New-York tribune., 1921-05-27
Gladiator Wins
Feature Race:
Goes ait $4,000
William A. Proves Speedy
Juvenile by Defeating
Column i'm 5th at 81 Mile
By w. J. Macbeth

public this afternoon fp the inaugural
of the spring racing meet of eighteen
days.
Those that love the picturesque and
tho beautiful can find no better way to
while away leisure afternoon than by
taking trip down to the Westcheste.r
Racing Associations beauty spot,
whether or not the "sport of kings"
aaneaIs personally. There will be
nientv to see this afternoon outside
the sleek and glossy coated thorough
breds and their trials of speed, stamina
and heart.
first time will be able to sit close 90
the seats of the exalted. They Will not
he permitted exactly, to rub elbows
with the ultra exclusive and sllK-stock
inged sets, but those OF them VINO
arrive early enough may get as close
To the sanctuaries as that space rep
resented by barricade of an inch and
a half of iron pipe railing. The mid
die classes, and especially the feminine
gender of same, will be able to get
closeup of society manners anu socleVy
fashion. For it goes without saying
that the aristocracy of the East, as
well as New York, will be on mana lor
this gala occasion.
Old Wooden Stand Gone
Few regulars will recognize, in the
new plant and equipment tne 1oS nEel
SCARED and somewhat dllapldated
structure which formerly looked as
much out of place as a Clipped, yellow
diamond in costly setting. Gone,
too. is the dilapidated, ramshackle,
old wooden field stand. In its place
stands q steel and concrete extension
of the main stand, at slight angle,
conforming in beauty and lines with
the old, and, like it, raised aloft some
fifteen feet.
For the old stand was raised up and
moved back so that a terrace or tier
of boxes might be dropped down in
front toward the velvety lawn and still
leave the occupants of the boxes an
unrestricted view Of the track and the
straight chute at every point Thls
new stand, which has been provided
with the most comfortable chairs and
benches, will now seat 1880 spec
tators. AS many more may be ac-
commodated on the lawns. The space
under the stands is almost limitless.
Belmont Park may not appear at its
very best this afternoon. 1t Is just
possible that all the debris from build
ing may not be cleared away in time.
The gardeners have not had time to
sod a patch in front of the lawn where
the old hedge stood and where the
outer rail was moved in several feet
in revamping the course TO conform
with American customs. But otherwise
the entire setting should be pleasing
to the eye and soothing to the nerves.
The new finish for the races to be
run on the main course with the inner
rail to the left), and which will also be
the finish for straight races to be run
through the chute, has been placed
near the lower end Of the new addition
to the grandstand in front Of re-
stricted Enclosure which takes the place
Of the old clubhouse patronage. This
gives a stretch of exactly one-quarter
of mile, the longest stretch Of the
metropolitan circuit with the exception
Of Aqueduct.
Further over and on the extreme end
of the new addition a space has been
rallied off for the members of the ex-
elusive Turf and Field Club, whose
clubhouse is directly behind that sec
tion of the edihce. Between this club
house and the stand will be the new
paddock, nesting among the magnif-
cent shade trees of the park. On fair
days as formerly and as at Saratoga
the horses will be saddled and cooled
out under the shade of these trees. A
new shed, of course, has been provided
dSdIHSG SUNNY WcdSAS4'
Every Convenience for Public
While the Turf and Field Club mem
bers and patrons of the club "inclos-
ure" will have the best vantage points
those closest to the finish-they will
not crowd the common folks off the
side lines entirely. The reservation
rails extend back from the boxes tc
less than half the depth of the stand
and all the back part will be available
to general admission patrons. The gen,
eral public, too, will have every con-
ceivable convenience of the best ap
pointed and best racing plant in Amer
lea, if not in the world.
In the opinion of Joseph E. Widener
who has seen all the famous courses
abroad, when finished the new Belmont
Park will be the most elaborate, capa'
cious and beautiful in the world.
The former clubhouse has beer
thrown open to the use of the public
and here mine host, Harry NJ. Stevens
champion heavyweight of the caterers
will hold forth in his citadel. The
clubhouse will be chiefly restauran
and refreshment parlor. There will b,
other refreshment places on the mez
canine floor, not to mention the Gus
tomsry lunch counters and soft drinks
place under the main stand. Angus
Belmont, president of the Westches
ter Racing. Association, yesterday moor
entertained the turf writer's at luncheo,
in the old clubhouse, and every one
agreed the king Of caterers is battinf
la Babe Ruth, as always.
Secretary A. Mel. Earlocker has ar
ranged very attractive card for open
ing day, the feature of which will b,
the Metropolitan Handicap, with $50OI
added, at O. mile, for which a dozen O
the best handicap horses in trainin,
have been named. There is to be
steeplechaise over the new course, which
will also send the horses around Amer
lean fashion.
A dozen platers have been entered 70
mile race, fifth on the card. Their
Will be a straight race of five and
half furlongs for three-year-olds an
upward and two four and half fur
longs straight dashes for two-year-olds
The most successful meeting eve
conducted by the Metropolitan locke,
Club came to an end yesterday at tn
Jamaica track. The Redstone Stable
Gladiator, backed from to ! to evens
won the feature, the Olympic Sellin
stakes. at six furlongs, worth $3,1OO t
the winner. Gladiator, entered 70
$4,O00, was bought after the race b
Paul Connolly for $4,000. Sea Gov
made up 9 world of ground and too
the place from Whisk.
g. A. Applegate's two-year-old blacI
colt, William A., proved himself on,
OK tne pest of the Juveniles in the fift]