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x Between Races I By Oscar Otis Public Asked for Derby Paddock Ideas Hugenberg Explains Downs Philosophy Reveals Why Changes Come Gradually GraduallyCHURCHILL CHURCHILL DOWNS Louisville Ky May 4 This writer recently interviewed Bill Corum president of Churchill Downs in which he said among other things that Churchill was de ¬ sirous of creating a new paddock We think the idea good too but in checking with executive vice president Stanley Hugenberg we learn that while he is in 100 per cent accord with Corum on the paddock idea he is at somewhat of a loss to know where to put it what shape it should take and what the public would most like Therefore he has empowered this corner to ask racing fans them ¬ selves and most especially those who have been to the Derby and know the actual physical layout to offer their suggestions These may be made directly to Mr Hugenberg at Churchill Downs or to this columnist We will welcome any suggestions explains Hugen ¬ berg not only because Churchill Downs has an open mind and welcomes constructive suggestions on any phase of our operation itselfbut also because we want the new paddock arrangement to be satisfactoryjto the greatest possible number of people I would remind only that anyone considering this matter keep in mind the fact that space is valuable on Derby Day and hard to come by and any new paddock should be constructed with as little taking away of space for people as posr sible Frankly there are some aspects of a new paddock which have eluded us and perhaps one or more of your readers can provide an ingenious answer If so we at Churchill Downs will be most grateful gratefulColonel Colonel Winn Laid the Foundation Hugenberger also revealed and for the first time offi ¬ cially although it must havebeen apparent to any close observer that the new philosophy of Churdiill Downs in regard to its Derby was beginning to work out and pay dividends especially to the people of greater Louis ¬ ville Make no mistake explains Hugenberg but that Col Matt Winn created and built the Derby as we inherited it from him He built solidly and well and laid the foundations for future yeartoyear growth However in 1950 and under the present management a new concept of the Derby and its relationship to Churchill Downs was agreed upon And that was that the Derby would be made to play a role in the upbuild ¬ ing of the allover programs at Churchill especially the fall meeting In other words we wanted to lessen the gap between our daily overnight programs and other stakes on our programs and the Derby itself I think we are succeeding We have for instance in ¬ creased our total yearly attendance and play by almost 60 per cent Last year we added some 200000 to purses but at the same time we did not increase our profit Rather we let the profit figure stay static and put our additional funds available into purses in the belief that it was good for us and good for racing in the long run Louisville is growing and we want to give the folks in this area an entire season to which they can point with pride rather than put one week Derby Week WeekI I fully believe that within the next several years this policy will have fully proven itself We would like to establish a Derby museum here s n the Churchill Downs grounds and make this museum available to the public the year round There has been almost no pub ¬ licity on the number of offseason visitors that Church ¬ ill entertains but I can say that there is seldom a day that 150 dont show up and ask to be shown around the grounds on some days we have tabbed as many as 1000 In addition to the plant itself we should have a show place for turf art literature and famed memen ¬ tos and especially objects with Derby history and rela ¬ tionship And we have enough material already on hand to give such a museum a good start But once again we are faced with a space problem and as soon as we can find the proper setting and locale for this museum we will begin construction constructionFull Full House Only Once a Year YearHugenberg Hugenberg also explained why expansion at Church ¬ ill Downs must come year by year somewhat piece ¬ meal as judged by construction from scratch of a huge dream track by what he terms the growing economic problems facing race tracks and this in turn means by indirection purses For one thing big new areas to accommodate people can be used but once a year or at most twice say the day before the Derby as well as Derby Day itself Present facilities are far more than ample to take care of normal noliDerby weekend crowds Therefore the return per box seat of which by actual count there are now slightly more than 40000 including reserved stadium seats is extremely low when you consider that these boxes must be maintained the year round One architect for in ¬ stance proposed a 250000 expansion but a financial analysis showed that the most the Downs could net from this nev area at that cost would be 10000 a small return indeed on capital Do not infer that ex ¬ pansion will not continue from year to year but rather it will be steady and within the fiscal limits of the corporation to build and still remain solvent Funds for improvement and substanial funds are allotted allottedContinued Continued on Page Fifty BETWEEN RACES RACESBy By OSCAR OTIS Continued from Page Fhe Fheevery every year but the rebuilding and expan ¬ sion of the ancient Downs takes time timeThat That Churchill is beginning to be com ¬ petitive nationally for horses in its pro ¬ gram other than the Derby became apparent for the first time last spring when its racing cards following the Derby were attractive enough to warrant the idea of many stables which heretofore picked up and left after the Derby staying on through the close How many stables Churchill will retain we would not know but we are told by owners that the incentive to stay is the strongest ever presented Vigorous competition between tracks for better horses competition usually based on purses is one of the great spurs to prog ¬ ress in racing and is to be desired Any time a track enters into this competition it is all to the benefit of national racing That Churchill may now be rated competi ¬ tive is proof that the intensive efforts of Hugenberg and his associates to strengthen the sport on other than Derby days while by no means neglecting the Derby itself is not only sound business but also the moti ¬ vation itself was based on a firm founda ¬ tion Of course Colonel Winns preoccupa ¬ tion with the Derby was right for the times but times are changing the Derby is still kept preeminent in the nation and the time is ripe for a development of the whole overnight and supporting stakes pro ¬ gram at the Downs Hugenberg was ahead of his time and saw this clearly back in 1950 when he quietly and without fanfare began his modernization program for the racing as well as for the physical property of Churchill
