Lone Star to add seats for 2004

Lone Star Park plans to construct a permanent 8,000-square-foot dining hall off the second floor of the grandstand that will accommodate additional patrons for the 2004 running of the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Champion-ships, which the track will host on Oct. 30, 2004.

The hall, with a projected cost of more than $1.3 million, is a major part of $8 million in improvements to be made for the Breeders' Cup at Lone Star, which is in Grand Prairie, Texas. Including its existing 12,000 seats, the track will have an estimated 50,000 seats available for the championship day.

Most of them will be temporary, situated around the circumference of the track, but the hall, which will seat 350 to 400 just past the finish line, will be permanent. Construction will begin in early December and is scheduled to be complete by April 15, the opening of the spring Thoroughbred meet. In addition to the hall, expansions of the existing paddock and winner's circle should be finished before April 15.

Also, the official logo for the 2004 Breeders' Cup was released Tuesday. It has the feel of the Texas flag, with a red and white background and the Breeders' Cup emblem inside a blue star.