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NEW ENGLAND DATE MEETING Narragansett, Suffolk and Rockingham Officials Hold Conference. Agree on Schedule But Must Wait Appointment of State Racing Commissions for Approval. BOSTON, Mass., Dec. 8. In a conference yesterday between Thomas H. McKoy, Jr., representing Rockingham Park, judge James E. Dooley, representing Narragansett Park, and Charles F. Adams, representing Suffolk Downs, an understanding was reached concerning the racing dates for the 1939 season. It was agreed that Suffolk Downs would hold its meeting beginning May 15 and closing July 22, subject to the approval of the Massachusetts State Racing Commission. This would leave available for Narragansett and Rockingham the opening meeting of the season of nineteen days, and the period from August 15 to November 15 similarly to be arranged between Rockingham and Narragansett. It was also agreed that Narragansett Park was so located geographically that it seemed desirable to open the season at that park. Before the actual dates for racing in New Hampshire can be officially approved legislation is necessary to again legalize pari-mutuel betting in that state. If possible to decide by January 1, the several stakes to be offered by each of the New England tracks and the dates of running the combined offerings will be jointly advertised in the principal national racing publications for the entire New England season. Horse racing at Suffolk Downs has been recently approved by public referendum by a vote of nearly four to one, and the personnel of the state racing commission has been decided. The present chairman, Charles F. Connors, has been re-appointed to serve for the next three years, therefore the Massachusetts situation is settled" and in order. Due to the resignation of the present racing commissioner, Ralph H. George, of New Hampshire, a new appointment is now Continued on eighteenth page. NEW ENGLAND DATE MEETING Continued from first page. necessary, and the situation in Rhode Island in this respect is still indefinite. Except for these contingencies a definite agreement of all tracks regarding purses and dates would have been settled at yesterdays conference. But as dates at each track must be approved by the respective state racing commissions, it was impossible to complete the racing schedule for Rockingham and Narragansett. There was complete unanimity of opinion among the representatives of the three tracks as to closer co-operation on general i policies in the future.
