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Pimlico Rescinds Decision To Revise Purse Division Plan to Include Fifth Horse Is Dropped at Request of TRA PIMLICO, Baltimore, Md., May 2. — Louis Pondfield, executive-director of Pimlico, today announced "with deep regret." that the Maryland Jockey Club, operators of the Baltimore course, has decided to rescind its earlier decision to include the fifth horse in the division of purses for all overnight races. The decision, was prompted by a request of the Thoroughbred Racing Associations, of which Pimlico is a member, that purses should be shared only by the first four horses in each race. Pimlico thus will revert, at the meeting which opens on Monday, to its usual custom of dividing its purse awards four ways, Continued on Page Forty-Six Pimlico Rescinds Decision To Revise Purse Division Plan to Include Fifth Horse Is Dropped at Request of TRA Continued from Page One with 65 per cent going to the winner, 20 per cent to the second horse, 10 per cent to the third horse and 5 per cent to the fourth horse. Under the precedent-breaking purse scale which had been planned for this meeting, 60 per cent of the prize was to go to the winner, 20 per cent to the second horse, 12V2 per cent to the third horse, 5 per cent to the fourth horse and 2Y per cent to the fifth horse. Pondfield, in discussing Pimlicos decision to abandon its previously announced plan to include a reward for the fifth horse in its purse scale, said, "We are disappointed in our inability to go through with our plan. In our opinion, it was one of the most progressive moves ever suggested in connection with the purse structure. We shall bring up the subject at the next convention of the TRA in December." The Maryland Jockey Club was appraised of the TRAs views regarding purses in a letter signed by Spencer Drayton, executive-secretary of the TRA, and addressed to Carry C. Boshamer, president of Pimlico. The letter follows: t "For your information, at a meeting of the TRA board of directors held on April 9, 1953, the directors were informed that several race tracks were considering the payment of purses to horses who placed behind fourth position, namely, in fifth and sixth positions. "At the meeting on April 9, the directors passed a resolution opposing such procedure and planned to bring this matter to the attention of all the member tracks at the next annual meeting, with a view to amending the TRA Code of Standards in order that such a practice will be prohibited by the code. The directors feel that the practice of paying purses to horses finishing behind fourth place will lead to abuses and will tend to cheapen the sport. "The directors have requested me to advise each track of their action in this matter."
