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CONTROL OF FAIR GROUNDS Passes From Col. E. R. Bradley to Group of Sportsmen Represented by Judge J. A. Murphy. In a deal consummated Monday, control of the Louisiana Jockey Clubs racing properties, embracing the New Orleans Fair Grounds, one of the most elaborate and traditionally famous tracks in the country, passed from Col. Edward R. Bradley, of Lexington, Ky., to a group of sportsmen, including and represented by Joseph A. Murphy, of St. Louis. Announcement of this stupendous transaction, the largest of its kind in several years, was made today by Mr. Murphy from his office at Hawthorne, where he has served as general manager since the re-opening of that local plant. Transfer of control of the Louisiana Jockey Club involved 2,778 shares of stock purchased by Mr. Murphy and his associates from Colonel Bradley. This transfer was formally entered Monday, it was said. Mr. Murphy and his associates have arranged to take over the property in its entirety and maintain its present outstanding identity as a racing center. For some time Mr. Murphy and Colonel Bradley have been discussing the future of the Fair Grounds and it was agreed by them that the breeding and racing interests in this country would not permit-the loss of a meeting like the Fair Grounds. "At the same time, Colonel Bradley had tired of conducting a business to which he could not give more of his personal attention," said Mr. Murphy in discussing the deal, "and was willing to turn the plant over,, if the high ideals in respect to racing, which he had established there, would be carried out." "This policy will be kept inviolate under the new management," Mr. Murphy continued. "The present plan is to form a syndicate of about thirty leading sportsmen, who will finance and operate the property. Over one-half of this number has already pledged suppo and they include some of the most substantial interests in the country. Several prominent residents of New Orleans are among them." Continued on twenty-first page. CONTROL OF FAIR GROUNDS Continued from first page. Under present plans the group purchasing the track will formally assume management within a few weeks, possibly following the close of the Tanforan meeting, from where Mr. Murphy will proceed directly to New Orleans. Mr. Murphy has been very active in the re-establishment of racing in the Crescent City and has a thorough knowledge of conditions associated with racing there. He has seen many years of service in an official capacity at the Fair Grounds and was in charge of the racing during some of the most successful meetings conducted there. He and the late Jack L. Dempsey, for thirty years Daily Racing Forms leading correspondent and critic, interested Colonel Bradley in the Fair Grounds seven years ago and under the Bradley regime the track was the scene of some of the richest racing ever attempted at a winter course in this country. CICERO, 111., Aug. 29 John C. Schank, president of the Chicago Business Mens Racing Association, today indicated that he will affiliate with Joseph A. Murphy and others in the acquisition and operation of the Fair Grounds, New Orleans. Mr. Schank intimated that others in addition to Mr. Murphy, associated with him in the Chicago Business Mens Racing Association, would become officially interested in the Fair Grounds. CICERO, 111., Aug. 29. Col. John P. Sullivan, managing director of the Fair Grounds, under the Bradley-Schleiter regime, is expected here this week for the purpose of going over the affairs of the Louisiana Jockey Club with Albert Sabath, Chicago attorney who is representing Joseph A. Murphy and othersr who closed for the Fair Grounds property today. In a statement at Hawthorne today, Mr. Sabath said that he plans to have a financial interest in the Fair Grounds under its new ownership. . : !
