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Arizona Commission Allots Winter Dates Phoenix Area Tracks Given 82 Days and Rillito Assigned 35 PHOENIX, Ariz., May 19.— The winter racing season in Arizona will get under way November 6 when the Arizona State Pair throws open its gates for a six-day meeting at the Fair Grounds track at Phoenix. The Arizona Racing Commission has allotted 82 days of racing to the associations in the Phoenix area and 33 days, including one program for charity, to the Rillito race course at Tucson. Last season there were 31 days of sport at Rillito while 75 programs were run off here in the "Valley of the Sun." Racing will be conducted on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, with the exception of Christmas Day, in Phoenix, while the Rillito course will be in operation on Saturdays and Sundays, in addition to Washingtons Birthday, February 22, from November 14, 1953, through April 4, 1954.. The Maricopa Turf Club, who conducted two 23-day meets last year, will hold a 24-day session, from November 20 to January 10, at the Phoenix Fair Grounds and a 25-day meet, from January 15 to March 7, at Sportsmans Park. As usual, the season will end at Arizona Downs at nearby Scottsdale, the Ingleside Turf Club having been allotted 27 days, from March 12 to May 9. Last season, 23 days of racing were held at the sporty half-mile course, ending on April 19. The complete dates, as announced by the Arizona Racing Commission, follow: State Fair meeting — Fairgrounds track: Nov. 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15. 1953, six days. Maricopa Turf Club — Fair Grounds track: Nov. 20, 1953, through Jan. 10, 1954. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, plus Thanksgiving Day. No racing Christmas Day. 24 days. Maricopa Turf Club — Sportsmans Park track: Jan. 15 through March 7, 1954. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, plus Washingtons Birthday. Feb. 22. 25 days. Ingleside Turf Club — Arizona Downs track: March 12 through May 9, 1954. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays . 27 days. Rillito Race Track — Tucson: Pending approval of proposed improvements : Nov. 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29, 1953; Dec. 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 1953; Jan. 23, 24, 30, 31, 1954; Feb. 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 22. 27, 28, 1954; March 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28, 1954; April 3, 4, 1954. Saturdays and Sundays, plus Washingtons Birthday, Feb. 22, 1954. 34 days, plus one charity day.
