the 19S,OO0 square feet of fresh turf to be laid down in the arena. =,
 Part of the decoration scheme will require two and a half miles or gauge and five miles of scenic canvas.
 The governments of Austria, Spaln' Ttalv France Belgium Sweden and Hoi- land have given permission to army officers to take part in the various riding ak n jumping contests in uniform. These fn d all other foreign competitors are to 5I T reimbursed by the Horse Show au- thorities for their whole outlay ln bring ine their horses and grooms to the snow, as well as for the full expenses or tnelr stav in London. The officers Will pc ouartered at the Savoy, Carlton, Royal Palace and Longs hotel, from Whlch spe- cial motor cars will run each day to he show. A house has been taken close to Olympia for the grooms.
 Few American Exhibitors.
 The show this year will be notable by inc practical abstention of American eX- bihjtors. Even MT. A. G. Vanderbilt, one of the enthusiastic promoters, has uecioeu not to exhibit, but will content hlmseh in the part of judge. Walter W1nans' 10 ,,,bon, inc idea of the show really belongs, will practically be the only big American exhibitor but here in England he IS re- pa arded by virtue of his long resldehce abroad not as an American.
 MT vanderbilt, speaking to the Ameri- can attributed the abstinence or Aniefl- cans this year to the financial depress,on ,,, inc limited States, but beneath this .r,ora ., ;s . feeling that there was slight d;snos;tion in last years show to give A,iaricans as little share as possible in the prize list. XS
 Society. of course. will be represented l., full force. particularly American so- oietv which makes it's annual pligrimage to Iondon. The royal favor whlcn the 1Sing and Queen last year granted the chow will of course, be extended again fhic wear.