The Washington herald., 1917-08-05
PREPARING LAUREL
COURSE FOR RACES
Harry F. Brewosel Is Putting Track
ia Shape for October Meeting.
81 GEORGE q. MORRIS.


Racing at the Laurel track Will be
resumed 0etooer j. for season Of
thirty days For months a force Of
men has been at work preparing the
track and grounds for the annual fall
event and when the bugle sounds to
call the horses to post for tho first
race two months from now, the
spectators will behold a course second
to none wherever racing is held In the
United States.
Throughout the winter, the ground
keepers have been busy draining the
bad spots caused by the weather. until
now the entire course Is as 1T as
harrow and rake can make it Laurel
has always been known as a fast
track Some records which stih stand
and promise to stand for years have
been made on this famous course, and
the prospects for other records this
fan are good. II care for the track
itself. and attention to the turf and
jumps for the hurdle races count for
anything, then the season OF highesI
class sport Is assured.
Not alone on the ground has all the
care been bestowed. The beautiful
clubhouse has been in the hands of
decorators for the last two months. 1t
has been made a hundred per cent
more attractive than 1t ever was.
The rooms have been entirely over
hauled. New furniture has been in
stalled. A number OF changes tending
to the convenience of the members
and guests have been made, and
special attention has been given to
the parking space for those who pre-
Ter to motor out from Washington and
Baltimore
The band stand-for music between
the events will continue to be a
feature Of the daily program-has been
treated to new coat OF paint max
ing the structure quite in keeping
with the remainder of the picture.
All this work in preparation for the
fall season has been carried on under
the personal supervision of Harry F.
BEeivogel, assistant to Matt J. Wynne,
who is known as one of the most
efficient and popular racing men in
connection with the game. Breivogel
has worked hard at his task. He takes
a great personal pride in haylhg all
the details, however small, OF the
meeting as near perfection as untiring
energy and diligence will produce. He
has given particular attention to the
Pari mutuel system, which has been
installed. and has no hesitancy in
declaring it the most complete TO be
found at any track in the country.
With the track in the best possible
physical condition, with what is prac-
tically a new clubhouse. and with
fiavless system for recording the mu-
tuels, no course. not even Belmont
Park, Saratoga or the famous Church
III Downs, will rank ahead of Laurel.
The proximity OF the course to
both Baltimore and Washington.
the excellence of the transportation
service. the splendid auto roads all
contribute to the rosy promise of
successful season, both from the
standpoint of owner and spectator.
But more than all else. from the
viewpoint of sport, the class of rae
ing at Laurel this fall promises to
be OF an even higher class than
that for which the track has been
noted in the past. The best of the
class from Saratoga will be rested
up and brought to Laurel, and so
will the fiiers from Belmont Park.
The stewards have arranged a num-
Der of events which will bring out
the cream of the sport At least
fifteen or eighteen stake races have
been carded. calling for some OF
the most noted aristocrats Of the
Eastern racing world.
Another factor IN favor or Laurel
having its banner season is the
presence Of the great number of
strangers in Washington this fall.
The city was never so throngeu
with men and women from other
cities. Every State in the Union
has contributed to the population
OF Washington in huge quantities
within the last six months.
All these strangers are for the
most part amusement seekers, to
whom the opening Of as complete
a track as Laurel. and one so de-
lightfully accessible, will appeal
with an irresistible lure. Wash
ingtonians are awaiting the opening
day with impatience. So are the
track managers, for surely LaureI
never had brighter prospects for
notable season than the one Just
- ~ haorfn