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Arlington, Washington j To Distribute ,700,000 Purse Outlay at Both Tracks Will Be Up 8 Per Cent Over 53 Arlington and Washington Parks have matched their ,300,000 plant improvement program for 1954 with the richest thoroughbred racing schedule in their history. It was revealed yesterday that the operating committee of the twin Chicago tracks has approved a co-ordinated program with a gross distribution of approximately ,700,000 in purses and stakes for the coming summer season. The committee added that the minimum net distribution for 1954 will total appro- i-mately ,200,000, with the daily average substantially increased over 1953. A study of the condition book written by racing secretary Fredrick G. "Pat" Farrell, and approved by the tracks operating committee, shows the minimum offer to horsemen of 7,000 daily at Arlington Park, and 8,166 daily at Washington Park. These figures include an average minimum of 0,000 per day in overnight purses. The 65-day Arlington-Washington coordinated meeting gets under way June 24 Continued on Page Seven Plan ,700,000 Purse Disbursement Arlington and Washington Distribution Will Be Up 8 Pet. Over Last Season Continued from Page One at Arlington Park and closes September 7 at Washington Park. Horses already are in training at Arlington and the new battery of 16 escalators, plus brand-new mutuel. facilities, parking areas and thousands of additional seats are ready for opening day. Demands for stall space and requests from new stables from all over the country have been exceptionally encouraging and satisfactory, the committee stated. The announcement of the 1954" purses and stakes totals not only assured Chicago and Illinois of their traditional status as the capital of summer racing, but established Arlington-Washington as the potential battelground for the nations highest-ranking horses. "We feel confident," said executive director Benjamin F. Lindheimer, "that our program of extensive improvements, expressly designed for the publics comfort and convenience, will result in improved acceptance of our racing. We also believe that this will assist us in continuing our efforfs to not only help build, but strengthen, American thoroughbred racing. Expenditures Approved by Lommittee "These large expenditures," Lindheimer continued, "have been approved by our operating committee in the face of a present national downward trend in racing revenue, and with the knowledge that our racing schedule has been reduced by two days. "Our board of directors, composed of many successful businessmen, also has approved our extensive improvements in the hope that they will result in increased business. "We all firmly believe," he added, "that racing, like any other business, owes its first obligation to the patrons who make it possible. This has been our viewpoint, objective and record since we have been a part of the national racing picture." The 1954 purses and stakes schedule reveals that Arlington Parks gross distribution will approximate ,950,000 during its 35-day stand, which represents an increase of about 8 per cent over 1953, despite the loss of one racing day. Similarly, Washington Parks 30-day gross will total in excess of ,750,000, also an 8 per cent rise over last year. The operating committee emphasized that neither the gross distribution totals nor the condition book minimums include special match or feature races which Arlington Park and Washington Park always have sought to present. It was recalled that the twin tracks always are on the alert for such events as Busher vs. Durazna; Assault vs. Armed, which went awry as a 00,000 event when the former suffered an injury, and another 00,000 race which would have rematched Alsab and Whirlaway. During the 65-day meeting, Arlington and Washington Park will present 28 stakes with a total added money value of ,190,000, another new all-time high here. There will be four races, each at 00,000 added; two at 5,000; four at 0,000; one at 0,000; seven at 5,000; seven at 0,000; and three at 5,000 each.
