view raw text
I Delaware Park News and Notes By FRED GALIANI Why Do Governors Shun Racing? Sport Is Big Revenue Producer New Turf Council Unique Body DELAWARE PARK, Stanton, Del., June 5. Among Fridays interested spectators was J. Caleb Boggs, Governor of the state of Delaware. The Governor has attended the races here before, but it has often been a point of wonderment why so many chief executives of racing states appear loath to show up at a sport which has been legalized by a majority vote of the people and is by far one of the biggest revenue producers in any state. The Governors of Maryland and Kentucky are about the only ones who attend with any degree of regularity. On Memorial Day, Robert B. Meyner, newly elected Governor of New Jersey, made the presentation in the Jersey. Stakes and his appearance was the first of the states top man in some time, his predecessor, as I recall, having attended the races only once during his two-term tenure. Governor Dewey of New York, by his own admission, has never attended a race track of any kind. On one occasion, this department remembers, a chief executive used a track appearance to drum up some business for his state. Last year, at Rockingham Park, Hugh Gregg, Governor of New Hampshire, made a trophy presentation and, while in the winners circle, took advantage of the microphone to advise all residents of nearby Massachusetts to stop at New Hampshires state liquor stores on their way home and save themselves money by, making their purchases in the lesser taxed Granite state. A man of enterprise. The newly organized Maryland Racing Council, which met here the other day, is a unique body in turf annals. This is strictly an advisory group, but it is composed of representatives from the various branches of the sport. On the council are delegates from each mile track in the state, plus an alternate, and representatives for the minor tracks, the Maryland Breeders Association, the American Trainers Association and the HBPA. Most of the policy-makers of racing in the state are on the council and the group meets from time to time to anticipate problems that might arise in the sport. Under discussion at present is a plan whereby the cheaper horses, who usually perform at the half milers, would be eliminated from competition at the mile tracks . . Hugh Mehorter, president of the National Association of State Racing Commissioners and vice-chairman of the New Jersey board, and family were turf club guests Friday afternoon . . . John B. Kelley, president of Atlantic City Race Course, was also on hand . . . Ty Shea filled in as steward Friday for George Brown, who was absent due to a death in his family. Baylor O. Hickman, former member of the Kentucky Racing Commission, is a regular to watch his string in action . . . Joes Jeannie, who made her debut yesterday in Alan Clarkes silks, is a full sister to the good stakes winner Senator Joe, who was named for the Wisconsin Senator. The filly is christened for the Senators wife. Whitey Nixon will finish out the session here and rest his horses until the opening of Atlantic City. Nixon has a dozen in his care, eight for the Rarco Stable and two each for the Ram Stable and Harry Boshamer. Five will get you eight Whitey will spend a lot of time on the golf links . . . Sammy Boulmetis sweating period ended when his wife gave birth to a daughter in Sinai hospital, Baltimore, yesterday . . . John D. Mooney, of Black Gold fame, has taken over the local division of trainer Frank Gilpins string, while the latter will handle the main section, including the un-. defeated Royal Note, at Monmouth . . . Willie Nertney has taken over the engagement book of jockey Angelo Vasil, replacing Calvin Bowling, who serves as an official , during the Cumberland, Md., meet which . opens the latter part of the month . . . Henry Block, who was injured in a spill at Garden 1 State Park, will leave Cooper hospital, Camden, Sunday and recuperate at his home in that city. Block, who is under contract to the Bohemia Stable, suffered a broken ! vertebra in his neck and will be out of action for a long time.
