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BETWEEN RACES * oris ARCADIA, Calif., May 23.— The death of Lewis E. Waring came as a shock and as a severe loss to the American turf. Waring, a lifetime friend of the steeplechase and hunt horse, was active until the very end. He had attended the sessions of the National Association of State Racing Commissioners early last week and only last Thursday was a visitor at Belmont Park, along with a large group of racing commissioners from the various states. As chairman of the New Jersey Racing Commission, he gained national prominence for his able and intelligent handling of problems affecting the sport in that state. One of his last great contributions to racing was the lending of his name and prestige toward establishing a sound turf tax program in Jersey, and in which he was successful. Jersey, as most folks are aware, has abandoned its previous high scale of taxes which saw the tracks take reduced to as little as 2 per cent in the upper handle brackets. Waring told this writer only Thursday that he was confident the state would receive much more total revenue under the new and fairer tax prevailting this year than it did when all incentive to operate was taken away from management and the horsemen. Waring also was a well-known figure on the backstretch, for he deemed it part of his official duties to patrol and inspect the backstretch at least once every two weeks and see for himself the sanitary and housing set-up. He insisted on high standards for both. In addition, he encouraged management to establish a full scale recreational program designed to afford the grooms and exercise boys all opportunity for wholesome Death of Lewis Waring Shock to the Turf Did Much to Elevate Jersey Racing Plane Vast Size of Belmont Unpopular with Fans Mile Oval Held Ideal for American Public fun and leisure without having to leave the track -enclosure. AAA Much has been written during the past few weeks as to the reason for the "thinness" of the crowds at Belmont Park. Normally, Belmont Park should be expected to play host to a far larger audience than at Jamaica, o far this season, this has not been the case. Francis Dunne, steward representing the New York State Racing Commission, believes that only two factors are responsible for the current state of affairs, one, a growing apathy toward races run down the straightaway of the Widener chute, and, two, an inability to obtain a good view of a large sector of a race run on the mile and a half main course. Racing has quite properly been termed a spectator-participant sport. It is, of course, a thrilling spectacle, and the audience participates to a considerable degree through the medium of the pari-mutuel wickets. Possession of as much as a ticket affords the fans the sense of temporary ownership of the horse of his choice. Belmont has always been known as the "horsemans track" because the use of the Widener chute has made possible the starting, and a chance to prove up, of two-year-olds. The wide sweeping turns of the main track make for a minimum of interference and troube. But if the customers do not take kindly to the "vast layout, that is another story. It is understood that the original Maryland Jockey Club, in the days of "way back when," was responsible for establishing the mile as the standard American track distance. A majority of "American tracks are at the mile distance, most of them quite similar, although local physical conditions have caused for some notable variances from what might be termed a "norm." A few tracks have ventured to expand to as much as a mile and a furlong, and they appear quite huge in comparison to the standard milers. In England, few people get a chance to see much of a race, for distances there, in some cases, are considerably further than at Belmont. Without exception, however, it might be noted that visitors to our country from England within the last six months have expressed real amazement at the comfort and visual facilities afforded the customers by track managements. One noted Englishman said that if audiences there were afforded comparable facilities, they would go "mad." And by that he meant they wouldnt believe it was true. It may be that the American fans, well accustomed to seeing their races on the milers, and thus being able to follow the progress of the race for themselves much more easily than at Belmont, especially those without binoculars, are expressing their thoughts in an unmistakable manner. There would seem to be no other logical conclusion, for Belmont is one of the most spacious and beautiful tracks in the world. AAA Horses and People: New York State inspector Teddy Alcock is recovering from an unusual accident. Alcoclc was at his regular vantage point, at the gate, last week Continued or Page Thirty-Nine BETWEEN RACES I By OSCAR OTIS Continued from Page Forty when a horse swerved and flung him into a temporary fence. Although not seriously injured, he pulled the muscles in both legs and sustained some damage to Jiis knee. . . . Louis Stoddard informs that the steeplechase set is just a bit worried about a decline in turf racing at Belmont now that an eight-race program has become standard in New York. Stoddard says that while steeplechase races in general do not have the " tote machine draw" as the flat race of comparable quality, they do a reasonable volume of wagering and certainly contribute much in the way of a thrill to the fans. . . . Wheeling Downs will offer a new feature to horsemen at its 55-day meeting opening May 30, namely, insur ance against fatal accidents to horses up to the amount of ,000. AAA Frank E. "Jimmy" Kilroe will have condition books for the first eight days at Arlington Park in the hands of horsemen the first of the month. Kilroe has appointed Jack Klucina as assistant racing secretary for the Arlington-Washington season. . . . Clifford Mooers advises that Old Rockport was never better in his life and may be regarded as a certain starter in the Belmont. "He didnt sulk in the Preakness, as imagined," says Mooers. "The ground broke out from under him at the far turn and, after that incident, he wouldnt extend himself. . . . Alfred Jay Luke, president of the California Thoroughbred Owners and Trainers Association, is en route to Sacramento where he will seek to successfully conclude his mission in the California capitol, namely, final passage through the Senate of legislation repealing the use tax on horses purchased outside the state.
