view raw text
Woodwards Statement Amazing to Ellsworth Disputes Any Misinterpretation Of Discussed Swaps-Nashua Race NEW YORK, N. Y., June 14.— According to Hollywood Park publicity director Al Wesson, Vho was in New York today, Rex Ellsworth, owner of Swaps, expressed amazement that there had been any "misinterpretation" of his telephone conversation with William-Woodward, Jr., Friday, when a proposed match between Swaps and Woodwards Nashua was discussed. Wesson telephoned Ellsworth at his Chino, Calif., ranch today and read him Woodwards statement in this newspaper Tuesday, in which the owner of Belair Stud turned down Hollywood Parks offer of a 00,000 winner-take-all match between the three-year-olds. Wesson had flown East in an attempt to complete arrangements for the race. After learning the contents of Wood- Continded on Page Forty-Fire Woodwards Statement Amazing to Ellsworth Disputes Any Misinterpretation Of Discussed Swaps-Nashua Race Continued from Page One wards statement, Wesson said Ellsworth told him: "I dont see how there could be any misinterpretation of our conversation on the part of either of us. Mr. Woodward first mentioned that he might be interested in a match race in California in a conversation in Louisville immediately after the Kentucky Derby. When we talked again last Friday he still indicated some interest in it if the public demanded it." Wesson then told Ellsworth that Woodward said he me.ant "maybe in October in California, if we had not been able to meet .before then." "Mr. Woodward did not tell me that he would not come to Hollywood Park," Ellsworth replied. "I certainly did not understand that he was talking about October. Where would he expect to race then — in j somebodys backyard? And who would put j up the purse? He knows Hollywood Park closes July 25." Answering Woodwards statement that "it would be unfair to Nashua and the public if we shipped him 3,000 miles at this time," Ellsworth said: "Three thousand miles now is simply 10 hours flying time — less than one-half days travel. We shipped 2,000 miles by rail to meet the best the East had to offer in the Derby under unfamiliar conditions and did not find that it upset the horse. "I dont see how there can be any question of misunderstanding or misinterpretation of our conversation. Mr. Woodward told me that if public opinion demanded the race he would even be willing to miss some of his engagements to have the match. "If Mr. Woodward desires to even the score for Nashuas defeat by Swaps in the Derby, the time for the match is as soon as possible while both horses are at their peak under the ideal conditions of weather and track that Hollywood Park would furnish. " "Hollywood Parks general manager, James Stewart, informs me that the offer of a 00,000 purse, winner take all, still stands. Mr. Woodward can pick any date between now and the end of the Hollywood Park season July 25 and it would be acceptable to me." President Mervyn Leroy of the Hollywood Turf Club, which made the match race offer after the two owners had discussed its possibilities over the telephone last Friday, also expressed considerable surprise at Woodwards attitude. He said: "I am greatly surprised by Mr. Woodwards rather curt and ungracious reply to our friendly and generous offer for a match in which he had indicated some interest if the public clamored for it. "There is certainly no question about the public wanting it, but Mr. Woodwards statement that Nashua positively will not be shipped to California for a match race with Swaps indicates a mounting lack of enthusiasm on his part for it."
