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Implied Censorship1 May Blackout Airing Big Races RacesTRA TRA Public Relations Committee Expresses Fear of FCC Policy PolicyLOUISVILLE LOUISVILLE Ky May 1 Although the greatest sports audience in history will see Saturdays Kentucky Derby it may never happen again in horse racing racingThe The TRA Public Relations Committee yesterday unanimously expressed fear that the present implied censorship of the Federal Communications Commission may soon diminish or even black out the broad ¬ casts and telecast of the great American horse races racesIt It is estimated that 53000000 will see and hear the Derby this time by radio and TV in addition to the 100000 expected at Churchill Downs for the race raceWhile While the Derby Preakness and Belmont Stakes have been given special clearance by the FCC this spring most of the years other big races are in the realm of uncer ¬ tainty the committee said This is due the committee continued to the FCCs refusal to distinguish and define what rac ¬ ing news broadcasts can be made as opposed to strictly gambling broadcasts of results to poolroom bookmakers The latter practice is universally condemned by the sport of racing racingThe The TRA public relations committee affirmed its support of the resolution by the board of directors of the TRA repre ¬ senting the leading 37 American tracks The TRA resolution said saidThoroughbred Thoroughbred Racing Associations of the United States Inc has always been unalterably opposed to the dissemination of racing information for the purpose of serving bookmakers It does however strongly believe that racing news as well as live broadcasts and telecasts of feature races released through proper and approved channels constitutes legitimate sports news the suppression of which is censorship and contrary to the principles of freedom of th6 press pressPresident President Bill Corum of Churchill Downs also a director of the TRA concurred with the committees opinion Committee mem ¬ bers present were Dave Woods of Balti ¬ more Pimlico chairman Fred Purner of Los Angeles Santa Anita Marshall Bain bridge of Camden Garden State Park Everett A Clay of Miami Hialeah Brownie Leach of Louisville Churchill Downs and Bryan Field of Wilmington Delaware Park and John I Day director of the TRA service bureau
