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SANTA ANITAS FUTURE PLANS t Further Development of Arcadia Plant Concern of Directors. Continuation of Clean Racing First Consideration of Officials Believe Short Season Best. j 1 ARCADIA, Calif., April 6. With Santa Anita Park established as an outstanding winter racing center, the Los Angeles Turf Club is already laying plans for its next season dates for which have been allotted by the California Horse Racing Board from Christmas Day until February 27, 1937. The first move was the signing of Webb A. Everett as racing secretary for full-time service to a five-year contract. The next step is the start of the non-profit stud, with the Sir Galahad III. Painted Vixen four-year-old stallion .Vain Bachelor as the sire. Then before general manager Charles H. Strub, accompanied by Everett, starts east in July for a three months trip, the directors will meet and determine on next seasons racing program and officials and the extensive improvements and developments that are being considered to further develop Santa Anita as a magnificent and complete racing park. The success of Santa Anita Park in reviving racing in southern California after a lapse of some twenty-five years, and stimulating horse breeding that once ranked as the third largest industry in California, has brought forth some opposition from professional reformers and ambitious promoters. The Los Angeles club, however, has the solid backing and endorsement of civic and business interests. It has been pointed out that the Los Angeles Turf Club has made good on all promises to promote racing on the highest possible plane; that it provides an outstanding and valuable attraction and publicity medium for the wintei tourist season; that the Los Angeles Turf Club is owned and operated by some eighty-five representative business man and sportsmen, all Californians, and cannot be classed a monopoly. Southern California newspapers have come out editorially advocating no more race tracks at this time. The California Horse Racing Board has outlined a policy as follows: Clean racing is a great benefit to the community up to a certain point, but there is a saturation point beyond which it becomes a menace. The obligations of our board to the state and its citizens is to see that racing is conducted as a sport and recreation for the people and as a tourist attraction and not purely as a medium for gambling, even if the state treasury would temporarily profi. by it. We feel sure that we have the approval and support of substantial citizens of the community in our views. The board, through its spokesman, chairman Carleton F. Burke, declares that racing in California is still on trial and that it would rest with the ability of the public to desire and support a summer track. Also the attitude of horse owners, most of whom follow the eastern circuits during the summer months. Relative to the 5,000,000 wagered at the last meeting, it was redistributed to the public holding winning pari-mutuel tickets after the states tax of four per cent and the clubs commission of six per cent voluntarily reduced from eight per cent and breakage was deducted. The Los Angeles Turf Club reports that its expenditures for the year averages 4,000 per day for the fifty-eight day meeting, including average daily 0,000 pay roll and 1,207 distribution in stakes and purses.
