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Widener Deeply Concerned Over Belmont Stakes Future Prominent Official Evaluates Problems to Improve Classic; Also N. Y. Racing in General BELMONT PARK, Elmont, L. I., N. Y., June 10. — Of all the men and women in and of racing in the United States, the owners, breeders, officials, turf writers, bettors and spectators which is not always exactly the same thing who are concerned with the future of the Belmont Stakes, which will have its 83rd running Saturday, none is more deeply concerned and from so many viewpoints than. George D. Widener. Of course, as president of the Westchester Racing Association, Mr. Widener is entrusted with the perpetuation of the nations only true classic race for three-year-old colts and fillies. And as chairman of The Jockey Club, it is a major part of his duty to seek every means possible to maintain the prestige and importance of this searching mile and one -half stake, which has been aptly, and without braggadocio, been called the "Test of the Champion." As a breeder, Widener is naturally concerned with the continued importance of the one race which, more than any other single event, has served the ultimate purpose of pointing out the one thoroughbred each year in whose bone, blood and sinew was best combined soundness, speed and stamina. This Belmont Stakes is now, and has for some years been, the only North American major stake for entire three-year-olds still run at the distance which has for centuries been recognized throughout the entire world as the truly classic distance. Validity of Concept Questioned The United States alone, of all countries which race and breed thoroughbred horses, has sometimes questioned the validity of this concept of a mile and a half as the true classic distance, which is perhaps why we are constantly compelled to fortify our bloodstock with importations in great numbers and of both sexes. As an owner and as a track operator, Widener is doubly aware of the problems involved in maintaining such a race as the Belmont on its preeminent level. As an owner, he is "well aware of the reasons motivating other owners in preferring, in these tax-ridden days, to seek easier races for their potential champions. As a track operator, attempting to maintain the worlds finest racing on the nations smallest share of pari-mutuel revenue, he is acutely aware of the importance of providing races with adequate fields, in fact, betting races. And Mr. Widener is keenly conscious of the growing need to provide the public with competitive sport in comfortable surroundings, otherwise that public will not continue to support the sport which is the expression of a great industry, involving the livelihoods of thousands of men and women. On the eve of this Belmont Stakes, Widener is candid in saying that there is little he can say about this particular running of the historic stake. "We have a year in which there is a great horse in the East and another great horse in the West. We have had similar years before and will have them again," he said. "Of course, if Nashua were not — — — — — »i T" ! W i GEORGE D. WIDENER— President of Westchester Racing Association, operator of Belmont Park. in the Belmont, we would have a large field and a good betting race. But the purpose of the Belmont Stakes and of the races leading up to it is to develop a champion. Without such a horse as Nashua, the race would not be the Belmont. Its unfortunate, though, that his superiority to every other three-year-old in training, except Swaps, has already been so thoroughly established." Mr. Widener was asked if he had any ideas that might help the Belmont in the future, such, for instance, as increasing the value of the purse sufficiently to make second and third money at least equal to the winners share of lesser and shorter stakes. "Frankly, I have no definite ideas. It may be that we will have to increase the value of the Belmont, though I have not yet discussed this with the directors. It is true that an owner and trainer are required to ask a great deal more of their horse in preparing for the Belmont than a shorter race, even if they are racing for second or third money. There is the danger that in training for a race at a mile and one-half, they may be forced to miss profitable engagements in shorter races. For that reason, we may be justified in increasing the Belmont substantially, but primarily as an encouragement to owners of good horses that might not be able to beat a horse such as Nashua and who feel that they cannot afford to race for second or third money if it means missing stakes they can win at other tracks. "After all," Widener continued, "the entire racing scene has changed greatly in comparatively recent years. There is far more competition among race tracks for Continued on Page Fifty-Nine Belmont Stakes Future Deep Concern of Widener Prominent Official Evaluates Problems of Test of Champion Continued from Page Six horses and there are far more opportunities to race for substantial purses. At the same time, the expenses of owners, and particularly their taxes, have increased tremendously. It is absolutely necessary now that a stable show a profit. *T believe that any breeder would rather win the Belmont Stakes than any other race, including the Kentucky Derby, which, as I told Bill Coram, often ruins our race. But many owners of good horses are not breeders and many who are just cant afford to race against what seems to be an unbeatable champion at a mile and a half. At th . same time, there cant be any question of reducing the distance, which makes the Belmont the championship it is. T am not sure that arFincrease in the purse money is the answer to our problem, but I am certainly riot opposed to an increase in principal, and if that does seem to be the answer, I will urge that we do raise the value." "** Mr. Widener then turned the tables somewhat and proceeded to interview the writer, asking: "What do you hear people asking for in regard to the new race track?" . People Prefer Smaller Track The Phila~delphian was told nothing new, simply that most people seem to prefer a somewhat smaller track, preferably a mile and a furlong, the elimination of the Widener straightaway, better visibility through graded lawns and adequate resting places behind the stands as being more important than seats in the front. Widener agreed that the public was justified in wanting a smaller track, better visibility and more comfort and reiterated the determination of The Jockey Club group now incorporated as the Greater New York Association to provide these things. On the subject of the Widener Course, he said: "I would hate to see this course go, it is such a wonderful place to race large fields of two-year-olds, giving so many needed opportunities to owners and breeders." When it was suggested; that the present Widener Course falsified the races on the main course by making the going exceedingly slow along the inside where the two tracks cross between the quarter pole and the eighth pole, and could be replaced by a straight course in front of the stands: Widener said: "But you know, with a track like that, the public would see even less of the races than they do now." - Mr. Widener then evidenced the growing willingness on the part of the "powers that be" in New York racing to accept, even to welcome, new ideas. 1 Looking ahead at the autumn and a race that was originally intended as a companion piece to the Belmont Stakes, the- writer broached a suggestion which had been favorably received by the late John Banks Campbell, but too late for that great racing secretary to act upon. This was that the Lawrence Realization, now a race for three-year-olds at e mile and five furlongs with limited allowance conditions, uc uyeiieu wj uiuei nurses, jlu was pointed out that the Realization had lost much of its significance, while the older horses had no adequate opportunity leading up to the two-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup other than the Manhattan Handicap, in which the better veterans were severely penalized. Mr. Widener agreed that opening the Realization to older horses would not only help that race, but would also help the Gold Cup. "I have always believed in weight-forage races and wished that we could have more of them, but they do not attract large enough fields to provide revenue. Opening the Realization to older horses might give us a good weight-for-age race at a time when we need it most and without hurting our programs." On that note, we left the chairman of The Jockey Club and president of Belmont Park, convinced once more that there is a new spirit of progress and willingness to experiment, after due deliberation, animating. *the guidingSspirits* behind NewJYork racing.
