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■ ..i i „ " |V Delaware . — By Charles Hatton Du Fonts Idealistic Racing Rules Architect of More Than 25 Courses Presides in Numerous Industries DELAWARE PARK, Stanton, Del., June 3.— "The man behind the scene" here at pastoral Delaware Park is William duPont, Jr. It was his Inspiration — initially ■ ..i i „ in in the the interests interests of of promulgating promulgating in in the the interests interests of of promulgating promulgating steeplechasing — to construct it. And he is also the father of Delawares idealistic sport-for-sports sake racing law which allows only 4 per cent and foreshortens the meetings. In a word, he is one of the most outgoing sportsmen we have ever met. Once in a while, duPont runs a horse here, to show his cerulean blue. Fox-catcher Farm colors. Whenever he he does, does, you you will will not not find find him him in in " |V he he does, does, you you will will not not find find him him in in the flossy purleius of the turf club.. Instead he retires to a knoll, pipe in hand, down near the paddock at the clubhouse turn, where some of the other owners, and most of the swipes and exercise boys concerned assume -a vantage point. As if you didnt know, duPont is a director of E. I. duPont de Nemours and Company, and a member of the finance committee. He is a born Englishman. Place and time of birth February 11, 1896, at obscure Losely Park, which is in Surrey. And he is the son of the late William and Annie Rogers duPont. His great grandfather E. I. duPont de Nemours it is of course a French family originally was the business, colossus who founded the vast duPont enterprises. Great Interest in AnimaLHusbandry "Willie" has had an interesting, quite full and successful background. He went to St. Pauls School, at Concord, in New Hampshire, and St. Lukes, in the village of Wayne, Pa., where he was active in athletics, excelling at tennis, soccer and shooting. His special talent, however, is designing race courses. DuPont is recognized internationally as an authority in this peculiar and subtle specialty, and he is the architect of more than 25 race courses, both for competition on the flat and through the field. Naturally the Delaware Park courses are his handiwork. Also the National Cup course at Fair Hill, in Maryland, which is an adaptation of Englands famed Grand National at Aintree except that duPont has no intention of making the hazards less hazardous. DuPonts interests also ex- . tend to animal husbandry. His experiments and the research which he has sponsored have helped to advance this science. Improved animal nutrition through soil control and enrichment, and the deterrents to animal diseases, including equine arthritis, bovine brucellosis, and parasite elimination and distemper are "among the projects he has furthered. DuPont was elected a director of E. I. duPont de Nemours and Company back in 1930, and served as a member of the boards committee on audit from 1939 to 1954, assuredly nothing soporific. On January 1, 1919, he and Miss Jean Liseter Austin were married, at Rosemont, Pa. They have four children, Mrs. Jean duPont McConnell, Mrs. Evelyn duPont Donaldson, William Henry, and John Eleuthere duPont. Mr. and Mrs. duPont were divorced in 1940. And in 1947, duPont married Miss Margaret Osborne, of San Francisco, who was the U. S. womens tennis champion, a status she held for the succeeding three years. Mrs. duPont was also co-holder of the U. S. womens doubles title for 10 years prior to 1951, and of the mixed doubles for five years. They have one child, William duPont III. Has Variety of Sporting Activities Always an advocate of state laws for the protection and maintenance of racing on a high level for the benefit of the public and the breeders and owners of horses, duPont is busy furthering the breed at Fox-catcher. He is also head of the Foxcatcher Livestock Company, which is devoted to the .improvement, breeding, and rearing of beef cattle. Here he has crossed strains of Herefords with Brahmas and Shorthorns. His enterprise has not gone unrecognized. . Not long ago he was elected president of the Wilmington Country Club and of the Delaware Lawn Tennis Association. He is also a member of the Wilmington Society of Fine Arts, Corinthian Yacht Club, Wilmington Club, New York Jockey Club, Rose Tree Fox Hunting Club, the River Club of New York, and the West Side Tennis - Club. Apart from this he is director of the E. I. duPont de Nemours and Company, a member of the boards committee on audit of the Delaware Land Development Company, Shapdale, and of the Hopeton "Holding Corporation. In August of 1952 he was elected president of the Grayson Foundation. Turfana: Mrs. Frank Hobbs, wife of Sunshines president, made her first visit here yesterday . . . Hugh Strong, a member of the N. J. Racing Commission, is here for a few days sport . . . Gallorette is at Crown Crest Farm, and is booked to Royal Serenade . . . Pat Kelly is visiting N. J. stud farms and courses, returns soon to Lexington . . . Royal Fan is a feather in Royal Gem II.s cap, nor will she and Pollys Jet be in restraint of trade when racing commissioner Duval Headley offers those six yearlings at Keeneland . . . J. Simpson Dean is a regular at the meeting . . . Gil Haus named a race for Don Ross good mare Everget . . . Harry Isaacs is an occasional visitor . . . "Mr. Muffins" Feldman goes to Atlantic City following this meet . . . Nahodah, a striking looking son of Nasrullah, was rather an abject disappointment in his debut here but seemed to want the experience . . . Mose Shapoff is here, pointing Rosemary B. for the Delaware Handicap . . . Delaware crowds itnd play continue uptrending.
