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Homewood Stable Area Making Hit ~ Horsemen Well Pleased With Enlarged Facilities, Comfort-Shower Stations, Tack Rooms HOMEWOOD, 111., May 10.— Thoroughbreds from all parts of the nation are rolling into Washington Parks stable area this week, primed for Mondays opening of Balmoral Jockey Clubs inaugural 30-day meeting at the Homewood course. Assistant Director of racing. Robert Epstein revealed that over 1.500 horses will be stabled on the grounds by the time Mondays first post-call is sounded. President Russell Reineman. Epstein and Racing Secretary Frederick G. Pat " Far-rell have received innumerable voluntary comments about the enlarged stabling facilities, new shower-comfort stations, new feedrooms and new tack rooms. Among the most enthusiastic has been trainer John Hartigan, the 27-year-old native of Dublin, Ireland, who is conditioning the six Irish-bred runners owned by John Allisons Foothill Farms. "This is by far the most progressive backstretch arrangement I have ever seen," Hartigan said. "Unlike some other tracks, the stables arent crowded together and there is ample room between barns to walk your horses. These improved facilities are certain to attract the high-calibre element of racing." Bolleros Comment Joe Bollero, who trains a public stable, also praised the modernized backstretch. "The Washington Park backstretch," he said, "is one of the best of its kind in the , country." Bollero also praised the introduction of ! new beds and mattresses to the tackrooms. There are over 900 installed, two to a tack-! room. "This gives a fellow much more than just j a place to sleep," he continued. "They en-I able a man to hire and hold the highest ! type of help, and good help is awfully , hard to find these days." Florida horseman Louis Taber joined Bollero in praising the assistance given by : Balmoral-Arlington-Washington to horse-| men to acquire top-level help. Harold G. Bockman. owner-trainer from Aurora, 111., expressed the thought that the Arlington-Washington management has solved one of the greatest problems horsemen find in the racing industry by making it attractive for grooms, exercise boys and stall-hands. "When there arent adequate accomo-! dations," he explained, "you cant keep 1 good workers. But with these new facili-| ties— and I think the biggest single im-, provement is the new shower-comfort stations — you can give your employes a home j away from home." Hurst Philpot, trainer for J. H. and N. ! M. Monoghan, of Denver, Col., said he was impressed most with the emphasis Washington Park has placed on fire-fighting and the protective and safety facilities , which Balmoral introduced this year. "This new fire-fighting suit -made of I aluminized asbestos and carrying oxygen | mask and tank, plus the new tack-rooms, : the high-pressure fire-fighting equipment, the 24-hour-a-day police-fire-medical service, give a man peace of mind," he said. "Its another advancement and definite recognition by management of the importance of safe, comfortable, spacious stable areas."
