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WASHINGTON PARK HEAD Walter L Gregory Elected President of Washington Park Jockey Club. Roy Carruthers Re-Elected Secretary and General Manager New Board of Directors. Walter L. Gregory, hotel executive and Chicago business leader, Saturday was elected president of the Washington Park Jockey Club at its annual meeting. He succeeds John P. Harding, who will continue as a member of the board of directors. Roy Carruthers was re-elected secretary and general manager. The new board of directors is composed of Gregory, Carruthers, Harding, Harry H. Lobdell and James G. Condon. Washington Park, which will stage a late summer meeting this year instead of the late spring meeting it has been conducting annually since the legalization of racing in Illinois, opens August 5 and will run through Labor Day, September 7. Seven major stakes will serve as highlights of one of the most ambitious racing programs being offered by any American race course this season. Washington Parks new president, previously unidentified with the turf, is vice-president of the Palmer House Company. He is also president of the Chicago Exposition Authority, which Is developing the former site of A Century of Progress into a permanent exposition, and is chairman of the board of the State Street Council, the most important association of property owners in the world. Continued on thirty-eighth page. WASHINGTON PARK HEAD Continued from first page. "My own part in the management of Washington Park," Mr. Gregory asserted in taking office," will be in the interests of the Chicago racing public. We hope to succeed in making every racegoer feel that he is welcome at Washington Park, that racing is being conducted witn nis interests in mind, and that it is still a sport which requires training, breeding and courage in both horses and men. "The actual racing has been placed in competent hands with the signing of Charles McLennan as racing secretary, making certain that its quality will show improvement even over last year. The change in Washington Parks racing dates from June xo August is sure to exert a powerful influence :n this direction, for the top members of the handicap division are more likely to be attracted to Chicago during that period. Such a race as the 0,000 Washington Park Handicap, on Labor Day, is certain to have an important bearing upon the 1936 handicap championship. "The later dates should likewise give greater significance to our two-year-old fixtures the Prairie State Stakes and the Washington Park Juvenile Stakes for by that time competition will have determined the identities of the better juveniles and to the victors in the Washington Park two-year-old features will go considerable .added prestige. "Details of the numerous improvements which will be made at Washington Park before the meeting opens will be announced shortly. The same policy of providing comfort and convenience for racegoers as prevailed last season will guide the track this year. The remodeling of stands and clubhouse and the installation of a totalizator were long steps in that direction. The new improvements should go far toward making Washington Park Americas model race course both for the owners of racing stables and Chicagos turf-minded public."
