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BETWEEN RACES * ore j GARDEN STATE PARK, Camden, N. J., May 18. — Jersey racing is booming, and one valid reason for this pleasant state of affairs would appear to be the refreshing and equitable stand taken by the state authorities in Trenton in the matter of taxation. Jersey is the only state, insofar as we are aware, which has reversed a national trend toward taxation of racing, especially the facet of pari-mutuel wagering, in that this season, Garden State Park at the moment, and Atlantic City and Monmouth in the not too distant fu-ture, is operating under a fair tax base. Last year, you ■ may recall, the state took 6 per cent and left the track 6 per cent on the first 40 millions of wagering, and then scaled along to the point where the state took the rather immense portion of 10 per cent and left the track a mere 2. This was so obviously unfair, and forced the tracks to operate at a loss or near loss and, in any event, left little or no margin for track improvements, purse increases, additional endowment of stakes and the like that goes to make for a strong competitive position in an area troubled by date conflicts. The new tax allows the original base of 6 and .6 te stand, but the escalator provision goes no higher than 7 per cent to the state and 5 to the track. AAA Jersey tracks now have an incentive to go forward as planned by their leaders, purses may be maintained at a high level and, as beautiful and utile ts Jersey tracks are, be still further improved in manner of convenience and comfort to the public. Nor would it be at all sur- New Tax Setup Aids Sport in New Jersey A Fair Standard Is Now the Vogue Here Grossman Steps Up Pace in Mexico City Labor Bureau Compliments Garden State prising if, when the current session in Jersey is over, the state winds up with substantially more revenue than ever before. In any event, the "fair tax" measure is being given a try here, and the "Jersey justice," as prevailing, might well be worth the study of all interested parties from other states, both turf people and legislators and executives. Jersey well might lead the way, by example, of returning the sport to a sound footing throughout the nation. AAA Edwin J. Brown, steward representing the State of New Jersey, informs us that the sport at the Hipodromo de las Americas, in Mexico City, is shattering all records. He ascribes much of the phenomenal progress south of the border to the management policies of Jo Grossman, a former turf writer well known on both coasts, who this year has been given complete reign as director of racing and assistant to the president, Bruno Pagliai. Grossman shortened an annoying time lag between races from 36 minutes to 28 minutes, added a ninth race on occasions, which has proven popular with both horsemen and public, has instituted a series of "good-will" days for outlying communities to make residents of the "hinterlands" acquainted with the sport at the Hipodromo, has inaugurated a system of breeders awards, and employs a spirited band on Sundays and holidays to lend zest to the pro- ceedings. At last reports, the day play was well over 100,000 pesos per day over last season. Incidentally, Mexican breeding has made noticeable strides in recent years, and it may be said that the Hipodromo no longer is fundamentally dependent upon imports for the bulk of its racing competition. We understand about 150 foals have either arrived or are expected on Mexican haras this spring, a new record for the Republic. These foals are registered with both the Mexican Jockey Club and the New York registrar. AAA Horses and People: Hal Armstrong is being given a chance to start his climb in the official ranks. The youthful horseman and former trainer is a patrol judge. He served previously in the same capacity and as an alternate steward in Mexico City. Armstrong had a creditable War record as a pilot, and for a spell trained flyers for Pan American. . . . John G. Scholl, secretary and supervisor of New Jerseys Bureau of Migrant Labor, has written the Garden State management expressing the appreciation of that board for the bettering of living conditions in the stable area. Garden State, as you may be aware, built some 90 new "tack rooms" for living quarters, with separate yet adjacent shower facilities, in most all the barns. A "test tack-room unit" built a year ago had proved a success, and the new units .were ready for occupancy at the beginning of the current season. . . . Horsemen have been leading a rather hectic existence during the last several weeks. At least - one stable had horses quartered at Pimlico, Havre de Grace, Delaware Park and Garden State. Commuting problems Continued on Page Thirty-Nine - ! BETWEEN RACES I By OSCAR OTIS Continued from Page Forty for trainers, exercise boys and, in some instances, jockeys, were acute and tiring. . . . It passed unnoticed at the time, but Larky Day set some sort of a record by winning his" first start in, his life in a steeplechase in a sweepstakes, the Spring Maiden Chase at Pimlico. Larky Day had started twice previously in hurdles, but never before in a true chase. AAA Virginias Abraham S. Hewitt has been quietly engrossed for the past several months on a research of human psychology as applied to the "tote" windows. Using New York tracks as a guide, over a three-year period, he has made an exhaustive study of wagering trends in racing and his first preliminary conclusion reached was that the fans pay too much attention to two-year-old form when making their selections of possible winners in three-year-old races. Hewitt accomplished the research as a mental exercise. . . . Betty Cox, who participated in the recent ladies race at Pimlico, is launching a movement as its objectives the advancing of the race at Pimlico from the mornings to a regular Preakriess week institution during the afternoon, and an invitation of the managements of other area tracks — including Delaware and New Jersey— to card such races as fine spectacles and public" attractions. . . . Nick Saegmuller, secretary of the Virginia Breeders Association, estimates that there are more than 1,200 thoroughbreds foaled every year in the Old Dominion State. This will"* astound many, but it is not as startling as it may sound when it is considered the vast majority of thoroughbreds foaled in Virginia are bred primarily for hunter and other light horse purposes. Saegmuller, incidentally, calls attention to the item that the fourth annual show of breeding stock on the part of Virginians has been scheduled for July 9 at Warrenton. Last year, 287 individual horses participated, and drew more than 1,500 spectators. "This is strictly a conformation show," explains Saegmuller, "and while it might prove dull to those looking for thrills, it is annually becoming more and more popular with people who understand and appreciate the finer points of horsemanship." Saegmuller advises that two classes will be eliminated from the display this year, namely, the draft and walking horse.
