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HBPASportsmans Dispute Unsettled UnsettledNothing Nothing Comes of Meeting Between Parties Drastic Action Likely on WeekEnd WeekEndSPORTSMANS SPORTSMANS PARK Cicero 111 May 1 It appeared likely today that members of the central division of the HBPA would refuse to enter their horses in Mondays races at Sportsmans Park following a meeting of the executive committee of the horsemens organization to discuss the tracks failure to grant considerable in ¬ creases in purse distribution distributionAfter After the horsemen met in their private offices at the track Joseph G Kohout vice president of the central division of the HBPA Robert O Read national president of the group Dr Harry Lindy vicepresi ¬ dent of the Michigan division and repre ¬ sentatives W A Mikel Ray Freeark John F Beck Frank Nugent William H Bishop E E Major Jr and secretarytreasurer Harold Hoffman conferred with Sports mans Park president William H John ¬ ston for 45 minutes minutesLater Later in the day Johnston stated that he had pointed out at this mornings meet ¬ ing that purse distribution had been dis ¬ cussed previous to the race meeting and accepted in writing by every horseman in ¬ dividually including the five members of the HBPA committee who are racing at Sportsmans Park 2000 Daily Increase Effected Today TodayJohnston Johnston said the second condition book called for an increase of approximately 800 a day and that a further increase of 2000 per day effective with the racing of Friday May 2 will go into effect and will continue for the remainder of the meet ¬ ing this in addition to two previous in ¬ creases creasesJohnston Johnston concluded by saying that he felt in view of the increases made to date that the horsemen have been dealth with fairly The partial text of a letter issued to the press by the executive committee of the HBPA and signed by Kohout follows followsThe The committee presented figures to Mr Johnston and discussed figures submitted by Mr Johnston It was the feeling of the HBPA committee that Sportsmans Park will enjoy an increase in gross profit from mutuel take alone in the 1952 racing season seasonContinued Continued on Page Three HBPA and Sportsmans Unable To Reach Agreement on Purses PursesContinued Continued from Page One Onewhich which will be approximately 750000 over the best previous racing season under the regime of president Johnston JohnstonMr Mr Johnston made nebulous promises of increased purses but emphatically refused to make any definite concrete commitment and further absolutely refused to negotiate negotiateIn In view of Mr Johnstons attitude it was the unanimous feeling of the HBPA com ¬ mittee that they have no other alternative than not to enter their horses on Saturday May 3 1952 for Mondays races racesAt At the conclusion of the meeting with Mr Johnston the same HBPA committee met with Mr Ray Bennigsen representing Fairmount Park After a very brief and pleasant meeting at which time the Fair mount operation was thoroughly discussed a tentative plan of purse distribution was arrived at which will be referred to horse ¬ men at Fairmount Park for their approval
