view raw text
Las Vegas Track to Open Sept 4, Smith Reiterates Arrives in Nevada From East; Training Will Begin Tomorrow LAS VEGAS, Nevada, Aug. 8 Lou Smith, president of the Las Vegas Jockey Club, reiterated today that the 64-day meeting at Las Vegas Park, rapidly nearing completion in this Nevada city, will open as scheduled on September 4. Smith emphasized that he has assurances that several midwestern and eastern stables will be shipped here, along with a number of well-known entourages now racing in California. After his arrival from Rockingham Park, Smith, executive vice-president and manager of that New Hampshire course, conferred with directors and-backers of the Las Vegas organization and issued the following statement: "I arrived in Las Vegas Monday noon and after discussing various matters concerning the Las Vegas Jockey Club with members of the organization, directors and persons financially interested in the track, I want to state that the race meeting which-was advertised to start on Friday, September 4, 1953, definitely will be held as scheduled and that the stakes and purse program will remain as published. "The track will be open to horsemen for training on Thursday of this week and I have issued an invitation to all horsemen, jockeys and turf writers presently at Del Mar to. be the guests of the club here at ! Las Vegas this coming Sunday for the purpose of giving everyone an opportunity to examine the racing strip and the modern barn area and to inspect the turf club, clubhouse and grandstand, which will be fully completed within two weeks. "I have assurance that a good number of stables now racing in California as well as several from Chicago and the East Coast will be here for the opening of this track. These Eastern stables will bring with them such riders as Tony DeSpirito and Harold Keene and many other well known jockeys. I want ,to make it clear that this track will be operated strictly in accordance with the plan of re-organization approved by United States District Court Judge Foley and that it is unfortunate and to be regretted that a misunderstanding arose .with respect to this matter. "As president and chairman of the ex ecutive committee of Las Vegas Jockey Club, I will undertake and assume full responsibility under the by-laws of the corporation and subject to the approval of the board of directors for the conduct, operation and management of the race meet. Mr. Luke will continue to act in the capacity of general manager and I and the Jockey Club will have the benefit of the valuable services of Webb Everett, who will act in an advisory capacity voluntarily, and without salary expense to the club. I am looking forward to a tremendously successful race meeting at one of the newest and most modern plants in the country."
