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OPEN SUFFOLK APRIL 30 Boston Track Inaugurating Fifty-Seven Days of Racing. Mutuel Pay-Offs to Be Posted to Dollar Instead of Customary Two Dollars Track Covered. BOSTON, Mass., April 28 On the eve of the opening of Suffolk Downs, the inaugural meeting of the 1938 New England season, over 1,000 horses are stabled on the grounds of the East Boston track and more are arriving by van and train every few hours. One of the innovations of the meeting will be the posting of the payoff to the dollar, instead of the customary method of flashing the payoff to . Suffolk Downs is the first track to use this method. For instance, if as under the old system the payoff was .30 on a win bet, the board will flash .15. Another new feature at the meeting will be the use of the Jimmy Jones-camera to photograph finishes. Tom Thorp, who takes over the duties here this year as presiding steward,, has already conferred with his conferees, William Almy and Cheatham Parke, and handed down a ruling that whips and blinkers may be used on two-year-olds making their first start. There will be fifty-seven days of actual racing during the Suffolk Downs meeting, which opens April 30 and closes July 9. There will be no racing on Mondays during May with the exception of May 30. SIXTH NEW ENGLAND SEASON. The Suffolk Downs meeting marks the opening of the sixth New England racing season since the revival of the sport, an ill-fated venture under the certificate method of wagering being held at Rockingham in 1933. But that meeting paved the way for racing under the pari-mutuel law. The judges stand at Suffolk Downs has been raised and a new one built into the Continued on fifteenth page. OPEN SUFFOLK APRIL 30 f Continued from first page. press box on the roof. This- will enable those fans who are able to get on the finish line to have a perfect view of the finish. At the same time the judges on the roof will have a better perspective of the running of an entire race. The track itself has been whipped into shape by a crew of men working under Billy Leece. A covering of loam has been put on the track and the horsemen are of the opinion that the track itself is ideal to work and race horses. Officials for the meeting are: Stewards Tom Thorp, William Almy, Jr., C. Parke, j Eugene Bury and John xMacomber. Placing judges O. E. Pons, Jr.,H. Dernham and C. Moore. Starter R. B. Frend. Racing secretaryEugene Bury. Paddock judge C. Moore. Patrol judges J. Butwell and E. Flynn. Timer George Fritz. The first race : will be called to the post at 2:15 p. m., day- I light saving time. j
