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HBPA Showing Interest In Harness Purse Issue Judge to Give Decision Tuesday On Dispute Between Yonkers-SOA ftEW YORK, June 20.— Representatives of the -"Horsemens Benevolent and Protective Association are currently engaged in informal talks with the Standardbred Owners Association, the HBPAS harness pacing counterpart, as an outgrowth of the purse dispute at Yonkers Raceway. Francis "Pete" Smith, president of the SOA, revealed here today that the HBPA has been keeping in touch with his group, especially since Yonkers Raceway management raised the issue of "price-fixing" and violations of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act on the part of the harness horsemen. - "They the HBPA are very interested in this problem as you can imagine," Smith said. Yonkers Raceway last week secured a temporary injunction against the SOA, restraining the horsemen from striking in support of their demands for an increase in purse distribution from 35 to 45 per cent of the tracks share of the pari-mutuel handle. TJ. S. District Court Judge Archie O. Dawson- has reserved decision on an application by Yonkers to make the tern- porary injunction a permanent order. He said he will give his decision by next Tuesday. Judge Dawson declared that the main point at issue is whether the SOA is acting in violation of anti-trust laws in seeking to strike if a purse agreement with Yonkers cannot be reached. "This is the major issue," the judge told a member of the state tax commission, "not whether the state will lose revenue in the event of a strike." Next Tuesdays decision by Judge Dawson is anxiously awaited by the HBPA as well as the SOA. A ruling that the harness horsemen are in violation of the Sherman _ — . Act would have an affect on the thoroughbred picture in future discussions between the HBPA and track managements. In the meantime, Judge Dawson said he would sit in with representatives of the SOA and Yonkers Raceway in an effort to settle the purse issue amicably.
