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Monmouth Park Opening Postponed Until June 19 Inclement Weather Causes Delay In Necessary Construction Work MONMOUTH PARK, Long Branch, N. J., June 5. — The Monmouth Park managements tussle with the elements resulted in a victory for old Jupiter Pluvious today when it was announced that the 36-day inaugural meeting, scheduled to open next Monday, would not get under way until June 19. The postponement was approved by the New Jersey Racing Commission, which was apprised of the proposed move last night. v "We are making this postponement for the convenience of the public," Amory L. Haskell, president of the Monmouth Park Jockey Club, said today. "The inclement weather has seriously delayed us, and we feel that in all fairness to the public and in the best interest of the sport, the meeting should be postponed until June 19. We hope at that time to present a race course which will be a credit to the New Jersey turf." Whether the association will be given an opportunity to make up the eight days lost through the postponement, has not been decided. It was believed likely in some quarters that the Monmouth Park Jockey Club would be permitted to stage a fall meeting after the Garden State Park session closes on October 26. Monmouth Park has been literally "drowned" by the 17 days of rain since May 1. The unseasonable weather played havoc with the construction schedule, interfering with both carpenters and steel men. The track presents an interesting, but Continued on Page Thirty Monmouth Park Opening Postponed Until June 19 Inclement Weather Causes Delay In Necessary Construction Work Continued from Page One discouraging sight at the moment. However, the legerdemain of the engineering staff and a crew of some 600 workers, is counted upon to transform the present scene, which presents cranes, scaffolding, mud-patches and debris, into the completely modern plant officials plan it to be. A visit to various sections of this new race course reveals concrete reasons for this move by president Haskell, general manager Edward J. Brennan and their Monmouth Park associates. The grandstand roof is not a "roof" at present, but work is progressing rapidly and officials believe a large portion of it will be ready by opening day. Estimates by them of how much of the roof will be completed vary. It is safe to assume that perhaps half of it will furnish shelter when the meeting opens. The clubhouse is far from ready, but the postponement and a hoped for break from the weatherman would find much of this section ready by June 19. At least it will present a far more pleasing picture than it would have if the track were to open this Monday. The heavy cranes and other apparatus on the lawns in front of the grandstand have made final grading and paving impossible. This also is true of the apron behind the grandstand, where cement mixers and trucks are required as the final touches are bt.ng put to the pavilion proper. The racing strip itself was marked by many mud spots today, particularly on the first turn, but a battery of bulldozers was getting it in shape for manicuring later by the harrows. Some of the 150 thoroughbreds quartered in the spacious, spic and span barns, are being vanned to Brookdale Farm, some four miles away, every morning for their works. Incidentally, the stable area is in comparatively good condition. The eight -day postponement of the opening necessitates calling off the Ocean-port Handicap, originally scheduled for June 10, and the Long Branch Handicap, slated for June 15. Each was a 0,000 event. The Oceanport attracted 51 nominations, while the Long Branch drew 59. Subscription fees are being returned by racing secretary John Turner, Jr. Faces of Monmouth Park officials were long late this afternoon when the sunny skies, which had smiled upon the beehive which is now Monmouth Park, were obscured by clouds and rain began to fall. "How much of that stuff is there up there?" one of them plaintively exclaimed.
