view raw text
■ — ■ ~~« MM«p mmmwi r-fiumri New Jersey By Charles Hatton Analytical View of Garden State Park Its the Little Things That Count Swaps Brother in Moris Fall Gold Rush GARDEN STATE PARK, Camden. N. J., May 12.— The visitor to this impeccably spic and span course is bound eventually to marvel at its unique success, and ■ — ■ ~~« MM«p to to seek seek the the explanation. explanation. We We were were to to seek seek the the explanation. explanation. We We were were musing on this while chatting with executive vice-president and general manager Walter Donovan this morning. That worthy was reminded that "except for the Miami and Los Angeles areas, the Delaware valley is the fastest growing, most flourishing section of the country. The rate of expansion is almost incredible." Again he thinks that "the operation on 0f of a a race race course course is is not not un- mmmwi r-fiumri on 0f of a a race race course course is is not not un- unlike any other business. It is not merely a matter of opening the gates. One must merchandise ones sport, and make the public welcome and comfortable. This is not possible without a sincere feeling on managements part it is genuinely happy to have the patronage. Otherwise it cannot be successfully communicated. I may sound naive, but it is truly the little things that count. For example, there is the blower system of heat radiation in the stand. I came out here the other morning, when it was quite chilly. As the crowds entered, their comment on the warmer, more comfortable atmosphere in the stands was really gratifying, and made the installation of the system seem really worthwhile." Having made a rather hurried trip here from the Derby, and arriving without our usual press credentials, we commented on the civility of the gate staff, who cooperated to pass us to the administration offices to obtain this identification. So many admissions men seem to glorify in small prerogatives and become stuffy as if this sort of thing is a personal affront. "That is a part of our policy of making those who come to Garden State Park feel welcome," Donovan said. "There is rarely ever any excuse for being uncooperative or discourteous. The psychology has an analogy in that if you enter a room in which a group of people have been having a heated discussion, you sense it immediately. It is in the air. Similarly if things have been going along agreeably as you arrive, you can almost feel the pleasantry." Patrons Cooperate Toward Cleanliness It is doubtless well known everywhere by now that Garden State is one of the most sanitary race courses anywhere. The management might have been a little discouraged about keeping the floors clean of torn tote tickets, newspapers and other rubble at first, but Donovan notes that now the patrons reciprocate in an effort to keep the stands looking as freshly scrubbed as they found them. "I have seen people tear off the top of a package of cigarets, throw it on the floor, then reconsider and pick it up and deposit it in the bins provided for their disposal," he reflected. It is a form of consideration for the other fellow, and the pride to be as conscious and appreciative of cleanly surroundings as the next. We venture to doubt if the cost of Garden State Parks policing activities now varies markedly from that of any other track of comparable size. Rex C. Ellsworths astonishing Swaps has returned to the other coast, but the management here is pleased to note that his two-year-old brother. Like Magic, is a candidate for the fabulously rich Garden State. Trainer •Mickey" Tenney has made no secret of his estimate this colt is more promising at a corresponding stage of his development than was the Derby winner. But in accordance with the enlightened practice of the present day he is in no tearing hurry to subject him to a severe campaign this season. If Like Magic continues to progress and comes East, it is just possible his distinguished brother will invade this area with him for fall stakes. Swaps emergence as one of the finest three-year-olds of late years can only be heartening to California bloodstock breeding interests. His sire Khaled now is serving there, and we expect that eventually the hero of the Downs classic will be retired to one of the Ellsworth studs. The chestnut grandson of Hyperion is a Ijprse of very handsome model, cast in the most approved middle distance mould, and could make Californians feel the loss of Alibhai, Royal Serenade and others less sharply. Turn-tos Dam Has Nasrullah Filly Turfana: Turn-tos dam Source Sucree has produced Harry Guggenheim a Nasrullah filly at Claiborne Farm. The youngster is of course a three parts sister to the 54 Flamingo winner . . . Walter Donovan feels that The Garden State, Flamingo and Derby are a natural sequence. Eventually some horse may account for all three . . . Five hundred homes and a shopping center now are mushrooming about the flossy Cherry Hill Inn . . . John Barry Ryans Precipitation mare Golden Strand has a yearling Bolero filly . . . Mr. Fitz has a division here . . . Saratogas owner. Mrs. M. duPont Scott, was a recent visitor to this course . . . Though the Downs going is supposed to have a special nature, invaders from both New York and California appear to have no difficulty accommodating themselves to it. It is track super Tom Youngs credo that a race course in which one cannot grow crops is unsuitable . . . The unbeaten Pollys Jet, winner of the Juvenile up at Belmont, is a candidate for the Cherry Hill here next Wednesday. . . . On Your Own is pointing for the Colonial Handicap. . . . New Jerseys Gov. Robert Meyner regrets he cannot be present for the Jersey, but he and a group of chief executives of neighboring states plan to attend The Garden State in the fall.
