view raw text
Transfer of Spa Meeting To Belmont Is Approved Commission Sanctions Move Following New Ruling by ODT NEW YORK, N. Y., June 22.— The New York State Racing Commission announces that it has granted the application of the Saratoga Association to hold its summer meeting at Belmont Park beginning Monday, July 26, through Saturday, August 28. The regular season at Saratoga is not . being held, at the request of Governor j Dewey, who found that it would interfere J with the regulations for the conservation of gas and rubber. The place to which the meeting was to go had been held in abey- j ance pending analysis of attendance and , pools at the spring meetings of Belmont Park May 10 through June 5; in comparison to the Aqueduct season, now on, which began June 7 and ends June 26. A study shows the first 10 days available at Belmont Park to have had a daily average mutuel handle of ,124,650, with an attendance of 14,067. At Aqueduct the figures were ,411,408, with an attendance of 17,268. The difference can be attributed to the fact that the patrons at Belmont Park had to walk a mile and a half to the track from the Long Island trains and back. At Aqueduct the trains went directly to the gates. In support of the rule of the commission that the public comes first, there was a question as to whether the Saratoga season should be assigned to Belmont Park. The surroundings there are more beautiful; Continued on Page Twenty-Seven Transfer of Spa Meeting To Belmont Is Approved Commission Sanctions Move Following New Ruling by ODT Continued from Page One the horsemen, almost without exception, prefer it, but the point of service and comfort for the patrons had to be arranged. That now has been settled. The ODT has agreed to let trains run to fixed destinations, provided there is no withdrawal of rolling stock from troop transportation. In j the case of the Long Island Railroad, all . the equipment used for race trains is of a special service type, so no violation occurs. Besides, the cars are stored on sidings- immediately adjacent to the track. Accordingly, the Saratoga -Belmont meeting will have trains run to the regular Belmont station immediately opposite the entrance I gate and will be loaded there at* the close of the days racing. The time of the first race has not been set. The railroad has been empowered to run extras freely as long as it remains within the limits of the j regulation. The restriction on the use of parking areas continues. These will not be opened. Only those cars having actual business with ! and inside the track will be permitted access.