view raw text
Between Races By Oscar Otis ■ Summer Racing Returning to Louisville Miles Rebuilding Fairgrounds Speedway Famed Artist to Mural Jockey Quarters CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 8.— The racing season in Kentucky will be extended this year with one of Kentuckys best known citizens, General J. Fred Miles, contemplating bringing the thoroughbreds back to Louisville come June 28 at the Fairgrounds Speedway. The General is spending, to use his own term, "money by the ton" to rebuild the Fairgrounds racing plant, and while he may not have the biggest track in the nation, he feels there is no reason that in many ways it shouldnt be among the nicest. The man doesnt expect to make any money with the Speedway during its first few seasons of operation, but even if it does, all profits will go back into capital improvements. While his first condition book lists minimum purses of ,000 and with a race to be known as the Louisville Cup for ,000 as the seasons "big one," the caliber of horses to race at the Speedway will be far out of proportion to purses because many of the best known Louisville owners, and Lexington area breeders, plan to run at least divisions of their stables at the Speedway for the dual reasons of civic and state pride, and to help launch this newest of American race tracks into ah expected era of success. "I made an exhaustive study of Kentucky race tracks and their trends before deciding that a second track in the Louisville area would be desirable to both racing and the community," explains Miles. "Our population drawing area is expanding so fast that the Speedway, with the type of racing we will offer, should meet with wide public acceptance. Our track itself is one of the finest haif-milers in the world, is well banked, and has a virgin clay base to which we will add a cushion of loam. General Miles explained that virgin clay is that which has never been mined or used for any purpose, and was there waiting when the track was first built in 1908. Our grandstand and clubhouse have been so redesigned that every seat is a good one." Executives Tour of Entire Plant, It was our privilege on Sunday to inspect the whole layrout in company with General Miles, his vice-president, Joe Hardwick, and his general manager, Pete ODonnell, wholl be on hand full time starting June 1, and without question, the Speedway has much to recommend it as a sporty, compact, natty race track. Its barns are being rebuilt and feature breeze-ways so that on even the warmest of days, it always will be cool inside. The track will have hardly any traffic problems, for it will have seven entrances and exits, will start with a limestone surfaced parking lot for 3,000 cars, a lot which can be expanded to accommodate upwards of 7,000 vehicles. General Miles is a perfectionist in racing matters and fortunately has the money to allow him to pursue his fancy in this direction. Hes an oil man part of the time, but for the last 40 years has been a part and parcel of the Kentucky racing picture. In any event, the best illustration of the way the man is going about the Speedway is to tell about the new jockeys quarters. It is a cottage structure on a grassy lawn near the paddock #nd behind the grandstand, and now hear this— its walls will be decorated with murals by one of Americas known artists. "Over on that wall will go a painting of my one-time good race horse, Governor Chandler," said Miles, as he pointed to a vast expanse of bare siding. "And jockey Ralph Hightshoe, who used to ride for me, will be in it. Over on this other wall will go a painting of Donerail, winner of the 1913 Derby, and his rider, Roscoe Gcose. For Roscoe has been a powerful influence for good in this state, having helped ever so many people on their climb upward." Operated Harness Meet on Lease Basis Of course the art is in addition to the most up-to-date of everything for such quarters, including air conditioning. The clubhouse, also with air conditioning, is studded with huge pictures of Kentucky thoroughbred farms. Miles has been operating the Speedway Trots for some years now under a lease arrangement from the state and has been improving the plant ever since. He bought the place when the state put it on the market for bids, but he is now only really beginning to spend. For as we say, he is a rich man and hed rather make the Speedway a credit to racing in general and the state of Kentucky in particular, than scrimp and just try to get by. On the operational side, Miles has surrounded himself by able and respected men. ODonnell, for instance, is well known as not only a top flight management executive but one who also is promotional minded. Hardwick, who insists he will be an advisory vice-president only, knows as much or more about racing from the angle of a patron as most anyone we could name, for, an amateur handicapper of national reputation, he has been a racegoer all of his adult life. Charles F. Henry will serve as racing secretary, and Ruby White, the Kentucky Derby starter, has accepted a similar post at- the Speedway. Other appointments of importance will be announced in the immediate future. What kind of a meeting will the Speedways in- augural one be? Frankly, it locks good, although the purse structure was set up figuring the glummest news possible on the idea that it is always better to start solid and build from there than to open with rosy promises and then cut back. The Speedway, incidentally, will bring summer racing to the Louisville area after an absence of some 30 years. ODonnell, an experienced man in such maters, is more than optimistic, especially so because there will be a 3 P. M. post time which will make the racing appealing to large numbers of people who love a bit of thoroughbred sport in their relaxation time after office hours.
