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HANDICAP MAYER INTERESTS .. "t t Exaggeratfeci Prices - EievenvMore rt Dealandby: Movie. Mauat - -v. .v v , y v Owners Putting Ridiculous Figures, on Race Horses No. Offer "Was Everiviade for War Admiral. LOS ANGELES, Calif., Dec. 24. Neil S. McCarthy, one of the chief advisers on turf ! affairs to Louis B. Mayer, today informed Daily Racing Form that the Mayer interests " are being handicapped and embarrassed by erroneous statements in the press regarding the establishments acquisition of horses i and the price paid therefor. Recently stories appeared to the effect that Mayer paid 5,-000 for Flying Bonny, and that he had offered 25,000 for El Chico. Some time ago 1 the press had the noted motion picture magnate offering. 50,000 for War Admiral. No definite offer of any kind was ever made for War Admiral. El Chico was never sought by the Mayer interests and Flying Bonny cost less than one-half the published price. The "blown-up" stories of high prices has led owners of horses which are for sale to put ridiculous price tags on them; McCarthy said, to the detriment of Helpful deals, all of which is bearish on the general health and progress of the turf. McCarthys statement to Daily Racing Form follows in full: "I notice in Daily Racing Form, in commenting on Flying Bonny, the statement that Mr. Mayer paid 5,000 for her. In other papers I have seen a statement that Mr. Mayer offered 25,000 for El Chico. PRICES EXAGGERATED. "Neither Mr. Mayer nor anyone qualified to act for him has ever made an offer of any amount for El Chico. We paid less than one-half of .5,006 for Flying Bonny. "Statements of these exaggerated prices are harmful in many ways. People believe them, and they demoralize the purchase and sale of thoroughbreds. It makes it difficult for us to buy a horse that we might desire because people feel we are stupid and that they should ask much more than the horse is worth. As a consequence we do not buy it. "It puts Mr. Mayer is the position of throwing money away in order to buy a horse that someone thinks, he might fancy. He is not that type of man and has not made that type of purchase. I question that there is any individual horse that he has bought that cannot be sold today for more than we paid for it. I know that we can sell the entire group that we have purchased for much in excess of what they cost. "Mr. Mayer is not in the market for any horses solely for the purpose of racing. It is his purpose to acquire only such horses as later promise to be valuable for breeding purposes. "I hope you will correct the impression created by these articles."
