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! I BETWEEN RACES *y oscar om ARCADIA, Calif., June 8. — The relationship of that new medium of public approach, television, quite rightly has come in for some intensive study on the part of turf executives from coast to coast and border to border. Perhaps no man in America is better able to comment upon the probable effect of television upon the turf than Philadelphias Dr. Leon Levy, who recently resigned the presidency of WCAU radio and television properties in the city of brotherly love to devote more time to his turf interests. Dr. Levy continues as a director of Columbia. Broadcasting System in the radio and television *ield, but is stepping up his activities as a stable owner, breeder and as a director of the Atlantic City race course. Thus, Dr. Levy has the somewhat unique viewpoint of both a television expert, a stable owner and a race course owner. "Nobody can tell for sure what television will accomplish, or the effect it will have on any other industry or sport," says Dr. Levy. "But if the acceptance of radio may be taken as Dr. Leon Levy Discusses Turf, Television Possibilities of New Medium Analyzed Atlantic City Experiments Are Under Way Subdiyiders Threaten Many Calif. Farms a criterion, it is quite probable that the turf will benefit from television rather than be harmed. When radio was in its infancy back in 1924, predictions were made that it would ruin the sale of phonograph records, pianos, sheet music, newspapers, motion pictures and other allied businesses. Just the reverse was true. The radiocasting of stakes races certainly made for a greater turf acceptance and audience, and the radio has never been known to interfere with race track attendances." AAA "It is our opinion to date, and remember that it is only an opinion, that television cannot hurt attendances at sports events where there is a large field of action. In this category might be listed racing, football and baseball. Sports which have a small arena of action, like boxing, wrestling and basketball, might conceivably suffer. Where there is a large field of action, the cameras cannot focus enough of the action into the lens to bring what might be termed a coherent or complete picture at the event. Much of the atmosphere of a big race, or a big football game, cannot be captured by the cameras and transmitted to the television listeners. Some improvement in this respect may be gained by television when telecasting in color becomes the rule instead of todays conventional black and white screen portrayal. Personally, 1 do not advocate the televising of every race. But the next two years will pretty well provide the answer as to just what the approach of the turf to television should be. We at Atlantic City are hopeful of making our own experiments at our meeting opening August 11. As far as Atlantic City is concerned, it is a mechanical problem as to whether or not we can offer a daily race over television. Our engineers currently are conducting a series of tests to see if it is feasible. The country in south Jersey is fairly flat, and if one relay between the track and our Philadelphia outlet is suit- Continued on Page Thirty BETWEEN RACES By OSCAR OTIS Continued from Page Thirty-Six able, we plan to air at least one, and perhaps two, races a day." AAA "Particular attention will be paid to the relationship between television, track attendance and the weather," concluded Dr. Levy. "Personally, I think television will aid track admissions rather than hurt, except possibly in the worst of weather. For instance, hot weather in the summer usually sends hundreds of thousands of people from Philadelphia and other Metropolitan areas to the Jersey beach resorts and, of course, to the race track at Atlantic City, which is usually cooled by ocean breezes. On extremely hot days, it will be interesting to note whether these people, after they get to the beach resorts, come to the races or stay adjacent to the beach, and watch the feature race on their television set. As I said before, no one is an expert on television, and no one can make accurate predictions as to what effect television will have on many industries in general and the turf, in particular. But if radio may be taken as any sort of a guide, television may be of great benefit to the turf and, under all but the gloomiest of conditions, could not hurt it." Dr. Levy, incidentally, is keeping his studies well documented, and, when the proper time arrives, will make a full and complete report of television, including its effect upon racing and other sports, to the TRA, the television industry and to the American people. AAA Many California breeders are running into difficulties, or foresee difficulties in the immediate years ahead, as to the relationship of their farms and their immediate communities. The facts are that the rising tide of population, especially in the greater Los Angeles area, has crowded subdivisions and housing projects so close to the farms that the breeders have but one alternative, ie., to abandon their farms to the home builders, and relocate further j from the center of population. Greater Los Angeles is a vast sprawling population, running about 60 miles in any direction you care to mention. Many farms have been all but engulfed by people. One section which has all but succumbed to the multitude is the Pacoima district of the San Fernando Valley. A once flourishing bloodstock center, the farm of Ivon D. Parker, the original Tom Mix estate, is the only thoroughbred nursery remaining. While farms in the San Fernando Valley are particularly hard pressed, others near Long Beach and coastal cities also are beginning to feel the pressure. A change in locale on the part of some noted southern farms would not be at all surprising. It simply is proving uneconomic to raise thoroughbreds on lands of subdivision value. AAA HORSES AND PEOPLE: A wave of excitement hit the West Coast when it was reported from Europe that Prince Aly Khan might race a few horses here, inasmuch as his recent bride, Rita Hayworth, is expected back before too long to "do" more pictures. . . . But it might be mentioned that the Prince has advised his old friend, Arizonas Rex Ellsworth, that he has had in mind racing a few horses in California and that when the proper time comes, he would send some horses to the United States for campaigning under the care of Ellsworth, and his trainer, M. A. "Mickey" Tenney.
