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BETWEEN RACES * ore GARDEN STATE PARK, Camden, N. J., May 17. — Marge Lind-heimer, making an excursion of the , eastern racing circuit, advises that turf people will find a rather radically revised program of racing as the Arlington-Washington Park season opens its swank summer spin on July 20, and from all indications the revision will not only do much to improve the racing for a the public, but should actually meet with more than a modicum of acclaim from breeders and horsemen. Miss Lindheimer, executive assistant to Ben Lindheimer, reveals that the most important of the changes in the Arlington-Washington racing will be the conversion of the condition books to provide for two juvenile races every day with the single exception of Saturdays. "We intend to make Chicago a proving ground for the owner and breeder of the two-year-old. After all, if an owner does not get to find out the worth of a two-year-old, because of lack of opportunity to race, the industry must suffer to some extent. There is a widespread belief that two-year-old races are poor wagering races, but a careful check of our records in past years at Arlington and Washington does not bear out that contention. As a rule, a good maiden two-year-old race, or a non-winners of two, with some class in the field, has outhandled races for older horses where class is not the most striking ingredient of the field. While the wagering aspect has been considered, it was by no means the dominant reason v for the change. We simply feel that we can improve our Rich Turf Program in Offing for Chicago r New Emphasis on Juvenile Racing Planned Arlington-Washington Stakes Are Enticing Delaware to Preview Its Plant on Sunday racing by providing more opportunities for the young horse and make Chicago the initial proving ground of potential champions. AAA "Additional emphasis will be placed on filly and mare races," continued Miss Lindheimer. "Arlington-Washington long has been among leaders on this conditioning of races, but we intend to go even further. Another item in which we are deeply interested is the continued development of our races over the turf. The charts of Daily Racing Form will prove quite conclusively that our turf races have been run true to form, and the fans have accorded them high popularity. Many horses who race choppy on the dirt run perfectly on the turf. We are continuing our research which already has developed a grass which is hoof resistant and which takes instantly to the replacement of divots. We intend to offer as many races over the banked turf course as we can. There is a widespread idea that mud horses run well on the turf, but our statistics do not bear this out. Most horses race well over the sod, although it must be admitted there are a few who simply do not relish it. This type will, of course, find ample opportunity on the flat/ Miss Lindheimer stated quite frankly that one of the motivating factors of the Chicago program as outlined here was an endeavor to develop horses for the handicap division while at the same time offering an improved sport for Chicagoans. "So many of our handicap horses are dropping by the wayside that handicaps often become unattractive to the public despite the presence of the so-called name horses. Our stakes program is as rich as ever. But when our program is fully developed, I do not think we will have to rely so much upon handicap horses for public drawing cards as we once did. The excellence of the remainder of our program will see to that. We are keeping our stakes program intact, of course, and believe it will prove most attractive to every worthwhile thoroughbred. During our 67 days, we are offering not one, but many stakes for every classification. For instance, our two-year-old program numbers no less than nine sweeps, and we also are giving big money opportunities to sprinters and middle-distance horses, as well as those able to travel what might be styled the classic distances. " AAA Miss Lindheimer stated that stake blanks for the Arlington-Washington season were now coming from* the printer and would be available for national distribution by the end of this week. The books show two stakes each of 0,000 added, three of 0,000, two at 5,000, one at Continued on Page Eight t BETWEEN RACES I By OSCAR OTIS Continued from Page Forty 0,000, no less than a dozen of 5,000, and nine of the 0,000 added variety. Overnights will range up to 0,000 and the better class of horses, the greater the overnight purse. Incidentally, the Lind-heimers are devoting a great deal of study and have a research organization at work tabulating facts and trends about television. "Under no circumstance will we have live telecasts from either Arlington or Washington Parks," she stated. "But we are outlining a television program to be air-waved every evening, with perhaps two of our best races and show shots of race track scenes with which the public seldom comes in personal contact. We know that television will have a vital place in racing in the future, and we want to coordinate this new medium of reaching the public with the best interests of racing. We dont know for sure, as yet, of course, but it could be possible, for instance, that fans on a rainy day in Chicago might stay home to -see a -race on their sets in New York." Miss Lindheimer indicated that with the extension of chain telecasting the proper sphere of the medium, insofar as the turf was concerned, easily could be a national problem and should be solved on a national scale, most likely through the TRA. AAA Bryan Field and his aide de camp in the good-will department, Al Fahey, will hold a press review and barbecue at Stanton, Del., on Sunday, to point with pardonable pride as they officially unveil the new and far more spacious Delaware, which will hold its inaugural the following Friday. The new construction is so vast, giving seats for 21,000. persons, that an Indian guide is said to be necessary to conduct even old-timers about the plant. "Our largest crowd to date at Delaware," says Bryan Field, "was the 36,000 on hand Memorial Day in 1946. We should be able to handle to upwards of 50,000 now. Perhaps we wont get that many, but if it should rain on one of our big Saturdays, everyone will be able to find shelter without congestion." Field reveals that some half million dollars has been expended for public welfare and comfort. The improvements embrace all types of admission, from the grandstand through private turf clubs. Delaware Park is breaking a tradition this season by installing a reserve seat section in the grandstand. These, of course, have proven popular elsewhere and there is no reason why they should not be as welcome at Delaware. The fan who does not buy a reserved seat in the grandstand will still be far better accommodated than ever before. Delaware Park has always been famous on the East Coast as the track where it is extremely hard to obtain stable reservations, for the simple reason that far more horsemen will ship to race there than the stable area can accommodate. Despite the fact that some stables which annually have raced at Delaware are in Detroit this season, the demand was greater than ever.
