The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-10
NORFOLK PREPARING
FOR BIG RACE MEET

Norfolk, Va, October s.-while the
sport OF racing Is comparatively new
To this immediate section of the coun-
try. al least to the present generation
Of Virgintans. save for the stories of
1t that have come down to them from
their fathers. right now. three weeks
before the fall meeting of the James
town Jockey Club, it is the talk of
most people Of the community. Until
three years ago, there had been no
thoroughbred racing in Virginia worthy
the name since the war between the
States. In 1907 the Jamestown track,
constructed by Geveral enterprising
Ncrfolkians. was opened.
People took but little interest in the
first meeting, the attendance being
pathetically small. For the next couple
CT meetings. interest picked up bit,
and last spring. when Bob Levy. of
Houston Tex. came on to assume the
management of the Jamestown club,
the track gave promise OF being
conner. Mr.. Levy is still at. the helm.
Young in years and by no means tall
and woody. the Texan is a game one.
While giving the people excellent
sport in the spring. his administration
inspired confidence In the track and
racing took hold.
With the lapse Of several months
interest In the sport only Increased.
and when Mr. Levy's plans for the fall
meeting were announced. he received
the hearty support Of the community
The application for sanction for the
meeting was readily granted by the
terests of the community. catching the
spirit Of the thing and realizing that
the financial benefit to the community
would be great, fell In behind him.
The meeting was Endorsed by the Board
OF Trade and Business Mems Associa-
ton. the Industrial Commission, the
Retail Merchants Association and the
Norfolk Association OF Credit Men, the
latter consisting of all the whole
salers and jobbers OF the city.
So we'll cid the retail merchants
think Of the meeting that they deter
mined to reap all the benefit possible
from 1t. After the members Of the
association. which includes all OF the
principal merchants Of the city, had
talked It over among themselves, they
determined to give a Merchandise Ex-
hlbition week, which will be the first
week OF the races, to begin November
and continue until November 10, with
q probable extension until November
26.
Another attraction for race visitors
the first three days OF the meeting will
be an aviation exhibition. Glenn "A.
Curtiss, the famous bird man. will be
here, as will other flyers
So we'll has racing taken hold that
business will practically cease for a
half day on opening day that eyery-
body might go to the course. The
stores will close for the day at 10
o'clock and there will be little work
done by any one after that hour. Ac-
cording to announcement that has been
made. the cards for the first seven days |
OF the meeting, which as far as they
have been made up are especially at
tractive, and that for opening day,
which is also to be known as Norfolk
Day, one that we'll BELTS the beginning
OF big meeting and is calculated to
bring throngs Of people to the track.
Race men who ara In touch with the
situation here are predicting that there
will be between $1,000 and 10000 peo-
pie at the track on opening day.
4 The Norfolk hanatcap Of $1,000