view raw text
— — — r , 1 — At the Post I ~ By Joe Hirsch —J Laud Goy. Williams Veto of Tax Increase Michigans Executive Gives Public Break Greek Game Returns in Superb Condition ARLINGTON PARK, Arlington Heights, 111., June 21. — A Fresh Approach: You may have missed a recent item from the capital in Lansing, Mich., to the effect r — — — , that that Gov. Gov. G. G. Mennen Mennen Williams Williams 1 , that that Gov. Gov. G. G. Mennen Mennen Williams Williams 1 vetoed a bill which would have increased the tax on parf-mutuel wagering in that state from 12 to 12Y2 per cent. To the best of •our knowledge, this is the first time that any governor has vetoed a bill that would increase the states revenue from racing, and as such, the action is to be heartily applauded. At a time when many states appear to be trying to kill kill the the goose goose that that laid laid a a golden golden 1 — kill kill the the goose goose that that laid laid a a golden golden egg of revenue with oppressive burdens on pari-mutuel wagering, Governor Williams decision stands out as a beacon of good judgment. It is also a matter of giving the public a break. Racing in Michigan, as well as many other states throuhgout the country, is becoming in-. creasing popular. More and more fans from evex-y walk of life are learning to enjoy a sport that was once reserved for kings and noblemen. Increased taxation only serves to stunt racings growth and also places an unfair burden of revenue-raising on persons who go to the track for an afternoon of relaxation and escape from the cares of everyday business. Spoke at Annual TRA Dinner in 1955 Those who were present at the annual dinner of the Thoroughbred Racing Associations in Miami in December of, 1955, should not be too surprised at Williams action. A regional conference of Governors was taking place in Miami at the time, and a number of the state executives were invited to attend the TRA function. Although, it had not been planned to have them address the dinner, Governor Williams » voluntarily agreed to represent his colleagues and delivered a succinct and meaningful speech to the effect that racing had done a great deal for Michigan, was well conducted in his state, and that he was proud to have the sport operate in that area. Needless to say, his brief remarks were the high point of the evening. Racing has done a lot for many states and for institutions and chaiities and programs of public benefit as well. Many tracks, among themArlington and .Washington Parks, Santa Anita and Hollywood have foundations set up to assist the needy and the deserving "in regional areas. Racing can continue to make significant contributions to the public weal if it is treated and taxed like other industries and not regarded solely as a bottomless treasure chest at the disposal of state legislatures. Immense capital investments in racing make it one of the biggest businesses in America, one deserving of some encouragement occasionally from our / state and federal,, governments. Governor Williams veto is an impoi-tant step in the right direction, and he is to be warmly congratulated for his courage and his perception. First Start Since 1956 Futurity Fred Hoopers Greek Game made a sensational return to the races yesterday in a six-f urlong overnighter. The huge son of Olympia carried 126 pounds in his first start since the Futurity at Belmont Park last October 13 and beat the likes of Jet Colonel and Barbi-zon by a length and a quarter in 1:09%, leading every step of the way. He is due to run back next Saturday in the seven-furlong Laurance Armour and then will take • a crack at the 00,000 Arlington Classic on July 13. Even if Bold Ruler does come West, Greek Games performance yesterday was so good that he would have to be given serious consideration. "He trained up to the race splendidly," Chuck Parke observed this morrnng- at the barn. "Julius Tinsley and I gave him long, slow gallops on the farm and in a recent work here he put in a first quarter in better than :22, and over a muddy track, too. We thought theyd run in about 1:10 yesterday, but he had so much speed in him that he just took off. The boy, never hit him, either." Parke, who was the leading rider at Arlington Park in 1936, noted that if Greek Game continued to show well, he might have a crack at the American Derby on the grass in August at a mile and three-sixteenths. "Its my belief that a fast horse can be trained to carry his speed over a distance of ground. Lex Wilson proved that with Swoons Son last year-, and back in 36 I rode a quick Bull Dog colt — I forget his name — for Emil Denemark and we won grass stakes up to a mile and an eighth." Around the Track: Bud Carter is hoping to run John Applebaums Mister Jive in the seven-furlong Laurance Armour Memorial here on June 29. The 26-year-old Canadian is going to Cleveland this week end with Appelbaums Tender Morsel to run in the Ohio Derby. . . . Dave Sazer, the old horseman, is at Fox River Sanitarium in Batavia, 111., and would like to hear from some of his friends. . . . Harry Trotsek was well pleased with King Bruce n.s race here the other day, a hard-fought affair in which he measured Tren-tonian and Royal Sting. The English-bred son of Fail-Trial may give Allie Reuben a particularly strong hand in turf course events along this circuit this summer. ... Mr. Fitz will be 83 next month. All of racing wishes him another happy and healthy 83 years to Continued on Page Fifty-Twa AT THE POST By JOE HIRSCH Continued from Page FiVe come. . . . Strother Griffin reveals that; Bwamazons Etonian, who won here the other day, broke two bones in his right knee last summer, prepping for the Prairie State Stakes. The three-year-old Owen Tudor colt, imported in utero from England, was third in last years Arlington Futurity . . . The 48-hour entry system has been working well herethe short time its been in use . . . Mesh Tenneys and Rex Ellsworths daughters are to give the jocks their dancing instructions for their annual show on July 18. If the girls can do as well with the riders as their fathers •did with Swaps, it may open up a new career for several of the boys . . . Dun-raven, Calumets Citation colt, looked sharp in winning a mile race in l:36land on Wednesday . . . Mrs. Markey heads for California shortly to recuperate from a recent operation.
