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H BETWEEN RACES I By Oscar Otis 1 Del Mar Expands Stakes Program Increase Stable Accommodations Tribute to Webb Everetts Skill Joined Santa Anita on a Gamble HOLLYWOOD PARK, Inglewood, Calif., June 26. The new owners of the controlling interest in Del Mar, Joseph M. Schenck and Jay Paley, have wasted little time since taking over in making known their policies in regard to the future of the big little band-box by the breakers down San Diego way. Their first important announcement was the appointment of Webb Everett as their director of racing, with a free hand to work with and coordinate Del Mar activities with the goal of nothing less than a Santa Anita type of sport. Their second major announcement was that of stakes and purses. The value of the stakes have nearly doubled those of last summer. There are ten stakes in all, none less than 0,000 in added money, with a 5,000 Derby and a 5,000 Handicap. Both the Derby and the Handicap are at a mile and one-sixteenth. Overnight purses will range from a minimum of ,800 to ,000, and Everett has indicated he will decree the running of as many of the richer variety as it is possible to fill. Judging by the type of horses asking for Del Mar space for the first time in the history of their respective owners, high class allowance races will monopolize a tidy percentage of the races offered. Owners who in the past have deserted California following the close of the Hollywood Park season have served notice they wish the remain. AAA Everetts first act as director of racing was to make arrangements so that the usual capacity of Del Mar, 825 head, would be expanded to accommodate slightly more than0 1,000. Some of the "overflow" housing will be temporary, but durable, and in every way up to the standards of the -regular adobe barns. Next year, the stable area will be expanded to about 1,200 capacity with the same adobe fireproof construction as now prevails. Time is too short this season for the new owners -to accomplish all they have in mind, but permanent construction will be started the moment the Del Mar season is over. Everett is technically "on loan" to the Del Mar Club for the summer. The man is on the permanent staff of Santa Anita, and it was only on the urgent request that a man of Everetts particular talents was necessary for the fulfillment of the ambitious Schenck-Paley program that Dr. Charles H. Strub of Santa Anita consented to the request. Everett will be through with the Del Mar season in ample time to make his annual fall excursion to New" York in the interests of Santa Anitas program. AAA Everetts training as director of racing is not unique, but at the same time, the combination is not often countered. He has had a thorough grounding in all phases of racing, including administration. Everett has come up from the ranks in racing, and has not, as has been frequent in some cases, started at the top and learned from there. He has served in most every capacity, ranging from patrol judge to steward. Luck was with Everett in one instance. He first came to California in the old days of the options at Tanforan. This was in the era just prior to the legalization of pari-mutuels. He came West as protege of judge Joseph A. Murphy. At the close of a spring meeting at Tanforan, he left for Seattle to help Joseph Gottstein build up racing in the Northwest. One day J. Sam Rothert, then the racing secretary, was taken ill, and Everett stepped into that post. He did so well that he was soon recognized as a top flight racing secretary iri his own right. AAA At the close of Longacres, Everett was ticketed to return to Chicago when he received a phone call from a man named Strub. "We are building a race track down in Los Angeles to be known as Santa Anita," Strub told him. "And you have been well recommended to me. How about coming to Los Angeles and talking it over?" Everett agreed to the conference. Strub asked Everett to aid him in the building plans, outline the location of the various departments. "Id like you to stay on through the fall, and you will have an official post when we open," Strub continued. "But frankly, we are a little short of ready cash. If you will work with us, Ill set your salary one month after the track I opens." It was a plain gamble for Everett, months of his time against a possible nothing. But he took it, and, of course, he hasnt regretted it since. As is well known, the forceful and brilliant Strub was offering stock, to all his friends at the time. Everett had some money saved. Strub offered him 10 shares. But after conferring with others who descried the whole project of Santa Anita as a track, and Los Angeles as a sports-minded town, he turned it down. Th stock Everett refused today has a market value of 50,000. This is the one regret of the Everett lifetime, but he is not alone in his sorrow. Many others with high standing as captains of finance thought the same way, and also snubbed the Strub i offerings.
