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Rockingham Park Given Extension of Fall Meet Judge Dooley Deplores Action Of New Hampshire Commission CONCORD, N. H., June 29. The New Hampshire Racing Commission today granted the request of the New Hampshire Jockey Club for an extension of its fall meeting at Rockingham Park from 67 racing days to 84. The dates are August 16 to November 20. Originally, the New Hampshire Jockey Club proposed to stage a 19-day meeting from August 16 to September 6, followed by a 48-day season from September 20 to November 13. Rockingham Park will operate in competition with the two Rhode Island tracks, Narragansett Park and Lincoln Downs, for the entire duration of its meeting. Dates for the Narragansett Park fall meeting are August 16 to September 18, 30 days. Lincoln Downs opens a 48-day meeting on September 20, running to November 13. The New Hampshire Jockey Club applied to the commission for date extension six weeks ago. The board deferred action in the hope that the conflict with the Rhode Island tracks might be avoided. In a statement Issued today, the New Hampshire Racing Commission said: "The commission had been hopeful that a comprise on these dates might be reached, but it has heard nothing from the Rhode Island Commission. The time has now arrived for a final decision. No compromise, apparently, being possible, the New Hampshire Commission has allocated the days from August 16 to November 20, 1948 to the New Hampshire Jockey Club." s NARRAGANSETT PARK, Pawtucket, R. I., June 29. Judge Dooley, president of the Narragansett Racing Association, made a brief statement to the press this afternoon following the granting of 84 days racing to Rockingham Park dates that will involve substantial conflict with both Narragansett and Lincoln Downs. Dooley deplored the decision -of the New Hampshire State Racing Commission and contradicted the statement of that body that it "heard nothing definite from Rhode Island authorities." Dooley repeated for the benefit of newspapermen a schedule proposed by the Rhode Island associations last winter that would have avoided any conflict. This schedule, however, gave half the racing season to the two Rhode Island tracks. When the judge was questioned as to what Narragansetts attitude will be when and if new tracks are opened in Massachusetts or New Hampshire, he replied: "We will cross our bridges when we come to them."
