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GEORGE W LEWIS Lewis Has Figured Prominently In Growth of Michigan Sport Associated With Track at Detroit Since 7937 Also Official at Ohio Tracks TracksFAIR FAIR GROUNDS Detroit Midi June 9 George W Lewis who has played a prominent role in the development of the thoroughbred sport in Michigan and Ohio is an official easy to find because he is one on the first arrivals daily at the race track and generalyspeaking the last to leave at night Let George Do It is an old saw but it certainly fits Lewis president of the Detroit Racing Association and the man ¬ ager of the Fair Grounds track Seemingly untiring in his administrative post George Lewis appears to thrive on long hours of ardupus labor and he sets a stiff pace for those assisting him at the Motor City track trackThe The present president of the Detroit Racing Association associated himself with the local organization in 1937 after having served the late Edward P Strong interests as assistant mutuel manager at River Downs and Thistle Down in 1936 When Strong took over here Lewis came along and promoted rapidly soon became wager ¬ ing department director at the Fair Grounds and the two Ohio tracks tracksLewis Lewis so efficiently discharged his duties in the mutuel division that when Strongs private business interests forced himpito give up his track post Lewis was immedi ¬ ately appointed general manager for the three plants that comprised a compact OhioMichigan racing circuit Lewis served in the capacity until illness necessitated his temporary retirement during the sum ¬ mer of 1947 1947Called Called Back to Head Association AssociationFollowing Following the deaths of Strong and his associate Clarence E Lehr Lewis was called back to serve as head of the Detroit Racing Association and Fair Grounds man ¬ ager In good health after his enforced rest Lewis not only brought the Woodward Avenue plant into its best shape ui years but found time to successfully stage the recently concluded Cranwood Park meet ¬ ing Considerable work was necessary to fit ancient Cranwood for the season but i Lewis commuted between here and Cleve ¬ land and the little half mile track was in splended condition when the sport began there thereWhile While Lewis is a bit partial to the Fair Grounds he also is sincerely interested in the thoroughbred sport as presented in the Buckeye State Manager of River Downs as well as Cranwood and Thistle Down the genial Westerner already is engrossed in plans for rebuilding the clubhouse and grandstand at the latter track the two structures having been destroyed by fire several years ago agoLewis Lewis is decidedly progressive and since he has held an executive position at the Fair Grounds he has steadily increased purses until the 1948 minimum reached 2200 and many of the feature events are valued at 15000 15000Turfmen Turfmen who campaign at Detroit be ¬ come regulars and return annunally The management is forced to turn down many many applications for stall space in order to take care of its regular patrons patronsTurf Turf Course Bears Name NameManager Manager Lewis introduced the novice jockey school and races for the embryo saddlesmiths resulting in the development of several crack riders Among the lads who donned silks for the first time in the Detroit novice contests are such boys as Joe Li Causi Joe Sneller the Englishborn star Peter Gifford Jimmy Duff and Wil ¬ liam McKinley Cook who was a top saddle performer during the last Florida winter season seasonSeveral Several years ago Lewis decided that the Fair Grounds should present turf course sport and such a track was built and bears his name The grass racing has become most popular here and several featured handicaps are decided annually over the Lewis Turf Course CourseSoon Soon after Lewis took over the manage ¬ ment of the Fair Grounds he established a fund to reimburse horsemen who lost thor ¬ oughbreds injured and destroyed through racing or training mishaps Jockey and ex ¬ ercise boy death and injury benefits also were included A small deduction from purses made turfmen eligible to participate in the payment plan which has been pop ¬ ular at the tracks which Lewis heads headsLewis Lewis came up the hard way to his pres ¬ ent high post and he has had long and varied experience in thoroughbred racing Back in 1904 when Lewis was 13 years of age he had aspirations to become a jockey but had little opportunity in that field as he became a stout young man who then and still enjoys good eating Lewis eventu ¬ ally landed in the mutuel department gradually going to the top as an outstand ¬ ing track executive executiveA A strict disciplinarian key members of his organization know George Lewis as a stern but fair chief and that no Fail Grounds or personal problem is too big for him himLet Let George do it is a common expres ¬ sion at the big Detroit track and George W Lewis its president and general man ¬ ager is equal to any task
