A plate showing the projected improvements—which will be commenced very shortly—will give the best idea of what is to be done. The present Grand Stand will remain as it is, as will the Members’ and Official Stands. The large brick stand farther up the lawn, which is being used to-day, will be removed, and a magnificent three-decker, as seen in the plate, will take its place. In front of this will be the new lawns, the saddling and mounting enclosure, and, farther up the straight, the Bird-cage. The lawns of to-day will still be there, but the betting ring will be located behind the new Grand Stand, and the park for motors will occupy the space between the Bird-cage and the Members’ and the Public Drives. And provision has been made for space in which to erect totalisator buildings, if that form of wagering ever becomes law in Victoria. The whole scheme of things is a tremendous stride in advance of what was deemed so good during the last forty years. In the ’eighties all the arrangements were believed to be as near to perfection as it was possible to attain. In another forty years the increase of population may once more insist upon still more extensive alterations. And meantime there is one question which causes habitués of Flemington to heave a heavy sigh. And that is: What is going to happen to our glorious elms? The trees will remain where they are, of course, but who will make use of them? The leafy groves which sheltered our forefathers as they took their pleasure joyously, and which lent their shade, giving a feeling of peace even whilst sitting in their shadow beside the babel and pandemonium of the betting ring, will no longer perform their wonted function, and we shall all miss them sorely—those old and trusted, never-failing friends. But a new generation will arise that knew not Joseph Thompson, nor Oxenham, nor Sol Green, nor the Messrs. Allen, and all the other famous members of the ring, and “Under the Elms” will become a memory. [Illustration: The Lawn and Stand at Flemington. ] [Illustration: Flemington Course from the Air, showing Maribyrnong River in the foreground. ] [Illustration: Projected Improvements to Flemington Racecourse. ] [Illustration: Plan of Flemington, showing Race-track and Steeplechase Course. ] THE THOROUGHBRED HOMES OF AUSTRALIA By KEN AUSTIN Thoroughbred horse breeding in New South Wales, or, in fact, in any of the Commonwealth States, has never been on a sounder or more satisfactory footing than it is at the present time. This happy position is more or less due to the policy of the principal Racing Clubs throughout Australia in so richly endowing their race programmes, and as there has been a steady advance in prize-money from year to year, so prices for Thoroughbred stock, and especially yearlings, may be expected to hold good for some time to come.