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, , Delaware Park Notebook By JOE HIRSCH Fans Take Racing in Leisure Manner Track Pitches In to Get Road Built Royal Punch Looked Good in Score DELAWARE PARK, Stanton-, Del., June 9. The psfctoral surroundings of this beautiful park are very pleasant on the eye and , , one one can can readily readily under - one one can can readily readily under - understand the relaxed air of its patrons as they stroll leisurely in for an afternoon of sport.. The hustle and bustle of the New York tracks is completely absent and in its place is the grace and charm usually identified with the Deep South. But despite the easy-going manner manner at at this this verdant verdant manner manner at at this this verdant verdant -oval, track officials have been very active in their efforts to improve conditions for the racing fan. Al Fahey estimates that over a million dollars has been spent for the present meeting alone toward this end and while the results are not apparent in solid mass, a tour of the plant and a little hasty calculation will verify the figures. AAA One of the biggest expenditures has been for an exit to routes 40 and 13, the avenues for most of the traffic from Baltimore and Washington. Since 65 per cent of the tracks business comes trom out-of-state, this was an important step, and forceful action on the part of Don Ross and his associates was necessary to insure its completion. The state had promised to finish the road in time for the opening here on May 29, but red tape delayed matters to an unbearable point. Finally Ross, exasperated, told state officials that the track would pay all costs and to go ahead and get it built as quickly as possible. Assured of financing without legislative detours, graders began work early ohe"morning last week and completed a temporary blacktop road that night. A A A The entire strip of seven-eighths of a mile will be torn up at the completion of the 32-day meeting and a new concrete road will be built. The blacktop serves its purpose, however, and more and more traffic is coming in over the route. Eventually, it is believed that this will prove to be the main entrance to the plant. In addition to the expense of the road, Delaware Park was forced to foot the bill for two key bridges. One spans the White Clay Creek, which runs through the track property, and the other goes across the Pennsylvania Railroads main line", also wandering over the 700 acres which make this the largest v plant in the country. The railroad bridge is notable for the speed in which it was erected. Traffic had to be halted and it was imperative that the work be completed in the qiuckest possible time. Operations started one Sunday at about 1 a.m. and, less than two hours later, the supporting girders had been put in place and the lines cars could pass through without interruption. Other Delaware expenses included a new car lot, bringing the space devoted to parking at this plant to 80 acres, the largest such area of any track east of the Rocky Mountains. In addition, a new 25,-000 stainless steel, air-conditioned track cafeteria was built to take the place of the two old stable kitchens that were previously in operation. AAA Capt. Ewart Johnstons Royal Punch gained a creditable victory in a two-year-old event here earlier this week, whipping Mrs. W. M. Melvins Double Dine by five lengths over five furlongs. The gelded son of Knockdown Miss Many was lightly regarded in the wagering, but is sure to have a number of supporters from here on out. Johnston, a real estate man, is the master of Clay Hill Farm in Boyce, Va., where he breeds his own horses. He has several Broodmares and many acres of excellent blue grass pasturage and has sent a quartet of good-looking juveniles here with his veteran trainer, Roscoe Harris. In addition to Royal Punch, the youngsters include Restes, Scotch Knight and A Bit Fast and all four, according to Harris, appear to be excellent racing material. AAA Harris enjoys working with two-year-olds and says that the secret of any success he has stems from taking it slow and easy in their training. "Get a good boy, be nice and quiet, dont hurry and worry them, and your youngsters will take, to the starting gate and to the races in good style," he comments. Harris will take the Johnston string to Randall Park following the completion of the Delaware meeting"
