Hanes Makes Detailed Study of Santa Anita, Hollywood: Greater N. Y. Association Prexy Views Incorporation of Ideas into Supper Tracks, Daily Racing Form, 1955-06-24

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- , 0 Hanes Makes Detailed Study Of Santa Anita, Hollywood Greater N.Y. Association Prexy Views Incorporation Of Ideas Into Super Tracks By KENT COCHRAN Staff Correspondent HOLLYWOOD PARK, Inglewood, Calif., June 23. John Hanes, president of the board of trustees of the Greater New York Racing Association, flew into Los Angeles yesterday and is returning to Gotham Friday. He is here to make a detailed study of the Hollywood and Santa Anita tracks with a view of incorporating their best features into the two super tracks bhe association proposes to build or remodel in the New York area, at Belmont Park or Aqueduct, one next year and the other later on. "It is generally agreed that the two Los Angeles tracks and Hialeah Park possess appointments of the finest," he said. "Though I have visited Santa Anita and Hialeah, I had never seen Hollywood Park, and thought this a good time to inspect it. My looking over the tracks in former years was quite casual; now I inspect carefully, with the idea of appropriating the best features of each course for our building program." Hanes explained that the Greater New York Association contemplates either the I razing and rebuilding of Aqueduct and , Belmont Park, but that only one of the two j I will be replaced or rebuilt ia the near fu-j ture. The GYNA plans to purchase all four of New Yorks thoroughbred race tracks, with Jamaica destined to be closed and Saratoga to be improved. "Of course, Saratoga will be carried on with; it wouldnt do to abandon the Historic Spa," he said. Have 1,000,000 in Reserve The combined tracks have 1,000,000 cash in reserve, which would fall to the purchasers,-thus providing about one-third of the total cost of either building or remodelling one super track." "Belmont Park was built in 1903, and the steel framework is beginning to crystallize," Hanes said, explaining that the stands are not well placed as regards wind and rain and cold and heaf. The Belmont plant has 486 acres and Aqueduct, 280. The two tracks are about 20 minutes drive apart, making the vanning of horses from one to the other a simple task. This diminishes the objection that the individual tracks have insufficient stalls and too little acreage on which to bi"M additional stall accommodations. Hanes is president of the 20-member board of trustees, while George D. Widener I honorary chairman. B. A. Tompkins is the , "operating president," and will devote his full time to the Greater Ndw York project beginning August 1, when his resignation as senior vice-president of the Bankers Trust Company of New York becomes effective. Hanes himself holds a number of responsible positions. He is chairman of the finance committee of the U. S. Steamship Lines and 3of Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation, and holds directorships in the Bankers Trust Company, Johns-Manville Corporation and the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York. He and his relatives own the Hanes hosiery and underwear factories at Winston-Salem, N. C. Hanes was a guest of Neil S. McCarthy yesterday at Hollywood Park. He confer-I red there with Carelton F. Burke, Thore Brekke and other Southern California racing officials and sportsmen.


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Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800