Cancel Last Five Races on Fairmount Program: Jockeys Refuse to Ride due to Trouble with Lighting Standards, Daily Racing Form, 1955-06-25

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Cancel Last Five Races On Fairmount Program Jockeys Refuse to Ride Due to Trouble With Lighting Standards FAIRMOUNT PARK, Collinsville, 111., June 24. Racing was discontinued here Thursday night following the running of the third of the intended eight-race card when jockeys refused to fulfill their riding engagements because of poor lighting. A cable in a transformer which took care of four light standards blew out between the first and second races and while it was first thought the trouble could be corrected before the running of the five furlongs third race, workmen ran into more trouble than expected. One of the light standards failing to function was at the five furlongs post where the third race was started and fans without binoculars were unable to distinguish colors. The troubled lights were between the five furlongs and seven-eighth posts. General manager Ray C. Bennigsen, the stewards and jockeys met before the running of the fourth race and xafter a delay of some 30 minutes Bennigsen made the announcement that the remainder of the races were canceled. Pass-out, checks were issued to each of the 4,651 patrons as they left the park, Bennigsen announcing they would be good for any program the remainder of thesea-son. There was more than 1,000 wagered on the fourth race when the announcement of the cancellation was made. All money was refunded. The trouble was eliminated early Friday morning and testing of the new cable worked to the satisfaction of Fairmount Park lighting-engineers.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1950s/drf1955062501/drf1955062501_19_2
Local Identifier: drf1955062501_19_2
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800