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Bowie Seeks Fall Dates at Pimlico Suggests Commission Split 30 Days Sport With Laurel And Havre de Grace Tracks BALTIMORE, Md., June 23.— A suggestion that the 30 days racing allowed by law this fall at Pimlico be apportioned between Bowie, Havre de Grace and Laurel, with those meetings held at Pimlico, and Pimlicos session not to be held at all — even though its grounds be utilized — was lodged with the Maryland Racing Commission by the Southern Maryland Agricultural Association, operators of Bowie. In a formal request signed by N. Hampton Magruder, president of Southern Maryland Agricultural Association, a petition for 10 racing days at Pimlico was filed on behest of Bowie. A like period was asked on behalf of Laurel and Havre de Grace. The astounding development is based on the claim that since Pimlico already staged a meeting this past spring, the other racing associations, which were unable to operate at that time because of travel restrictions, should be given consideration to stage meetings in the fall. Under that contention Pimlico would be forced out of the picture entirely since only 30 days more racing are permissible at Pimlico under the new racing law. That statute, signed by Gov. Herbert R. OConor on May 6, provides for 30 days racing at any major track in Maryland and no more than 100 days racing throughout the year. It also permits the transfer of any racing associations meeting to another plant because of conditions. Naturally, under that clause, Pimlico is the only track where other meetings could be transferred under existing conditions. Harry Parr III. Noncommittal Harry Parr ni., president of the Maryland Jockey Club, operators of Pimlico, would nuke no comment when questioned by a DAILY RACING FORM correspondent regarding Bowies request. He did, however, express surprise at the sudden action which would require Pimlico to graciously bow out of the Maryland fall scene. It is understood the Maryland Jockey Club is unlikely to pass on the turn of events. It prefers to leave the matter up to the commission, along with an application of its own for fall dates. Following a recent declaration by the management of Laurel that it had decided to abandon plans for a fall session at its own plant in favor of staging a meeting at Pimlico, it was generally felt that the 30 days next fall would be split between Laurel and Pimlico. In the past Laurel and Pimlico have dominated the fall racing period in Maryland. Both tracks offer numerous stakes. Conversely, Havre de Grace and Bowies meetings, although always conducted on a satisfactory plane, do not measure up in caliber of stakes, horses and purse distributions. This fall Pimlico plans to offer 13 stakes and renew many of the mare fixtures which annually attract the very best of horse flesh. Magruder Explains Bowies Action In his letter to the commission regarding Bowies proposal, Magruder explained the surprising action as the outgrowth of conditions, namely, travel restrictions, the fact that Bowie, as well as Havre de Grace, did not run last spring and therefore are entitled to hold meetings at Pimlico this fall since the law provides for transfer of meetings and furthermore, he touched on the fact that whether a track runs or not, there are financial involvements, such as upkeep and taxation. He concluded by stating: "This association definitely feels and therefore urges that your commission in the spirit of fairness and equality before the law, should now divide the 30 remaining days that might be run at any one track, into three equal parts, awarding consequently 10 days to each of the three major tracks, namely, Havre de Grace, Laurel and Bowie, at such dates as, in your judgment, may seem to be fair and equitable. "Should this be your action, Pimlico will still have occupied a favored position in that it will have received five more days than any other track, and, incidentally, the most lucrative in its long history of racing." The tiesire on the part of Bowie to move into Pimlico is a direct turnabout from its stand this past spring. At that time, and when the Maryland Jockey Club did the sporting thing by inviting Bowie to utilize its plant, the management of the Southern Maryland Agricultural Association declared that it was not favorably disposed toward such a step. Its chief objection was the ,000 a day paid Baltimore County by the Maryland Jockey Club.
