The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-28
Meeting Which Begins Next
Thursday Promises to Be
the Best in Years.
BOTH TRACKS IMPROVED
Cudgel, Roamer and Omar
Khayyam to Meet in the
Opening Stake.
Special Desputch to TIE suS.


Payne Whitney, Andrew Miller and their
associates In the MANAGEMENT OF the
Saratoga Association for the Inn
provement Of the Breed of Horses con-
fdently expect that the meeting which
will be inauguarated on Thursday next
will not only surpass in brilliancy the
gathering of 1917, which was notable.
but any carnival Of racing tests held
in this country since 1908. Already more
than 1900 thcroushbreds from all parts
Of the United States and Canada are
housed on the grounds of the associa-
ton, and with the close OF the EN-
pire course fully 500 additional horses
will be shipped here, so that every
available stable OIL and of the course
will be occupied when the buglc sounds
the call for the first races.
There has always been something
fascinating about the sport at Saratoga.
Nature intended II as a proving ground
for the best horseflesh this continent
could produce. and year after year the
pride Of this country and Canada have
foregathered under the pines drunk OF
the salubrious waters and fought for
the mastery under conditions Which
could not be matched elsewhere. East
met West and called for no quarter. and
in the days when the tests were mainly
between horses Of so-called purely
American lineage supremacy meant much
and feeling ran high. There are many
alive to-day who can recall' the days of
Col. Mcdaniel, of Major Thomas Of
Lucky Baldwin and others of that ilk
and II these broad hated and frock
coated types of n former racing pc
Rod could return to earth to-day they
would scarcely recognize the course they
knew and loved so well.
Track Greatly Improved.
Ever since the formation OF the Sara
toga Association by w. C. Whitney and
the group of lovers Of the thoroughbred
associated with him no expense. has
been spared In the effort to provide ideal
conditions for racing tests and for the
comfortable housing and material COM
fort Of those who delight in them. Ea CHI
year has seen some improvement in
Eugurated. but visitors on Thursday will
resolve a surprise indeed. so many and
material have been the changes wrought
since last season. More than 100000
has been spent but every cent of it
shows. First and foremost in the i'm
provements made by Superintendent
Meyers who has been constantly on the
Job since the work was begun last au-
tumn, In the new course. which should
be one of the fastest in the world
twill be remembered that the footing
in wet weather was most treacherous. due
TO the clay foundation Of the track
proper Mr.. Meyers had the unsa tisfac-
tory material removed and replaced
with loan, after which bitches insuring
perfect drainage were dug about the en-
tire oval.
A retaining board keeps the soil from
washing. and with this change the track
should drv out as rapidly as any in
the country The steeplechase course
has been improved also and the Jumps
replanted with living brushes. A space
IN the inner field from which consider
able material was taken for poad con-
struction will become a lake as soon as
ARRANGEMENTS can be perfected for water
or which there is an abundant supply.
New Auto Roads Laid.
Splendid roads have been laid every
where. and the landscape gardeners
art. has been employed to make the
grounds most attractive. thousands OF
rose bushes and Towering plants having
been planted since soring The club.
house mas been entirely refurnished and
its furnishings and decorations represen,
the taste Of Mrs Wilson. wife of the
president, who has been here for some
time having taken Hillcrest Cottage
on North Broadway for the season
Mrs. Wilson has also superintendent the
improvements at the Saratoga Reading
delightful rendezvous in former seasons
Club members and their guests will bt
- served from new buffet and Frank
stevens. who was here in company with
Racing Secretary A. Mel. Earlocker a
Few days ago. was delighted with tn,
change In the catering department.
II the changes at the track propes
pring sur; Else, those inaugurated al
Horse Haven. across the wav will maxi.
Old timers sit up In wonderment. There
Is new iron fence instead Of the ding,
wooden barrier the entire length OF III,
property. The dead branches have beer
removed from the towering pines, Civ.
ing the sun chance ITO shine where
hitherto dampness prevailed, while
roads OF gravel and cinders have mainl,
replaced the deep sand Stables hav.
been repaired. painted or whitewashet
and everything connected with the
training quarters has been made shin.
shape.
There have been some very extensiv,
strings In training here since the close
at Aaueduct, the Macomber and Whit
rey stables shipping directly here in
stead OF taking in the meeting at EN-
pire CITY. w. r. Jennings has fort,
head for Mr.. Macomber, who Is still
in California but Is confidently ex
pected to attend the meeting The Whit
ney stable has thirty four occupa nj,
under the care of James Rowe and AL
bert Simons. Other noteworthy collec
lions of thoroughbreds are those q
Commander ]. X. l.. Ross, which total,
thirty; Edward b. Mclean, twentyfour
Joseph e. Seagram. twenty five; Col
II. r. Bradley, twenty-five. and +. Am
brose Clark. twenty-one Mr.. Seayrau
Is the president OF the Canadian Racin,
Association and he has long been al
ardent lover OF the horse OF blood. Fo
more than thirty years his colors wer
seen annually at Saratoga. but for tn
past few seasons III health has KEEP
him at nome.
Canadian Horses 10 Race,
Another Canadian whose colors viii
be seen at the Spa for the first tim
IN some years Is George NJ HendrI
OF Hamilton. a son OF that good sports
man William Hendrie whose Martina
scored so declsively in the Futurity O
1898. Mr.. Hendrie owns a good hors
in Rancher, which Is entered in tn
Saratoga Handicap. and as Commando
Roes will be represented in the sam
race by Cudgel the chances OF the hone
going TO the Dominion beyond the gres
lakes are considered good by the nd
vance guard OF the talent already O.
the grounds.
The Saratoga. which will be tn
feature Of ths opening day, surpa SSH
in Importance the Flash Stakes for two
yea~-o!ds and the Shiilelah Steeplecha
In point OF public interest because G
the material engaged, chould be on
CT the very best tests of the year Will