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RUSSELL ISSUES STATEMENT Reluctantly Resigns as Member of ofCalifornia California Horse Racing Board Explains His Reasons LOS ANGELES Calif July 25 Late Saturday afternoon Henry Potter Russell issued the following formal statement On June 10 I tendered my resignation to Gov ¬ ernor Olson as a member of the California Horse Racing Board To date the governor has failed to advise me of its acceptance so that I am reluctantly forced to make this announcement myself myselfIt It is with a great deal of regret that I feel compelled to terminate an official in ¬ terest in the sport of racing in California But I am so out of sympathy with the pres ¬ ent trend of its administration of racing that I do not feel I can in all justice to the sport and to myself continue as a member of the board The advantages of racing to the state of California as shown by the growing thoroughbred breeding industry back of it are in my opinion being seriously jeopardized by the injection of politics politicsRussell Russell added a postscript as follows I have continuously recommended to the board that Santa Anita be allotted a fortyseven day meeting beginning December 30 It is my opinion that the successful California cir ¬ cuits should not be disturbed except through moderate curtailment Furthermore the Hollywood Turf Club was originally granted a permit on the distinct understanding that racing would be conducted there only dur ¬ ing the summer The summer meeting has proved a great success and a wonderful ben ¬ efit to California owners and breeders Why disturb the finest situation in the country
