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EUGENE ELROD AN EXPERT IN THE MANAGEMENT OF RACE TRACK BUSINESS THE men who conduct what may l o called Hie business administration of race tracks are not sis u rule in the public knowledge lint an exception is to lie made in the case of Gene Klrod He has been in harness so long and served on so many tracks in one capacity and another that he is pretty well known to racing folks the country over and likewise favorably known He became a track employe as far back as 18S4 at Louisville and has served there with ¬ out a break ever since that year a rocord that speaks eloquently of the value of his services to tlie magnates in control of Churchill Downs When bookniaking was abolished on the Ken ¬ tucky tracks in favor of the nintiiels Klrod was made manager of the betting rings at Lexington Louisville and Latonla anil has controlled the details of their operation with singular smooth ¬ ness and accuracy It is really no slight thing to do lint as In other affairs the main thing is in knowing how and Klrod certainly does know how The difference between knowing how and learning how by experience was well illustrated In the first two or three days of the present meeting at 1linlico when the installation of the iiiutiiel system of letting was attended with much confusion and inability to at once master all of the essential details of the busi ¬ ness while on the Kentucky tracks the business of the ring goes on with the regularity and accuracy of clockwork Of Mr Klrod it may be said that while at present his most important functions are in the management of the parl mntuels on the Kentucky tracks in the spring and autumn and the betting ring at Juarez each winter his experience has been such that at a moments notice he could take charge of any other department of track business with com ¬ plete capability such as the duties of the clerk of the scales arranging for the transportation stabling and provender of horses getting up special trains for the accommodation of owners trainers and other track people in journeying from track to track and other affairs that con ¬ duce to the successful conduct of a wellordered race mooting Men with such grasp of details are by no means abundant nnd their services that Eugene Elrod Is qnife a busy person pretty much the year around There is no doubt that his services would be In quick demand elsewhere if by any chance such an improbable thing us release from his present places of employment should take place The tracks at which Mr Elrod has seen service include Washington Park Hawthorn Memphis Nashville Douglas Inrk Chnrchill Downs Lexington Latonlu Fort Erie Ascot 1ark Santa Anita Park Juarez Saratoga St Louis Fair Grounds and Empire City Mr Elrod Is a native of Lexington Ky where lie was born In 1S52 Ills portrait here published is an accurate presentment of his appearance
