view raw text
i | I j I . J ! j j ! 1 , j I I I | | I | i Oaklawn Park Meeting Nets State 95,691 Wagering and Attendance Marks Also Broken at 30-Day Session HOT SPRINGS, Ark., April 4.— The state of Arkansas received 95,691.36 in revenue j from the Oaklawn Park 30-day race meeting that came to a conclusion Saturday, it was announced here today. This represents a gain of 79,968.49 over the amount the commonwealth obtained from the sport in 1943, when the total was 15,722.87. Both wagering and attendance records likewise were broken at the highly suc-: cessful session conducted by John G. Cella, Peter J. Holmes and their associates. The mutuel handle for the 30 days was ,581,-; 748, for a daily average of 86,058. Betting was up ,184,946 over 1943, as was also the attendance, when a total of 140,494 persons passed through the turnstiles. Last years attendance was 102,215,. so the in-i crease was 38,279. With the state receiving almost a half ] million dollars in revenue, it must be acknowledged that racing has a definite place in the commonwealths structure, ! particularly in a state the size of Arkansas. Breaking down the revenue, it is seen that 29,087.40 was received through the 5 per cent pari-mutuel tax, 9,390.76 from 50 per cent of the breakage, 5,000 from the daily operating license fee, 4,050.20 from the tax on admissions and ,163 from miscellaneous licenses. The three War Relief and charity programs conducted during the course of the meeting realized 0,680.11. From this total the American Red Cross was given 0,- ! 605.07. the Bundles for America organiza- ! tion 1,410.63 and the Arkansas Infantile Paralysis Foundation 8,673.41.
