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•Sp ** *» BETWEEN RACES * «and»■ era GARDEN STATE PARK, Camden, N. J., May 11. — Marshall Bainbridge, Jr., director of publicity at Garden State Park, is doing something for racing in a constructive way. While it has been mentioned before, it merits a more complete analysis. This is the Monday noon "clinic" at Philadelphias Philadelphias venerable venerable Pen Pen and and Philadelphias Philadelphias venerable venerable Pen Pen and and Pencil Club, said to be the oldest press club in the nation, where Bainbridge trots out two or three turf personalities and exposes them to about 20 or 30 writers, radio and TV experts. There is no racing on Mondays at Garden State, so the track takes the opportunity to put the off-time to good use by the clinics. The idea is not exactly new, for football has "Monday quarterback" sessions under much the same circumstances, but it seems the turf has never adapted the principle which hai been so successful on the gridiron. The session is one with no questions barred, and the writers and broadcasters meet a considerable number of famous turf personalities, and get their "slant" or expert opinion on various subjects. It has added up to countless columns by sportswriters who never before gave racing much of a tumble, and even the usually conservative Associated Press is now represented weekly because so much genuine news develops at the clinic. During our stay in Keeneland, we remarked that Johnny Clark, the publicist there, was of the opinion that racing would have better coverage if all the writers were daily on the backstretch during training hours, and he said even further that some turf people were too reticent and uncooperative, which didnt help the track publicist, and, in the long run, was detrimental to the best Talk* Clinics Aid Garden State Park Success Women Writers Find Discussions Enjoyable New Jersey Poll Discloses Appeal of Racing Escalator Planned for Track at Camden interests of the sport as a whole in fostering good press, radio and TV relations. Bainbridge, in effect, brings the backstretch to the writers. While this is not the whole answer, it is at least a good start in the right direction. AAA The clinics are now in their second season and are deemed by Gene Mori and Walter Donovan to be of such value that this week a comparable experiment was launched. Ruth Chilton, who handles the distaff public relations at Garden State, sponsored a cocktail party and luncheon at the Warwick Hotel for about 18 women, also from the press, radio and television. Her panel of "experts" included Shirley Stanley, a woman trainer; Ann Schuling, maker of silks and whose legion of friends are scattered from coast to coast; and Billy Stout, wife of jockey Jimmy Stout. From all reports, the session was most interesting, and the gals were eager to learn about race tracks, their operation, and the personalities who make racing the great sport that it is. The clinics have convinced Garden State that in addition to immediate obvious benefits, some of additional value are obtained, in preventing someone on the inside, say an editor or deskman, from incorrectly interpreting occurrences in racing. , An independent audit, or "poll" agency, last week conducted a survey of New Jersey people on their attitude toward racing. This agency is of national repute, and its findings are used by many major businesses as a guide to public opinion. The agency found that 62 per cent of the people in Jersey were positive in their liking for racing, and the belief that it should be continued. Some said they knew nothing about the sport and hence could not express an opinion. A small percentage said they were "agin it." The poll disclosed one item which is not surprising to a racing fan, although it might be to those who know nothing of the sport, and that is that the higher the educational quotient, the more apt the person was to favor racing. Persons with high school and college educations were much more appreciative of the sport than others. The poll was most gratifying to racing and its myriad friends. It might be added that racing itself did not seek or sponsor the poll. It was undertaken at the request of a group of Jersey newspapers after one state official had made uncomplimentary remarks about the sport in general. AAA Garden State Park is fortunate that the ban on new construction did not find it unprepared, or in need of major improvements, but nevertheless Gene Mori has his architects at work on plans for expansion, come happier days in world affairs. These plans include an escalator from the paddock level to the main mezzanine floor, extension of the clubhouse to provide more terrace dining facilities, plus a number of items of a minor nature. While at Santa Anita last winter, Mori inspected the Continued on Page Thirty-Eight ; 1 1 1 1 1 1 ■ c l I 1 t £ I i £ t * r s 1 1 t £ I ! J t ■ * I * BETWEEN RACES By OSCAR OTIS Continued from Page Forty-Eight escalator there, and was impressed by it. The Garden State escalator will be made so that it will serve both grandstand and clubhouse fans. The clubhouse already has elevators, but they are at one end of the plant. The escalators will favor the feet of fans who like to visit the paddock before every race, and return to their vantage points in the stand to watch the running. Some remodeling was done in recent months, chiefly in making the stalls pleasant in any weather. "Garden State was built as a summer track," explains vice-president Donovan. "When we changed to spring and fall meetings, we experienced different weather conditions. Or rather, the horses did. So we put ceilings in the stalls to serve as insulation against the cold, and then cut in a series of trap doors, one for each stall, which could be used to ventilate them when the weather became warm." Thus, trainers may have weather just about made to order for their thoroughbred charges. AAA Edwin J. Brown is pinch-hitting as a steward here for his friend. Bill Shrew-bridge, whose wife is seriously ill. Brown is representing the association. In case anyone is interested as to why he informed the New Jersey Racing Commission several months ago that he was not available for reappointment as a state steward, the answer is simple. He has been given much more responsibility at the Hipodromo de las Americas in Mexico City. The job there is for nine months a year, and he wished to spend the three-months vacation in his adopted state, California. The illness of Mrs. Shrewbridge prompted Garden State to ask that he pinch-hit as an association steward at this meeting. The Hipodromo, by the way, is at an all-time high in patronage and play, much of which can be attributed to the management of Jo Grossman and a stern, fair and experienced board of stewards.
