view raw text
California I By Oscar Otis : New Era in Northwest Racing Prospect Longacres Cards Lush Roster of Stakes Breeders, Management Working Together HOLLYWOOD PARK, Inglewood, Calif., June 23. "I may be a trifle prejudiced in favor of Northwest racing," phones Pete Pedersen of Longacres, "but even allowing for an understandable bit of enthusiasm, some competent observers tell us that the Longacres meeting opening Friday will, in future years, be regarded as a definite landmark in establishing a new era in Northwest racing. Maury Alhadeff, general manager, declares that th,e Washington Jockey Club has absolute faith in7 the future of the Northwest, and that the physical improvement program, as lavish as it is, was not built in anticipation of future expanded attendance, Jbut rather giving present Longacres fans the amenities to which they were entitled. In a racing way, Webb Everett has converted the major overnight feature program into a true stakes program, and this summer, Longacres is offering 21 stakes during the 10-week season. "Joe Gottstein, president of Longacres, and the man who has been the leading managerial figure in Washington racing since the legalization of the sport back in 1933, has moved his summer home, just in back of the tote board, a sure sign that the meeting is about to open. Gottstein spends about 18 hours a day during the season on the job, and that is literally. While Im sure that the remodeled turf club and clubhouse, which have been doubled in size, will come in for . national comment because of the decor, what with imported Japanese senwood for inside paneling, the Lanai Room overlooking the paddock, and the additional seating and luxury introduced into the grandstand area, the most noticeable item to the fan may be the infield rail. Gottstein has painted the rails chartreuse, with blue posts, which must make it the first track in America so adorned." . Pedersen New Type Turf Official Pedersen, we might comment, is the best example on the West Coast of a new type turf official who is a public relations man with true executive status. It is a trend which is becoming noticeable in some parts of America, and we feel sure, a good one. Too often in the past, track managements have made vital policy decisions without considering the problem in relationship to the public reaction, and on more than one occasion, sudden reversals of policy have had to be made, often accompanied by a deal of chagrin. Another example of a, combination public relations-executive which comes to mind offhand is Ev Clay at Hialeah, whom Gene Mori promoted to be an officer of the corporation as well as a high-class hired hand. Perhaps the most significant thing about the impending -Longacres meeting, its 22nd, is the sincere cooperation between breeders and management to upgrade the racing programs. As this corner hinted two weeks ago, the breeders and track managements are at long last working in something akin to harmony. Clio Hogan of the breeders tells me, "While there may be some problems arising from the fact that this year the Washington Jockey Club is starting out with a minimum purse of ,000 and a minimum claiming price of ,200, in the long .run it will be for the best. When we breeders first proposed the minimum claiming price be raised to ,250, it was not with the intention that the value of our horses automatically would become greater. The whole idea behind it was to cause the elimination of large numbers of horses which found it possible to compete at nearby fairs for 00 and 00 and yet race at Longacres in the ,000 claiming bracket." Nine Added Money Races for Homebreds Nine of the 21 stakes that Gottstein has carded for the summer are for Washington-breds, perhaps the most pretentious homebred stakes roster in the United States on a comparative basis. The most important is the ,500 Washington Futurity, and which, we understand, will build into a 0,000 contest for the 1958 running. The big open race of the season, the Long-acres Mile, has been doubled in value to 0,000 added. Everett is ready to announce a surprising roster for the Mile, for among the nominees are such horses as Traffic Judge, winner of the Withers and third to Nashua in the Preakness, and Cyclotron. The Clifford Mooers nominees are more than complimentary, for while the man calls a lot of places home, he grew up in the Seattle area. Perhaps Gottsteins most important contribution to racing was his proving up the advantage of a mile run as the best American stakes distance for many tracks which lack the background to stage classic distance stakes. The mile has been condemned by theorists, but in practice it has done much or more than any other single factor to build prestige in the Northwest. It is at a distance that is appealing to both speed horses and stayers, and in the past, it has had the advantage of bringing together just about all the top horses on the grounds. Other, and bigger tracks, have since used the mile with marked good results. It all goes to prove that an improvement of the breed does not of necessity require the most direct path, but that as often as not, faster progress can be made by more circuitous routes, such as miles against 10 furlongs, fi t - t r. i
