The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-12
BELMONT PARK
TO LOOK LIKE
A NEW COURSE
AT Cost of 100000 Plant Is
Being Made the Best III
America.
WORK Is PROGRESSING
Horses VIII Run From Right
to Left-New Paddock
and Club House.
BY HENRY V. KING.

Work is progressing rapidly in the
transformation Of Belmont Park, and
If the weather remains open until
Christmas those who have been familiar
with the greatest OF all American racing
plants, since its inception in 1895 will
find the physical changes decided upon
by the management well under way
These are 20 cost S600.O00. When the
gates are thrown open for the spring
meeting Of 1921 New York will have
race course second TO none in the world
in picturesque detail and in the mag
nificence of its appointments. 1t will
be the last word in utility as well as
charm. The entire scheme has been de-
veioped along lines which have brought
oat the natural beauties of the environ
ment in manner that will delight those
who love the horse and want TO see him
in an attractive setting.
The WestcheSter Racing Association
has had in contemplation for some time
the improvement of it's home. The
changes are the result of much thought
on the part of the directorate. They
were not undertaken until viewed from
every angle. In their adoption as well
as in their consideration the dominant
thought has been TO give the patrons
of the course the finest return possible
for the money paid at the gate. The
Westchester Racing Association has
never been a commercial organization.
Its members know that il will never
yield more than an ordinary return on
the investment. 1t is their contribution
TO racing and the quality of their
craftsmanship is revealed in the fact
that an obligation of 100000 has been
cheerfully assumed after a period Of
lean years It means no dividends for
the present
The public will now share in all the
natural gifts with which the place has
been endowed. The magnificent gar
dens, rare strawberries and sylvan re-
treats, which were formerly part OF
the grounds of the Turf and Field Club
will now be a portion OF the paddock.
The track club house viii be fitted as
a public restaurant, while the newly re-
modelled grand stand will contain many
innovations for the comfort of the pub
lie which will find in Belmont Park an
institution unique in scope and char
acter.
To Seat 200.
When the changes now under way
were first discussed three plans were
considered, and the final choice called
for u reunion of the existing stands
through the medium of so foot bay.
The field stand was to be RACED and re-
built at an angle with the grand stand.
This gave a structure $50 feet in length.
affordlng seating accommodation for
1920 persons. taking the benches on
the roof into consideration. Each seat
commands a perfect view Of the course.
II was determined to elevate the seal
in the grand stand IL feet and carry
them out to n line with the front OF the
structure. This utilized a space OF 2S
feet hitherto unused. There Will be 40
boxes available in this area. Ramps 16
feet wide at intervals OF every 100 feet
will lead to the mezzanine floor. upon
which will be located rest room ladies'
retiring room and emergency hospital.
on the ground floor the steps formerly
leading 70 the lawn from beneath the
Il and stand have been eliminated. This
% rAv a graduated walk OF cement. The
approach TO the stand will be through
the medium OF a double stairway every
100 feet. The aisles leading 10 the seas
will be wide enough TO guarantee against
congestion. The top corridor will afford
a promenade giving an extensive view Of
the splendid paddock and the course
proper. From Il access Will be had to
the press box and the band stand. The
former will be opposite the finish and
the latter in the middle of the stand.
The Turf and Field Club members will
occupy the easterly $50 feet Of the re-
built field stand. In this section there
will be 80 boxes, as well as club buff
fet. rest room. ladies' retiring room.
cloak room and a private room for the
stewards. There will be an ornamental
fence five feet high between the club
and public sections. gate will be
placed on the mezzanine floor through
which club members may reach the main
stand
The stairways at the rear Of the
stands will afford an easy means Of
reaching the paddock, which will be tho
most beautiful in the country and
will compare favorably with anything
abroad. Every variety OF rare tree and
khrlib is to be found In this retreat, a
conspicuous feature OF which is a foun-
tain lined with weeping beeches. whose
foliage touches the fringe of the pool
This section Of the ground as we'll as
tina former paddock. has been improved
BIZ the removal OF a number Of unsightly
stumps. This brings into great promi-
hence the fine box trees, rhododendrons
enc other ornamental trees and flower
Ing shrubs. while in the background is
the historic old Manlce homestead, now
occupied by the Turf and Field club.
This former paddock will be utilized as
q parking space
To Run From Right TO Left.
che improvements 70 the course proper
are now wen under way. The decision
20 race from right 20 left necessitated
the placing of the new finishing lire at
a point about thirty feet below the for
yne- furlong pole. This will afford a
etriight run In Of 1870 feet--about the
90 - as at Saratoga. Superintendent Pclz
has been at work for some time altering
the grade on the turn as established by
g. w. Leavitt and rosoiling tho surface
with loan fun Of humus. n deposit OF
which was located on The course. IL Is
entirely free from grit or gravel and
more than thrce-quarters OF a mile has
already been finished All the sand and
devitalized soil had been removed be-
fore tho work was begun The grade on
Tho turn, which will now come IN for
general use was originally two feet
from rail TO rail This was reduced from
two % three inches, commencing at n
point about forty feet from the inner
rail At the end Of the turn and the be-
ginning Of the homestretch the course
was remodelled, resoiled and regarded.
making II safe for the largest fields
The changes demonstrated that Belmont
Park has a spleadiS bottom. and the re-
built surface should be lightning fast
and a factor II TIE establishment Of new
records
The turn WIZ 4 seventy feet wide
and the tracH 81. gradually be IN
creased 10 10 feet M the o'd finish.
IL Is proposed 10 bring IN tho outer
ferne AZ the end OF the turn fifteen