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BETWEEN RACES ■ * ore HOLLYWOOD PARK, Inglewood, Calif., June 11. — Yesterday, in discussing the operation of the Atlantic City race track at its forthcoming meeting on August 9, we touched briefly on the subject of "stable reform," and space did not permit us to elaborate. However, the subject is of such interest that we will explain, in more details, the procedure to be followed at the seashore course, procedure worked out from experience by Dr. Leon Levy, the Atlantic City director in charge of racing activity. "Our plan is considerably different than some tracks," explains Dr. Levy, "and to make it work, it has to be administered with absolute impartiality. A start was made in the right direction last summer, and when the trainers found that the rigid rules actually worked to their best interests, they became our boosters instead of grumblers. The key to the plan is that essentially, a stall is allotted to a horse, not to a trainer. If a trainer loses a horse via claim, and does not replace him, the stall is taken from him and, given to a horse who measure up to the Atantic City standards, and who wants the stall. In order to eliminate hardship, we have set aside one# barn as a "claimer" and where all horses claimed by a man who lacks room can be housed until a stall can be found for him. Thus we will be able to utilize every stall on the grounds at all times, and thus make it possible for brother horsemen to help each other. Because of the shortage of stalls as compared to the terrific demand, it seems the fairest way to do things." AAA "I have never been satisfied with the feed situation at our track," continues Levy, "and we have gone, to considerable length to correct it. In the past, the feed has, Atlantic City to Institute Stall Reforms Absolute Impartiality Governs Allotments To Clear Up Unsatisfactory Feed Situation Early Closing EntrieandNotable Improvement if* on occasions, been below represented quality or short of weight. Now, many horseatrii are willing to operate under iwsw -. these conditions and continue to buy feed, even though they are aware of the situation, because they can buy on credit. There is no doubjflthat bad debts must be taken into account by a feed man ih pricing his product. So, we have made arrangements with one feed company that is reliable to do businessin the stable area under the conditions that they wilijsell as fine or better feed than anyone else, and we will li§ithe HBPA set the specifica-tionSi The company agrJ|to undersell anyone on the grounds for comparable merchandise, and to give a discount for cash, 2 per ceon oats, 3 per cent on straw. The company has agreeapail make good any complaint and correct it, with thejHBPA again sitting as judge. We feel that under these Sondi|;ions, horsemen at Atlantic City will receive the be|@jossible ,feed at fair prices. Weve tried to draw up theyfules of operation as a model one. However, any owner or trainer, is free to deal with any feed dealer with whonRhe chooses. But we have set up a standard, and feel tn»t all companies will have to meet them to stay in business on theandjjackstretch. Trainers, on shipping in, must usho their feed man will be. This is necessary because we are a bit tired of settling squabbles over thLbedding down of stalls. Weve had instances of a mahJKrdering one feed man to bed down stalls prior to arrival, and another feed man, without authorization, beating him to the job and bedding down ahead of schedule. Theyve even forged orders for the bedding down of stalls, orders purportedly signed by trainers. If a trainer fails to notify us of his feed man, we will authorize our model company to bed down the stalls." AAA Dr. Levy insists that all this does not add up to paternalism, or undue influence of management, and points out that the feed concessions are still open to all dealers. "But we are concerned about managements relationship with the horsemen and we want the conditions in the stable area to be as nearly ideal as possible," says Levy. The feed is only one part of the problem. We investigate every complaint about food, prices, and try to provide as much recreation on the backstretch as is possible. We try to make our stalls work 100 per cent for the owners and trainers. Weve even chipped away curbs where some horses cross roadways so there would be no chance of a nick or injury, improvements made after a suggestion. We are increasing our total daily purse distribution in the face of other rising costs, said costs benr most apparent in" labor, maintenance, and the purchaie of supplies necessary to operate a race track." The good doctor, it might be noted, operates the racing on princi-4 pies, and not on personalities. A A Atlantic City has taken a long and forward step in" common sense for the horsemen and also in the field of public relations when it was decided to try an early system of entry closing. The seashore plan will be to close the entries two days before the race at approximately Continued on Page Thirty-Six BETWEEN RACES By OSCAR OTIS Continued from Page Forty 3. p. m. The entries will be released for publication at 6 oclock the same afternoon. The track veterinarian will make every effort to examine the horses the day before the race and prior to scratch time. This will give those on the eligible list a better opportunity to get in, and will also help the trainers in the preparation of the horses. Entries also will be received for a substitute race at the same time that the original card is being filled. This writer has discussed the benefits of early closing of entries so often as to make additional comment redundant here. It might be said that. Dr. Levy recommended this procedure to the "board of directors and horsemen only after prolonged and careful study. AAA In the preceding paragraphs of yesterday and today, we have really only skimmed the surface of what might be termed the "new" Atlantic City. There are some other * items which we intend to explore upon our annual visit to the New Jersey course later this summer. Suffice to say that an analysis indicates an intelligent and modern approach to all problems, and by practical horsemen, for Dr. Levy, in addition to serving without pay as director of racing at the popular course, also races a somewhat formidable stable. His son, Bobby, is invading the Keeneland yearling market next month to launch himself out as a turfman and to complement his pre-veterinary courses at the University of Pennsylvania. Preliminary meetings with representatives of the HBPA regarding these matters were most friendly, and a general membership conclave will be called early in the Monmouth Park season to again go over the tentative agreement between management and horsemen. Dr. Levy took the initiative in calling the original meeting with HBPA executives. The mere fact that management and horsemen could sit down in a friendly manner and work things out to mutual satisfaction, sans bickering and bitterness, indicates to many that Atlantic City has taken a definite lead in management-horsemen relationships and one which may set a pattern for the nation.
