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LAUREL OWNERSHIP THE SAME Col. Matt Winn Denies Purchasing; Control of Track. : Has Annual Conference With Butlers anfll Announces His Laurel Stock Is Not for Sale. NEW YORK, N. Y., Dec. 8. Col. Matt Winn, the man who made the Kentucky; Derby into the most famous horse race in America, emphatically denied today that he had bought any further interest in the Laurel Maryland race track, a course in which he has been a stockholder and vice-f president since he opened the plant for the late James Butler, Sr., in 1913. His denial followed persistent rumors that the Butler, family had sold control of the course. "I believe these rumors emanated from Baltic more," Winn said. "At any rate, I have received telegrams from Baltimore congratulating me for assuming control of the track." He stated that there had always been a" tacit agreement between himself and the Butler family that neither would sell their stock without consulting the other. He had a conference with the Butlers that lasted until late into Tuesday evening, and after the meeting told this correspondent: "Neither my stock nor the stock owned by the Butler family has ever been on the market, and it is not on the market now." He also denied that the American Turf Association, of which he is the head, had. any interest in Laurel or was seeking to. buy an interest in the Maryland course. "The stock which I own and always have owned in Laurel," he said, "is for my personal account." ANNUAL BUSINESS CONFERENCE. Winn said that his conference with the Butlers was an annual affair, and that this year as usual only routine business was gone over. He said the main purpose of the conference was to consider financial reports for the past season. He denied having represented any interest in seeking to purchase the track. He said Continued jn nineteenth page.. LAUREL OWNERSHIP THE SAME Continued from second page. that reports to the effect Walter OHara, former head of Narragansett Park, had bought a large interest in the track, were entirely erroneous. "I have heard that story ! time and again during the past months," he stated. "I cant imagine who started it. It has no foundation of truth." "My visit here," Winn continued, "is partly business, and mostly pleasure. I lived in New York for twenty-five years. I have many friends here and I like to renew my acquaintances with them at least once a year. The Butler family and I are far more than business associates. We are the closest of personal "friends. I came East mainly to see them." No president has been elected at Laurel as yet. The post has been vacant since the death of Cy Cummings. Winn believes it will be filled within a week or ten days, but did not wish to comment at the time upon Cummings probable successor. Col. Winn expects to remain in New York until the middle of next week.
