view raw text
Conclude Organizational Plans for Racing Museum Will Have Its Formal Opening At Saratoga Springs August 6 CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 3.— Cornelius V. Whitney, president of the National Museum of Racing, Inc., has announced the conclusion of organization plans and the renovation of the Museums first site in the Casino at Saratoga Springs, N. Y. Whitney and his associates in this national organization are now prepared to receive gifts for preservation in racings national shrine. The museum will have its formal opening on August 6, when racing returns to Saratoga, oldest active track in the United States. It is hoped that the museum will be able to display a selected collection of paintings, trophies, books, racing equipment and memorabilia of historic significance to the turf and give them a permanent home where the public may enjoy them and learn to appreciate the long tradition behind Americas oldest sport. Among gifts already accepted for the museum are racing plates worn by Lexington in the middle of the past century; racing plates worn by Man o War when he won the Belmont Stakes and the original set of the Samuel D. Riddle colors in which Man o War raced. The method by which gifts may be offered to the museum is to address a letter to Whitney at room 922, 250 Park Avenue, New York 17, describing the gift, its location and the time of its availability. The prospective donors will then be noti-f iedf as to whether the museum will be able to take advantage of their generosity. The small size of the present quarters makes it impossible to accept everything offered, and George D. Widener, John Hay Whitney and C. V. Whitney form a museum committee to pass on offered material. In addition to these gifts, Whitney would be grateful for information leading to any particularly valuable items which might be obtainable by purchase. A small part of the museums funds has been earmarked for the purchase of such items which might otherwise be lost to the sport. Anyone having knowledge of such things is asked to write full details to the same address.
