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Suffolk Group Issues Statement in Hot Springs Bid for Racing Franchise Not Tied Up With Movement for Fall Meet HOT SPRINGS, Ark., June20. The bid of the Eastern Racing Association, Inc., operators of Suffolk Downs, for the Hot Springs racing franchise is not connected with the movement for a fall race meet here, Clyde S. Halk and Milan S. Creigh-ton, local representatives of the Massachusetts group, said Sunday. Halk and Creighton issued a statement which they said was intended to "clarify recent inferences that Eastern Racing Association, Inc., was interested in holding a fall race meet in Hot Springs." Eastern Racing submitted one of three bids for the franchise which has been held by Oaklawn Jockey Club since 1935. Oak-lawn contends it already has a valid 10-year franchise granted last year by the racing commission serving during the administration of Governor Cherry. The present racing commission, named by Governor Faubus, who succeeded Cherry, contends the franchise is invalid and the matter is now in litigation. Oaklawn entered a bid as a precautionary measure when its franchise was challenged, and a third bid was submitted by unidentified parties. Halk and Creighton, who were leaders of a group that appeared before the Arkansas State Racing Commission last spring and requested a fall meeting at Oaklawn, ;ap- parently referred to newspaper stories published earlier in the week, containing statements indicating that the Suffolk interests would propose a fall meeting if they were successful in getting the franchise. The statements were not refuted at the time. The statement issued yesterday by Halk and Creighton went on to say that "the bid made by Eastern Racing on the new franchise was in no way connected with a fall race meet. The operators of Suffolk Downs have only one interest that of providing the people of Arkansas with the best type of horse racing possible. It is their intention to hold a spring race meet during the usual time of the year. They neither solicit nor request permission for a fall race meet." John G. Cella of St. Louis, president of Oaklawn Jockey Club, has opposed a fair race meet as being against the best interests of all concerned. He testified to that effect when he appeared as a witness in Pulaski Chancery Court last Monday in Oaklawns suit to permanently enjoin the racing commission from opening the new bids on the racing- franchise. Chancellor Guy E. Williams gave Oaklawn 10 days in which to file a written brief and indicated he would then take the case under advisement. A ruling making the injunction permanent would in effect uphold the legality of Oaklawns present franchise. Hot Springs business interests are divided on the question of fall racing,, some agreeing with Cellas view that it would be a detriment and not a benefit. Opposition to a fall meeting has also been expressed ! in neighboring cities.
