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Hollywood Park, HBPA Differences Adjudicated - Racing Board Decides Track Fair In Its Approach" to Purse Outlay ~~ By OSCAR OTIS LOS ANGELES, Calif., June 19.— Differences- between the management- of Hollywood Park and the California division of the Horsemens Benevolent and Protective Association were adjudicated at a meeting of California Horse Racing Board Monday at the down town Los Angeles offices of the commission. After listening to Clifford Mooers, spokesman for the horsemen, and Jack F. Mackenzie, vice-president and general manager of the Hollywood Turf Club, and clubs attorney, Herbert Freston, the board decided that Hollywood Park was being fair in its approach to purse distribution under terms of its license. Clifford Mooers made it plain that the horsemen were making their stand in a non-belligerent attitude, and concedecrthat the horsemen and the track were not far apart in their thinking "of total purses. The horsemen had asked that Hollywood Park • consider ,213,000 in purses, the figure being the distribution of Santa Anita last winter for a 50-day period. Mackenzie told the board that the present plan of distribution at Hollywood would amount to ,130,000 for the season, a figure in excess of 13,000 over the basic so called "4-3-2" formula, i. e., 4 per cent of the first ten million wagered, 3 per cent of the second ten million and 2 per cent in excess of all over 20 million. Mooers said that he believed it was Within the province of the racing commission, under a section of the racing law, to intervene in differences of opinion of this nature. He also stated flatly that he would. present the case of the horsemen, and that the horsemen would abide by the decision of the board regardless of the outcome. The restraint exercised on both parties was .remarkable for a California dispute of this type, and perhaps set a new standard for intelligent action, Unswayed by any emotional appeals. Mackenzie added that purses might well be increased over the present commitment if business continued on its present upswing, but added that any increase must of - necessity be vested in the perogative of management. The horsemen had suggested ,167,750 as perhaps a proper minimum total distribution for the meeting. All estimates on both sides were based, on a pari-mutuel play of 80 million dollars for the season. The matter was adjudicated on a pleasant note, and there were no recriminations, or bitterness. The racing board spent a considerable part of the morning in hearing testimony from Wendell Cassidy, presiding steward at Hollywood Park, and Bert Thompson of the Jockeys Guild, the latter aided, by Steve Brooks, Jack Westrope, and Lester Balaski, over the minimum 10-day penalty rule. Cassidy said he was against the rule if it took away the judgment and perog-atives of the governing authorities, i. e., the stewards, while* Thompson held, and was supported by the riders, all members of the Guilds board of directors, that a 10-day minimum penalty was the proper cure for rough riding. *k After considering both points of view, the commissioin adopted a new rule to "be known as the "minimum suspension" rule, and which reads as follows: "No penalty of less than 10 days will be imposed upon a jockey found guilty of rough riding by the -stewards." Both Cassidy and the Guild officials felt that the rule involving rough riding was warranted. Punishment for minor infractions will still be subject to judgment of the stewards. Dwight Murphy, chairman of the board, presided at the, session. Present were members Maj. Gen. Kenyon A. Joyce and Jack H. Sattler, and commission secretary Albei t Fiske.
