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Morris Outlines History of TRA Speaks of Requirements for Membership in Body and Also Discusses Purse Distribution LEXINGTON, Ky., June 27.— In his address here Friday evening to some 100 members of the Thoroughbred Club of America, John A. Morris, speaking as president of the Thoroughbred Racing Association of the United States, traced the operations and activities of that organization since its inception. Commenting on the growth of the organization, Morris pointed out that as membership increased, some malpractices attendant on racing decreased proportionately. For this, credit was given to the TRA-sponsored Thoroughbred RaO-ing Protective Bureau. Morris spoke of the requirements for TRA membership, pointing out the responsibilities of members. He said that each applicant is considered by the TRAs board of directors, who must be convinced that the would-be member will abide by the associations Code of Standards and "will cooperate fully in the TRA policy for the betterment and protection of the whole of racing." He then went into the subject of purse distribution, saying that the TRAs board of directors was unanimous in its opposition to prizes for horses finishing fifth, adding that "the general feeling is that any such broadening of the purse distribution would eventually lead to a point where the sixth, the seventh, and finally all the horses starting would receive a portion of the purse." Following his address, the meeting was thrown open to questions and in this forum, Morris gave his organizations position on several points. In reply to a query asking for the attitude of the TRA toward discussing problems with horsemens organizations, Morris stated that the TRA was perfectly willing to discuss such matters at any time, but "does not like to have a gun placed at its head." He added that often the horsemens groups offered good suggestions. Morris said that he doubted if the TRA could do much toward furthering a study to make for uniformity of race track racing surfaces such as a standard depth of cushion. He pointed out that because of the different locations of tracks and of the widely divergent soils and climatic conditions that go to make them up, this was a matter for track manage-- ment rather than the TRA. He said, however, that if the horsemen thought it important enough the TRA might give it some study. Asked for the recation to a plan to have the TRA appoint a liaison man to work with one from the HBPA, Morris said that his group would appoint cuch a man for a particular issue, but that they would not employ a professional "trouble-shooter." In reply to a question asking if the HBPA was making overtures in New York toward having deductions from purses for that body, Morris said that no deductions were made in New York for anyone. Morris, who also is president of the Jamaica race track, was asked if he thought the New York tracks, including Jamaica, were offering to the public all the comforts they were entitled to. He replied that under present conditions there was little chance for the tracks to provide such comforts. He pointed out that the New York tracks were built in "horse and buggy days" and that lack of space prevented expansion and improvements. It was a very difficult problem-to which his organization had given much study. When asked if there was a possibility of a new, modern New York track in the foreseeable future, Morris called this the 4 question. He traced the high taxation in New York and pointed out that the tracks received only 4 per cent of the take and that it would be impossible to finance and build a modern track while operating on this small percentage. He said that he continued to live in hope that some change in taxation would be effected and implied that such a change might result in the erection of a modern racing plant. On a question of the national averages of the take from track concessions as related to purse distribution, Morris said that the matter was too complicated to discuss without complete figures. Questioned whether a track should pay out the full purse money as shown in the condition book in the event certain races were cancelled, Morris said that he believed tracks should pay all purse* published in the condition book.
