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FAIRGROUNDS DISTRIBUTION More Than a Quarter of Million Dollars in Stakes and Purses. Outlook Never More Encouraging, with Greater Local Support Than Ever Before in Prospect. NEW ORLEANS, La., December 21. More than a quarter of a million dollars, or, to be exact, 58,800, in money will bo distributed by the Business Mens Racing Association during the thirty-eight days of racing at the historic Fair Grounds course, which begins on January 1, 1923, and ends on Mardi Gras day, February 13. This was decided at a meeting between representatives of the Thoroughbred Horsemens Association and president John Dymond, Jr., and assistant general manager J. L. Lemarie of the Business Mens Racing Association, held in the office of the association Monday, December 18. After listening to the protest of the horsemens representatives, officials of the association announced that seven races a day would be carded and that no purse would be less than ,C00. It was at first the intention of the association to card only six races a day. This was the announced policy of president Dymond and assistant manager Lemarie. It was a popular policy with the patrons and gave local merchants a much better chance, as the seven-race card dragged out to nearly dark. However, upon representation of the horsemen tliat they had been promised seven races a day by president Dymond and had shipped their horses here with that understanding the policy was abandoned. Mr. Dymond then announced that each race would carry a money value of 11,000, with a daily handicap of 1,200. In addition to this the president of the association announced a New Years Handicap with a ,000 value and three other stakes to be run during the meeting each with a ?5,000 value, if the attendance justified it "It was also announced that four two-year-old races would be carded each week. When the Fair Grounds opens on New Years Day the eighth winter meeting since the revival of racing at New Orleans in 1114 will be under way. It opens with more promise than any meeting in the history of New Orleans racing and with greater local support than ever before in the history of the track. SPORT LEGALLY ESTABLISHED. The legislative storm over racing which shook the Louisiana legislature last spring has had the effect of firmly establishing the sport on a legal basis and there is no danger of interference by local police, as the method of betting at the track was pronounced thoroughly legal by a decision of the Supreme Court last spring. Efforts to offset this decision by reformers in the last session of the legislature were defeated. For the first time since the sport was revived here in 1911 the local community has unlimited confidence in the personnel of the directors of the association. Following the legislative storm all members of the old board resigned and in their places men prominently identified with the social and business life of New Orleans were elected. President John Dymond, who was selected to head the association, is one of the most prominent attorneys of the state and himself a member of the legislature as well as a close personal friend of Governor John M. Parker. The vice-president of the association is Mr. B. C. Casanas, former president of the Chamber of Commerce, as well as a prominent clubman. Others on the board include : Crawford H. Ellis, vice-president of the United Fruit Company and president of the New Orleans Country Club ; W. H. Brill, general agent of the Illinois Central Railroad ; Wilson Williams, prominent in local club circles and general agent of the New England Life Insurance Company ; Louis Hausmann, president of the largest jewelry establishment in the city ; James D. Kenny, president of the Montleone Hotel Company ; C. A. Hartwell, president of Hartwell and Company, and V. H. Demourelle, president of James Demourelle and Sons. For the last two months assistant manager J. L. Lemarie, who was appointed to succeed Robert S. Eddy, in the active management of the plant, has had workmen engaged in putting the Fair Grounds in order. It will be one of the most beautiful racing plants in Continued on twelfth page. FAIR GROUNDS DISTRIBUTION Continued from first page. the country when the barrier is sprung on the first race New Years Day. The entire infield of the plant is to be converted into a nine-hole golf course in the plans of the new directorate. Work on this has already been started and will help to beautify the course for the opening. Florists have been at work for the last month setting out flower beds and tending the lawns. Because of the better feeling toward the management by the local public great crowds are expected at the course thi3 year. The tourist travel to New Orleans is expected to be heaviest in years and with a continuance of the almost summerlike weather which has prevailed in New Orleans since the winter months set in record crowds are expected. The class of horses at the local course is higher than ever before. Some of the best thoroughbreds of the country are wintering here and may be seen in action before the meeting closes. More horses than ever before are located at the Fair Grounds and stall-room is at a premium, many owners being forced to stable outside of the grounds.
