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FAIRMOUNT PARKS JUDGES Two New Placing Officials Will Be Introduced in the Stand. Veteran John T. Ireland to Preside Again as Steward — New Odds Board Crected In Infield. COLLINSVILLE, 111., May 19— Two new officials will be seen in the judges stand at Fairmount Park during the thirty-one-day spring meeting, commencing Decoration Day, May 30, and running through to July 4. General manager D. C. Burnett yesterday announced the appointment of officials and, while most of the cast is the same as the one overseeing last falls successful campaign, two new placing judges will be introduced in the stand— Freddie Crafton and Rollie Leigh. Crafton, while new here in his appointed position, is remembered as an attache of the Fairmount secretary office several years ago. In recent years he worked for Walter OHara at Narragansett Park; also as placing judge and is regarded as an all-around man who can fill any position on the track. Crafton takes the place of the late Charley Campau, the baseball star of the old 80s, who passed away in New Orleans the past winter after a short illness. Rollie Leigh is the son of the veteran racing secretary, Dick Leigh, and will handle the duties formerly held by his father. Like Crafton, he is a graduate of the secretarys office, having aided Leigh, Sr., for years and is highly regarded. EXPERIENCED OFFICIAL. Dick Leigh, recognized as one of the most efficient racing secretaries in the sport, will return to make up the daily racing cards. Leigh has had vast experience in racing, having been a jockey, owner and trainer, and knows the ins and outs of everything. Johnny Morrissey, son of the late Harry Morrissey, will again disperse the fields. Morrissey is gradually making a name for himself as a starter, and many believe he will reach, if not surpass, the brilliant reputation achieved by his father. The popular Cliff Abbo, an ex-newspaper man, will again be the third placing judge aided by Crafton and Rollie Leigh. The task of steward has been again assigned to the veteran John T. Ireland, former noted breeder. As was the case last year, he will be aided by another steward, to be appointed by the Illinois Racing Commission, and it may be the same official, Chris Fitzgerald, Jr. The latter did a competent job with Ireland last fall, keeping the racing on a clean plane throughout. Work is speeding along to have the track ready for the opening. The new 111-foot odds board, believed to be the longest in the country, was completed yesterday, and awaits a fresh coat of paint. Letters and figures on the board will be a third larger than last year. Painting in the interior of the clubhouse was also finished yesterday, while landscape artists continue their beautifying of the clubhouse and grandstand enclosures. BURNETT ELATED. General manager Burnett, highly elated at the early response of stables and fans to the meeting, looks forward to one of the best spring seasons in the tracks history. "But-sey" Hernandez, Frankie Seremba, Al G. Tarn, B. P. Woodson nad Mrs. R. J. Murphy are a few of the prominent stable owners who have already definitely assured Burnett of coming, while fan interest, gauged by letters and telephone calls, too, is encouraging. With no counter attraction of a major league baseball game in St. Louis Decoration Day, Burnett said yesterday he would not be surprised if the track record attendance of 25,000 was smashed opening day. This mark has been reached twice across the river, once in 1926 for the Fairmount Derby, won by Haste, and again Labor Day last fall.
