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BETWEEN RACES By Oscar Otisi HOLLYWOOD PARK, Inglewood, Calif., June 25. The somewhat heated discussions Of the last few weeks regarding racing! dates in California, including suggested overlaps, will be fully aired, at the Monday meeting of the California Horse Racing Board in downtown Los Angeles. Whether or not overlapping major meetings will be decreed or not, we would not know, but at least one worth - while development has emerged from the arguments, namely, that regardless of the overlaps, it would be in the interest of all hands, including the state and public, if the two Los Angeles race tracks, Santa Anita and Hollywood Park, were permitted to race their legal allotments of days. The law allows 50 days each plus five each for charity. Five days, or 10 per cent of this legal period, was taken away by the racing board in 1946-47, and have never been restored. Since that time, it is accurately estimated the state has lost about ten millions in revenue, the horsemen about three millions in purses, plus a lot of wages. There seems no good reason why these dates should not be restored to Santa Anita and Hollywood Park especially in view of the fact that the state needs the revenue, the horsemen could use the purses, and there is no indication that Southern California is "over-raced." AAA A graph has been prepared for inspection by the California commissioners which discloses some interesting points. In the matter of racing days, the San Francisco Bay area has 48.1, the Los Angeles tracks 36.5 and San Diego 15.4 but when it comes to state revenue, the Bay area has contributed but 24 per cent, the Los Angeles tracks 67.5 and San Diego 8.5. In the matter of purses, San Francisco has distributed 33.1 of the total, Los Angeles 56.4 and San Diego 10.5. When it comes to charity, the figures are far more, disproportionate, San Francisco having contributed 7.4, Los Angeles 62.6, and San Diego 8.7. A A. A These allowable five days could be allotted without upsetting the balance of dates between the three areas, or at worst, with only a day or so overlap between-! North and South, and to which there have Cite Case for Full Date Schedule 4 Will Benefit State, Public, Turfmen Word Regarding Charity Tote Tax been no serious objections to date, although it only would be fair to add that the three San Francisco Bay areas will place themselves on record as being against simultaneous meetings. But an overlap of a day or so is quite another matter. As long as there is such an agitation for more revenue to the state, more opportunities for horsemen and its consequent impact upon the states flourishing breeding industry, plus the fact the sport has attained widespread public acceptance, it is probable the board will pay close attention to the arguments advanced in favor of granting full allotments of days to the Los Angeles courses. AAA We know the following will be misinterpreted in some quarters, but we nevertheless feel obligated to point out some dangerously thin ice on which racing may be skating if it takes an active part in endeavoring to have the legislature kill the states tax on pari-mutuels f or the five charity days prevailing at the Los Angeles tracks, and the three which, are customary at other tracks. Such a bill was introduced at the last session of the legislature, and was voted down, but we understand it will be reintroduced at the next session of the solons in Sacramento. We feel that this charity concept is not basically racings responsibility. A. A A If the people who head .the non-profit charity foundations, which distribute welfare funds raised, at the tracks, want to make their pitch to the legislature, well and good. It is a worthy cause, we all know. But if millions of dollars of revenue are taken from the states racing revenue and given to charity, means will be found to raise this revenue somewhere else, and the easiest "somewhere else" would be an increase in the states share of pari-mutuel revenue. Such an increase would impair the ability of the tracks to maintain high standards of racing through payment of worth-while purses, and might, in the-long run, harm charity more than it helps. A A A , Under the present set-up, of which Hollywood Park and Santa Anita are typical, the track earmarks 100 per cent of revenue for charity over and above bare operating expenses. No charge is made for overhead operation, such as corporation taxes, depreciation, or yearly salaries of key officials. In addition, these clubs contribute their full legal maximum to charity from corporate funds, this donation being quite apart from the operation of any charity days. Hollywood, for instance, will lift its total contribution this summer to well over eight million dollars. As far as tracks, the horsemen, and the public are concerned, the disposition of charity-week revenues is strictly a matter of bookkeeping. But these sums are very real to the state and would be very real to charity. AAA We feel that it is up to the legislature to decide the matter and is not a basic concern of the tracks. We say this in the firm belief that such a bid in the legislature is futile, and would pave the way ior future troubles. For instance, Del Mar is in the process of being converted into a 100 per cent charity for Boys, Inc., and one might ask, "Would the state forego its revenue for a whole meeting?" We think not. The present set-up sees the state get its share, charity receives millions, so perhaps the less tinkering done the better. AAA Speaking of Del Mar and Boys, Inc., we would like to clarify just what .is happening at the "Surf and Turf Course" and plans of dominant stockholders Clint Murchison and Sid Richardson. We learn that a lot of Del Mar stock is being turned in at their offer of 00 per share, the same price paid Alfred Hart for his controlling interest. So much so that Murchison and Richardson now have a large actual as well as a theoretical controlling number of shares. Mur- chison and Richardson are not out to buy every track in America, but if the Del Mar venture turns out as anticipated, they will bein the market for five, in any case not more than six, tracks. AAA These tracks would be major, and would be located in different states. We gather the racing commission in California is quite pleased with the Del Mar set-up and ownership, but at the same time feels that it would be against public policy for jany one group to acquire a string of race tracks within the state. As we reported at the time of the Del Mar transfer, Murchison had a twinkle in his eye when he smiled and remarked hed like to buy every track in America. Be that as it may, the new ownership: of Del Mar is meeting with instant and warm acceptance in California.
