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Here and There on the Turf Make Many Changes at Church- j ill Accommodations Greatly Im- 2 proved I Reserved Space Gone Several j Weeks . j Track Is in Finer Condition j Sport. Versus Commercialism Principal doings at Churchill Downs these days do not include candidates for the Kentucky Derby because the scene of Americas most popular horse race isnt populated just now by any outstanding prospect. Even Dan E. OSullivan,. genial resident manager of the time honored course, and his office assistants arent as busy as they have been in past years at this time because the difficult and heartless task of assigning all the boxes and reserved seats was completed several weeks ago; but there is plenty of activity, as a large corps of skilled laborers drives ahead towards the conclusion of the ambitious program of improvements, the total cost of which will approach 00,000. Visitors to the Derby this year, especially those going into the clubhouse will find their accommodations more pleasing than ever before and, although there may not be as much space available within the enclosure, greater protection than ever will be given the paying guests. For several years now the principal thought in the active mind of Col. Matt Winn was to give the Derby visitors what they paid for, and he has made steady progress in his efforts to prevent the free loaders from crashing in on the cash customers. Further fencing is being done in the infield, and that beautifully landscaped plot surrounding the stewards stand now is enclosed. Elsewhere around the property new wire is going up. Two hundred new boxes are being constructed, some in the grandstand side and others in the clubhouse in that area between the judges pagoda and the platform reserved for the dignitaries. The Derby winners formerly were led into this space for the ceremonies, but this years successful colt probably will be led up the track to a point opposite the location of the distinguished guests. The clubhouse visitors to the Derby will find the facilities for wagering and dining improved beyond expectation, due to the reconstruction of the structure in back of the boxes. Many more booths for ticket sellers and cashiers and in more convenient locations on several levels have been installed, while a larger, more modern dining room has been placed in the extension to the rear of the patio. Additional and wider staircases reaching the various parts of the clubhouse also have been provided. Another row of wagering windows has been installed in the rear of the stand located up the stretch beyond tjie main structure. Numerous other smaller changes calculated to aid the public are being made and the whole job is expected to be completed in about two weeks, so that the last minute worries connected with opening the meeting will be reduced to a minimum. Judging by the fact that all reserved space had been sold for several weeks, many persons who would see the Kentucky Derby have reached the conclusion that it doesnt pay to wait. Of course, large blocks of tickets have been taken by railroads or others conducting all expense trips and so tickets are still available in cities where these tours will originate. There is no way of dodging the fact, however, that the 1936 renewal of the Derby will be more popular than any of its sixty-one predecessors and with fair weather, another gigantic crowd will be jammed into the confines of Churchill Downs. The public is following closely the move of every prominent Derby candidate, whether he is in Kentucky, New York, Florida, Texas or Maryland and those who will be unable to be present will be very disappointed. Another important improvement at Churchill Downs that concerns horsemen mostly Is the condition of the track proper. Con- XContinued on eighth page. HERE AND THERE ON THE TURF Continued from second page. siderable re-soiling was done more than a year ago, but the full benefit of that work was not evident until the present training season got under way. Despite the sharp winter and the inclement weather which has visited Louisville during recent weeks, the condition of the course has not inconvenienced the trainers, who have found it safe and with a good bottom when muddy and drying out very rapidly. Although naturally composed of sandy loam, the track was given another coating of sand, which probably required a years time to become thoroughly mixed in with the old soil. The Downs course always has been one of the safest in the country and at times one of the fastest, but whether it is in the latter category now only the racing during the coming meeting can tell. Racing in America is successfully embarked on what promises to be its greatest year since the flush days of 1929. Santa Anita Park has ended a meeting in which tremendous profits have been earned, despite a protracted spell of poor weather just when the interest in the sport was at its peak. In Florida racing has maintained its solid position, while improvement has been noted in Texas and New Orleans. Managements of tracks operating during the major season are making plans for greater patronage, all because the public is more interested in racing than has been the case for years and because they are in a better position to enjoy the sport. But now that theyre here, how long will good times in racing remain? The answer hinges on the lone premise that racing is a sport and should be treated as such. While commercialism is prevalent throughout the conduct of racing and its ramifications and is a necessary adjunct, that isnt sufficient license for the sport to be exploited for personal gain. Racing is prosperous not because of long meetings and protracted schedules in some centers, but in spite of them. A healthy condition lasting through the years may only be obtained through proper regulation and prime consideration for the attitude of the public. A community wants only so much racing and as long as it has an amount short of sufficient, the sport will continue for years in a healthy condition. Just because New York has 160 or more days of racing is no reason why Los Angeles should have as much. With its tremendous population, the worlds largest city is able to support racing in a manner that will not disturb an ordinarily economic condition. Too often promoters have attempted longer meetings than were good for small centers of population, and the natural outcome was an uprising against racing, and it was driven out of town. Proper regulation would have paved the way to a steady life in these communities. Unfortunately, too many states have legalized pari-mutuel wagering on racing principally because of the revenue to be gained through taxation. Racing does not mind doing its share in paying the expenses of government, but in too many states the demand for revenue has been much too severe. It is a penny-wise pound-foolish notion, at best, and those states levying too great a tax on racing no longer will have that income in a few years. In the New England area, the tracks in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire are entitled to take out ten per cent plus the breakage out of the pari-mutuel pools. Of this amount, three and one half per cent of the whole goes to the state. During 1935, the three New England states, with Boston providing the majority of patronage, collected more than ,000,000 in taxes from horse and dog racing. While the states got this much, Narragansett Park, in Rhode Island, enjoyed a good profit, Suffolk Downs in Massachusetts and Rockingham Park in New Hampshire only small dividends, and Agawam Park in Massachusetts none at all. Narragansett and Rockingham were in the enviable position of having paid for themselves through prior operation. Racing now isnt so healthy in New England, whereas it could and should be looking forward to long life. Regulation is required to hold the season to a proper size and takeout, with the state getting nearly a third of it, is greater than the public should be asked to assimilate. Long seasons and meetings are the consequences of commercialism on the part of track owners and the use of racing for obtaining state revenues. When the states are able to get their incomes from other sources racing will fall by the wayside, not having the firm foundation that could have been established through the proper treatment in the first place. The sport itself suffers through long meetings because the horses are overworked and sooner or later reach the point where theyve lost theirxlass and their wish to be consistent.
