New-York tribune., 1920-05-29
Bigger e Purses
Draw Throng
To Racetrack
Belmont Plans to Enlarge
Stands; May Build New
Clubhouse; Cheap Card
By w. !. Macbeth

The increase in prize money, to
which the metropolitan tracks recently
subscribed. has borne fruit already.
The biggest midweek crowd of many
seasons was on hand at Belmont Park
yesterday afternoon and was rewarded
Tor ITS interest by some Of the best
racing that has been seen at this
plant, which runs the reverse way, in
many years. There is little doubt that
the holiday crowds this afternoon and
Monday will tax the spacious estab-
lishment to capacity.
August Belmont, who seems always
lighted wi~h the instantaneous re-
sponse of horsemen and public to the
more generous purses. That he ex-
poets steady increase in patronage is
shown in plans for the enlargement of
the stands Immediately after the close
of the present meeting. Structural
changes will be effected that will add
many thousands of seats. These plans
were delivered by the architects YES
terday.
New Promenade Planned
The front Of the big grandstand
will be continued out flush with the
concreted lawn of the public stand.
The wide space between the back wall
and the railing which confines the
back seats, which is now used for a
promenade, will be fitted out elab-
orately into dining rooms, rest rooms
and the like. A new promenade, which
will give an excellent view Of the main
track as we'll as the chute, Is to be
built over the new restaurants.
1t has been strongly suggested to Mr.
Belmont-and indeed it is said the idea
has been incorporated into the new
plans just submitted-to build a new
clubhouse at the right end Of the grand
stand, where the only field stand is now
located. This, Of course, would mean
that after the present meeting the
horses would run with the inner rail
on the left hand, as they do at all other
tracks.
Practically everybody interested in
the turf, with the single exception of
Mr.. Belmont, has long argued the ad,
visibility Of running the same way at
Belmont Park as elsewhere in this
country and Canada. Mr.. Belmont is
expected to decide this most ;mpor-
tant question in the near future, and
it is said il is much better than an even
money bet the horses will be running
the way they are accustomed at the
fall meeting Of the Westchester Racing
Association.
The contemplated change, of course,
would do away with the straight chute,
which is used largely by the two-year-
olds, and which always has been very
unpopular, as nothing can be seen until
the fields are a quarter of a mile from
prevent the building of straight chute
from the other end of the track.
1t would be possible, however, to rig
Up a chute at the far side from the
other end for the distance races by en-
croachlng on the training track. In
deed, some such idea is now employed
IN the course by the classic Belmont.
1t was rather cheap card yesterday
but practically all of the thoroughbreds
named overnight went out after the in
creased purse money, and as result
there was a big improvement In the
competition generally.
Hldreth Luck Changes
The Hildreth luck had slight
Fator, who had been left at the post
with his last three previous Hildreth
mounts Krewer, Alibi and Sunfash II
was wide awake yesterday with Sun
fash II in the Baysidc Handicap, at a
mile and sixteenth and simply
apreadeagled the field. Sunflash, never
fully extended, drew out in the last
quarter and won galloping.
Pluribus was another odds-on IA
vorite that won the four and half
furlongs opening sprint in the most
hollow fashion. A heavy play was also
made on R. T. Wilson's knight of the
Heather, but this two year-old colt ran
very green in his first trial
Sam Hildredth's Princeps, the hot ia
vorite of the fourth race at mile
quit at the eighth pole after setting
a terrific pace. Pastoral Swain looked
a sure winner here, but N. Barret, who
had the leg up, was SO busy watching
the beaten favorite he did not notice
Carpet Sweeper come with a rush to
the outside and tossed off what should
have been an easy victory.