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: J ; ; 1 1 j c i 1 j 1 , j j 1 j . , : ; ! ; L ; " 5 : NORTHWEST TURF PROSPECTS Comprehensive View of Racing in Northwestern Section. Seattle, Vancouver, Victoria and Yakima to Entertain Western Fans During Coming Summer. SEATTLE, Wash., April 27. Racing in the Northwest this summer will be confined to Longacres at Seattle, Vancouver and Victoria, B. C, and the Playfair track at Spokane, with the possibility of a meeting at Yakima in the fall. So far as Portland, Ore., and Vancouver, Wash., are concerned, you can write them off as being out. Portland, Ore., where racing flourished in keeping with the spirit of the gay nineties, over thirty years ago, has now apparently gone definitely for the dogs. Horse racing could be re-established in the Oregon metropolis, but to do so would necessitate a well financed organization and apparently that kind of money is not available under existing circumstances. So far no applications have been received for the reopening of Columbia Downs at Vancouver, Wash., following an unsuccessful effort to present racing there last year, and even if there was it is doubtful if the Washington commission would feel disposed to grant a license. PLENTY OF HORSES. With California tracks having practically continuous racing throughout the summer, the natural assumption is that northwest tracks might have some difficulty procuring sufficient horses, other than the cheapest variety, for their impending schedules, but racing interests at Longacres and British Columbia are apparently very confident there is no particular problem on that score. Racing has been successfully conducted at Vancouver and Victoria since 1920, following a recess during the war, and today there is quite a colony of thoroughbreds in that particular region. Many of them are western Canada-breds, others from outside points that are B. C.-owned. There is a similar, although somewhat larger colony on the Canadian prairies, the result of years of breeding activities on the part of R. James Speers of Winnipeg, where racing has thrived at Polo Park and Whit-tier for years, with the result that both organizations, maintaining dovetailing schedules, have little cause for worry, so far as their daily programs are concerned. Especially in view of the fact there are always sufficient horses from outside points to make their handicaps stand up. Longacres is faced with a somewhat different situation for, while the list of Washington owners is growing steadily, it has not yet reached the proportions it is sure to attain within the next few years. But, despite that fact, the Longacres reorganizations and the influential connections it enjoys assures that track of a closs of horses this year that will compare favorably with that of 1937 on which score there was not the slightest reason for complaint. LONGACRES ATTRACTS. While most of the horses that will perform at Inklewood will probably ship to Del Mar at the conclusion of the Hollywood Park schedule, there are others that will come to Longacres, due to the fact that while racing concludes on Labor Day at the "Sweet Lei Lanai" park, the schedule continues to September 18 at the Seattle plant. Even right now Longacres is receiving a surprising number of requests for reservations. At Spokane, where George W. Schilling will again be in charge from August 27 to September 18, a gathering of bullring specialists those that run their best races on the half-mile ovals will assemble, augmented by such talent from western Canada, Washing-1 ton, Oregon and the Montana fairs circuit. Spokane has been successful from the out- set and, with the favorable conditions pre-; vailing in that section from a financial as-; pect, 1938 is expected to set new records both . in attendance and mutuel handle. But, despite the fact there is every indication . they will all get by quite nicely this i year, there is a growing feeling on the part ; of qualified observers that northwest racing ; interests, particularly the mile tracks such as Lansdowne and Brighouse at Vancouver, B. C, and Longacres at Seattle, will eventually have to get together, readjust there schedules, purses and stake offerings in order to present a united front in building up racing in this area. It is felt if they do that the northwest will become an unqualifiedly successful racing region, for there is no doubt that thorough-" breds do well in this section during the sum-1 mer season, as witness the success of northwest campaigners at Bay Meadows and Tanforan each fall.
