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— Major Improvement Program at Laurel Plan to Spend ,000,000 During Four-Year Period; Pimlico to Use Fund Money BALTIMORE, Md , June 25.— John D. Schapiro, president of Laurel Park, revealed plans to spend three million dollars over the next four years on an improvement program at his track. He made the statement to the Sybert committee, which is making a study of racing in this state, last night. Drawings and estimates for a new clubhouse and turf club have been prepared and are only awaiting the lifting on restrictions of non-essential building from Washington. Among the innovations to be in effect this coming fall will be the elimination of stables beyond the clubhouse turn. Five barns formerly located there have been demolished, with the space to be devoted to parking lots, capable of accommodating 1,500 cars. Under way is the erection of a half dozen new stagles in the regular area, while, before the fall meeting begins, it is expected that other improvements will be completed. The steep steps from the grandstand to the betting area to the rear are bdug replaced with walking ramps, asphalt ! tile flooring on the grandstand main ring I and on the mezzanine has been ordered, I betting facilities will be increased with the | extension of the apron to the stretch end of the grandstand. This will be covered with a canopy in the event of bad weather and windows for wagering will be installed 1here while the tel-autograph system will be installed in the mutuel department. Schapiro and manager George Martin have travelled to most of the major tracks in the country gathering ideas for their new clubhouse and turf club, and all the best features of those tracks will be incorporated in Laurels planned structures. Too Small for ,000,000 Investment Schapiro last night also expressed his views on Pimlico, in which property he is a major stockholder. He declared that the track is too small to warrant a ,000,000 investment for 33 days of racing. He said that the rebuilding of the plant at its present site was "not in the books" from a practical, financial point of view. His statement, a member of the commission said, conflicted with that of a Pimlico director who maintained that the present Pimlico site was sufficient for racing if 25 acres east of the Pimlico road were to be rezoned for the building of barns and if favorable racing dates were granted. The situation at Pimlico has been the bone of contention for some years now, one group favoring the transfer of the plant to Laurel or rebuilding on another site and others favoring the status quo. The committee has been studying at length racing in all phases in the state and will file a report on then findings to the legislative council. BALTIMORE, Md., June 25.— Maj. Gen. Milton A. Reckord, president of the Maryland Jockey Club, in a letter written earlier this month, said that Pimlico plans to spend the entire amount of its 17,488.88 improvement fund for "substantial alterations and improvements at the race track.* The letter, made public yesterday at the office of the Maryland Racing Commission, was addressed to Hyman A. Pressman, Baltimore attorney, who charged on June 12 that 00,000 of the clubs improvement fund should revert, to the state as part of its general funds. Pressman contended that the money should be returned because it was not spent for improvements within the specified time. In his letter, Reckord stated that it was their intention to begin improvements at Pimlico promptly upon the lifting of present federal restrictions. At the racing commission, a spokesman said the improvements must be made within a year after the restrictions are lifted or the funds will revert to the state. General Reckord is expected to make a report on planned improvements next week.
