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™*— — * BETWEEN RACES ByoscARom HOLLYWOOD PARK, Inglewood, Calif., May 26. — We are in receipt of a letter from Dwight Murphy, California Racing Board chairman, who writes: "You will recall at the special meeting of the racing board on May 14, Mr. Robinson C. Ray Robinson, attorney for the HBPA asked what the the racing racing board board had had ever ever done done for for ™*— — * the the racing racing board board had had ever ever done done for for the horsemen. I did not think it was necessary to answer him at that time. However, if you are not familiar with this subject, I would like to give you the following facts: Wagering reached its peak in California in the year 1946, and there was a steady decline in wagering in 1947, 1948, 1949 and 1950; and, as the racing associations were submitting reduced stakes and purse programs after 1946, the board had no means of determining whether or not the programs submitted were fair to the horsemen— there being no yardstick to use in determining this matter. AAA "The board, therefore, in 1949, brought into being the 4-3-2 formula which based the stakes and purse payments on a percentage of the pari-mutuel handle. This percentage brought about an increase in stakes and purses of several hundred thousand dollars, and again in 1953 the board has taken the first step in adopting a revised formula, namely, the 4-3-2.7. This also would bring about an increase in the amount of purse stakes moneys to more than one million dollars. So it does seem to me that the board has endeavored to help the horsemen in obtaining a fare share of the income from racing. Mr. Robinson questioned the legality and propriety of the racing board requesting licensees of the board— particularly owners and trainers— for a vote by ballot as to whether or not they approved the stakes and purse schedule recommended to Hollywood Park and to the horsemen at the special meeting on May 14. The object of requesting a Murphy Speaks Out on Race Board Policies Cites Record of Interest in Turf Welfare Explains Request for Secret HBPA Ballot Says Uneasy Truce Prevails in California vote by ballot was that the board could better tell, after the ballots had been counted, what percentage of the horsemen were in favor and what percentage were opposed to the boards recommendation. I have been informed that the horsemen were never allowed to vote by ballot on this sub je jet, and that many were afraid to express their opinions openly. If this is the case, I think racing is being injured by such practice. Furthermore, a vote by ballot is the American way of doing things. With kindest regards, I am, yours truly signed Dwight Murphy. AAA We phoned Mr. Murphy upon receipt of this letter to ask for further clarification of some points, and he said: "It has been proposed that the racing board adopt a maximum purse formula which it insist that the tracks pay, but from the letters piling up in our Los Angeles office on this subject, great doubt is being expressed as to the legality of such a proposal. It has been my feeling that the board should not be called in to settle a difference of opinion between management and horsemen on such things as purses except as a last resort, and if such difference of opinion actually threatens the safety of the sport. However, since this situation came into the open, I have become acutely aware of one part of so-called public opinion. A tremendous number of people in California are neutral in regard to racing. They are not for it, but neither are they against it. They dont know much about it, nor do they care very much except when scandal strikes. In this respect, racing is no different than any other lines of endeavor. But when public opinion is aroused, through racings own created adverse headlines many of these neutral people are beginning to take a position, and it is unfavorable. A great many have said to me, We got along without it before, and perhaps we shoud do it again." AAA "Nor do I believe that the board should be forced into becoming a dictator of the sport, for that would please nobody, least of all the board members. At the same time, it is obvious that the old yardstick of 4-3-2 has become outmoded and that perhaps the 4-3-2.7 would be more in keeping with current times. It should be remembered that the 4-3-2 was a yardstick, a minimum below which the board thought purses would be unfair, but in no way precluded mutually agreeable payment of larger purses, which has been the rule in California recently rather than the exception. But it is obvious that the sooner this is settled on a sane and sensible basis the better for racing. The situation currently is one of an uneasy truce, with no basic, settlement having been made." AAA Following the Palm Springs hearings, chairman Murphy is flying to Boston for the NASRC convention, where, if precedent is continued, he will be advanced to the national presidency. And while Murphy has refused with a flat "no comment" on the subject of much personal abuse to which he has been subjjected, we learn from third parties of responsibility that while he feels rather sorrowed that such tactics were employed, he also feels that to retaliate or keep the matter alive would be harmful to the best interest of racing. We have mentioned before, but in case you missed it, we can repeat that Murphy in private life is best known as a philanthropist. He is ex- Continued on Page Forty BETWEEN RACES By OSCAR OTIS Continued from Page Forty-Four tremely wealthy in his own right, but has and is using that wealth to make the world a better place to live in. He serves on the racing board, of course, without pay. Murphy, as we see it, is trying to act as arbiter, through the necessity of preserving racing in California, an unstable state racing-wise, politically, and in man; other ways, and has been criticized from many sides simply because he has not gone along with a single viewpoint 100 per cent. We hope his admonition, expressed through this column, to get this squabble settled, will be heeded. That Hollywood Park is operating under truce conditions, rather than a settlement, will come as shocking news to many in the East, who are genuinely concerned about racing in California. And California is their business, for this is a national sport, and what happens in New York can affect California quite as much as many things which happen right here. And vice versa.
