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vR ** " # ■ BETWEEN RACES * °R °w HOLLYWOOD PARK, Inglewood, Calif., June 25. — The fallacy of writing purse distributions into the law was never more clearly demonstrated than in the recent purse squabble between the Horsemens Benevolent and Protective Association and the Hollywood Park management, which was, as reported, settled amicably. Californias famous "4-3-2" plan, a formula which calls for 4 per cent of the first 10 million, 3 per cent of the second 10 million, and 2 per cent of all over 20 million in handle, suggested by the now defunct California Owners and Trainers Association, sounded like a good idea at the time. Since its enactment as a regulation of the California Horse Racing Board, and adherence to its principles made a condition of license, practically every track in the state has exceeded the formula, often by a» substantial margin, because sound business judgment dictated that larger purses than established by the formula were in order. Two of the most significant statements this writer has ever heard in California have been made by two turf citizens, and perhaps will do much to clarify the future in this state. Speaking for management, Jack F. Mackenzie declared, "Hollywood Park always will pay the highest possible purses consistent with sound business judgment." Clifford Mooers, a spokesman for the California division of the HBPA, stated, "Horsemen have no right or desire to encroach upon the field which fundamentally belongs to management. The horsemen are an integral part of racing, and as such are entitled to generous consideration by management, but we wont now, nor in the future, step in and try to tell management how to run its business." Too Many Laws Deemed Harmful to Racing Managements, HPBA Unhappy With 4-3-? Homebred Rule Frozen Into State Code Jim Baker New TRPB Head at Longacres By the adoption of the "4-3-2" plan, the racing board led itself into a peculiar position. Ae we said, adherence to the plan is a condition of license for the track. Hence, legally, the tracks are not committed to the horsemen for anything over the amount specified in "4-3-2," and even for that amount, the technical committment is to the board, not the horsemen. Once a meeting is approved by the board, the board could not take action against a track even though it felt the track was grossly unfair to horsemen in its purse distribution, because as long as the committment to the board has been met, the track is legally clear. This, of course, is purse theory because the board, as arbiter, decided that purse distribution at Hollywood Park is fair. However, the horsemen, through the "4-3-2" rule, have made the racing board their bargaining agent. Jack Mackenzie spoke out loudly at the time of adoption against the "4-3-2" rule as a matter of principle. It looks like the horsemen are beginning to agree. Certainly their free bargaining rights have been affected quite as much as the prerogative of management to determine the amount of purses it feels it should and can pay. AAA A somewnat similar situation arose here a few months ago when a group of breeders posed the question as to whether or not it might be for the best interests of improvement of bloodstock in this state to return to the original definition of a California-bred, any foal dropped within the borders of the state. The present rule, of course, requires a foal to be conceived, foaled, and weaned in the state. Now, this writer has no desire to enter into the merits of either stand, but it is a fact that the present definition of a California-bred is part of the legal code of the state, enacted by the legislature. One of the main arguments used against the group proposing the change was that it would take a lot of tinkering in the legislature to change the law, and that once the solons got to monkeying with the law, they might "upset the whole applecart." The breeders then polled their membership on the question, and the vote was about 10-1 against making any change. This ended the matter, but had the vote been the other way, it would have taken a major lobbying campaign in the state capitol at Sacramento to adopt what a majority of the breeders might have felt was a step toward improvement of the breed. Times change, and so do conditions, and laws like the "4-3-2" have become archaic, and the breeder definition might so too become in the future. Freezing of solutions to temporary problems into statute has not worked out too well. AAA Horses and People: Hollywood Park has no "horns" in the infield. The speakers have been scientifically spotted in back of the grandstand and clubhouse so that the voice of announcer Hal Moore hits them from behind. It is said the change over from the conventional centerfield sound distribution was made so that the results of the races and the running could not be over- Continued on Page Thirty-Eight BETWEEN RACES I By OSCAR OTIS Continued from Page Forty -Eight heard from areas near the track and thus provide information to the "wrong people," etc.... Jim Backer, who has established quite a reputation in turf cicrcles as a "solver" of equine identity cases, has been named to head -the Thoroughbred Racing and Protective Bureau set-up at Longacres and Spokane. He replaces Vince Murphy, who was promoted this spring to agent in charge in New England . . . Calumet Stable operations may be in red ink this year for the first time in 11 years ... Centennials Bill Tunney is so impressed with the Hollywood amphitheatre-stage type paddock and winners circle that after building restrictions are lifted, the idea will be adapted to Centennials physical layout and the present paddock will be abandoned, or used only during infrequent inclement weather, which in Colorado in the summer time means an occasional thunderstorm. AAA A committee headed by Carleton Burke selected the names for the new stakes to be run next winter at Santa Anita. There are so many "Sans" and "Santas" on the roster that fans have a hard time separating one from the other. . .Major Goodsell, the old horse trainer, writes that Chicle Bar, dam of the Haggin Stakes winner, Bull Chicle, was originally purchased for 00. One of her foals, Remnoy, by Mani-tobian, set a track record at Phoenix. Remnoy is now at stud at Sydney, British Columbia. Manitobian is by Ladkin, a Fair Play. . In case you are interested, the "Miracle Farm" has abandoned treatment by radium and has gone to the more consistent deep X-rays. Radium proved okay in some instances, but in others it was an utter failure . . . Another casualty of time is the portable mineral bath tub for thoroughbreds. The bath treatment is said to have cured, or aided in cure of many sore horses, but volume of business at the prices quoted forced the bathtub man out of business. To make ends meet he would have to have priced himself out of the market.
