The Washington herald., 1910-10-02
SOUTHERN MEETING
OPENS ON TUESDAY
Large Crowds Expected at
Marlboro Races.
HORSES TO ARRIVE MONDAY
Grand Stand and Race Track Have
been Greatly Improved and New
SteeDIeehase Course Has Been
Laid Out-Competent Officials VIII
he in Charge of the Meet.
By f. A. FULLER.

DN IL A. A4l4ElfAs
Upper Marlboro. Oct. L-When the
gates OF the Southern Maryland Racing
Association are thrown open Tuesday an
expectant public will look upon one Of the
best equipped racing plants in the eoun-
Try. Under the personal supervision of
Arthur n. Elrod. general manager, the
buildings and race track have been prac-
Jically reconstructed and-a new steeple-
chase course. one and one-quarter miles
in circumference, laid out. This course
is about as good as can be designed and
contains regulation water and Liverpool
jumps. and seven additional jumps, all
erected upon modern plans and provided
with all the improved devices. The chute
az the top Of the main track. extending
west toward the Pennsylvania Railroad
company's tracks and makes the length
Of the race track proper about fifty feet
over I'VE and one-half furlongs, which is
approximately the length of the Futurity
course. The original grand stand. ninety
feet long, has been remodeled and reno
waited, and forty private boxes construct
ed. III this stand a commodious apart
Hent for the members Of the press is pro-
vided. and under it is the cafe, telegraph,
and telephone Offices, ladies' rooms &c.
Adjoining this stand 10 the left has been
erected a new stand OF modern design. II
is 100 feet long and contains 800 feet of
settees and standing room for between
500 and 800 people. Under this stand is a
public bar. cigar stand. &c. To the rear
NJ ha -
canvas, where about twenty bookmakers
viii endeavor 10 separate patrons from
some OF their hard earned coin. This
large number of bookies means sharp
competition. which win, of course. re-
dound TO the benefit of those who want to
try their luck. Two main entrances have
been provided, one on the Marlboro side
Of the property and one leading from the
Pennsylvania Railroad on the extreme
left of the property. The number of
stalls has been increased from 14O 10 $50
and large paddock where the horses
can walk under the trees with special
quarters for the jockeys has been erected.
Many New improvements.
The old judges stand on the south side
of the track has been abandoned. and an
up-to-date one erected on the north side
.Where the old stand formerly stood has
been placed a sight board. a model jockey
board. a clock to announce time OF races.
and an official result board All these al
terations and improvements have been
made since the middle Of July. when IL
was definitely ascertained that the court
would grant the necessary permit for the
meet and that the Jockey Club would
sanction il. 1t was Mr.. Elrod who con-
ceived the idea OF conducting legitimate
racing AT Marlboro. and every owner and
horse participating VIII be entitled TO
take part In the sport on all legaIized
tracks in this country and Canada, and
viii be thoroughly protected by the Jock
ey Club. The meet is. of course. under
the auspices OF the Southern Maryland
Fair Association, and has the approval or
the judges of the Circuit Court for Prince
George County. Mr.. Elrod is known on
all the prominent tracks in this country
and Canada. and was in charge of James
Buffers plant at Yonkers, y. Y, which
opened 1906. The gate receipts for the
first day Of this meet aggregated S37. 900
i was a pronounced success. from every
standpoint Mr.. Elrod also had charge of
the plant at Jacksonville, Fla. He is
native Of Kentucky. and. besides being
an ardent admirer of good horses. knows
the racing game from start TO finish. He
proposes 10 make the Marlboro meet one
thar viii reflect credit upon the sport and
be an incentive for a continuation OF the
meetings each year.
one of the prominent features OF the
meeting will be race for gentlemen
riders, Those who have already signifed
their intention or entering this contest
are, Tommy Wright, Of Baltimore: ].
Merryman Black and Donald Pons. of
Jacksonville, Fla. Mr.. Pons comes direct
from Jacksonville, where he recently
scored several victories.
Among the latest arrivals at Marlboro
is 'Bill' KarT1ck of New York. who
after critically inspecting the plant placed
his stamp Of approval on IT, He is trainer
for w, K. Knapp a member of the board
of stewards Of the Jockey Club Mr..
knapp's sprinters are now stationed at
Sheepshead Bay. He will bring the pick
of the bunch to BennIng. where there will
be stables Tor training. Those entered
win be transferred to the Marlboro track
on the shuttle car provided by the man
agement of the race plant. In Mr..
Knapp's string is the celebrated horse
Colbert for which he paid $4,000 In real
American money. and the well-known
Splinter Rlackford.
Horses VIII Arrive Monday.
On Monday Frank Frisby viii arrive
with six flyers; James Mclaughlin. ST..
with five; Jack Bennett with four. and
Richard Bauer with four. These horses
were shipped from New York to-day, and
are accompanied by their owners and
trainers. This morning George P. Sher-
man. OF New York. arrived with a string
OF seventeen likely looking ones. and {. G.
smithson, II. Penny, and NJ. Burns will
ship three car loads of sprinters from
Canada. These will also arrive Monday.
J. Merryman Black. OF philadelphia. has
shipped TWO fine jumpers. and j. NJ. Nc
Laughlin. jr., and A. 6Tson are expected
10 arrive Monday with several fast ones
Altogether there are in the neighborhood
OF go horses stabbed at the Marlboro
track. and when they are out these fine
fall mornings for their exercise present
picturesque and inspiring scene
The character Of the officials who will
serve at the meeting is a sufficient guar
antee that everything will be strictly on
the level. and that the races will be clean
and sportsmanlike. James A. Murphy, of
whom there is none better known as
presiding judge. will preside at the meet
ing and VIII be the personal representa-