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■. "■- New Jersey By William C. Phillips Garden State Rival in True Sense of Word At Least 35,000 Expected for Valley Forge Superlatives in Order as Track Opens Meet GARDEN STATE PARK, Camden, N. J., May 2. — All hail to Churchill Downs, mint juleps and the Kentucky Derby! At the same time let it be noticed that ■. Garden Garden State State Park, Park, the the suave suave pi- Garden Garden State State Park, Park, the the suave suave pi- pioneer of New Jersey thoroughbred racing on this same Saturday, May 3, enters into its 17th year with the beginning of a 25-day meeting that for the essence of sport, excitement and profitable business operations for all concerned is a rival to any other racing scene in the world. While millions wait with baited breath for the result of the Kentucky Derby, Derby, there there will will be be at at least least 35,000 35,000 "■- Derby, Derby, there there will will be be at at least least 35,000 35,000 thoroughbred patriots who will be watching and wait-with equal fervor for the 17th running of the Valley Forge Handicap that will highlight the opening ceremonies of the Garden State meeting. Garden State Park need not fear the rivalry of the Kentucky Derby or anything, short of the unimaginable. Besides, it can graciously accede to the national interest created by the famed "Run for the Roses" with the complacent knowledge that next autumn the fabulously rich Garden State will create a" similar commotion throughout the nation as the two-year-old "Derby" . and the richest race in the entire world. The generosity of the official Garden State attitude is reflected in the fact that Gene Mori, the president and founding genius of this track, himself boarded »a plane on Thursday morning for "Derby town, where he will make his amenities to Col. Bill Coram and remain until the horseshoe of American Beauty Roses are freshened by the froth of the winner and new champion. Jersey Stakes Top Sophomore Event Superlatives are in order for the track where "racing is planned for pleasure" and the two-dollar bettor receives the same special attention as the millionaire.-The Valley Forge is only the first of seven stakes to be renewed for -the public pleasure here this-spring, including the 0,000-added Jersey Stakes that is a lure to the same Tim Tam, Jewels Reward and other Derby candidates and the Belmont Stakes. Iron Liege came on from a victory in the Derby and a second in the Preakness last year to add the Jersey Stakes to his standard; Fabius came from a second in the Derby and a victory in the Preakness to capture the Jersey Stakes in 1956, and the mighty Citation added the Jersey as a fourth gem to his Triple Crown of 1948. All of these were Calumet heroes and, by past, performances, it would appear likely that Mrs. Markey and the Joneses will plan for a Jersey stakes invasion with Tim Tam this year. Jimmy Jones already has initiated his invasion into Garden State Park wi£h the division of Calumet Farm, horses who were campaigned through the completion of the Florida season. In. addition, he has sent in Iron Liege to be the starting highweight ari3 probable favorite in the mile and 70-yard Valley Forge on Saturday, and has promised to bring along a number of other outstanding runners from Kentucky when he changes his headquarters to here immediately following the running of the Derby. Among those already bedded down here, under the eyes of foreman Al Filo-como, are Fabius, Pintor.Lea and Keeneland Lad jv three comparative veterans who last year aided in making the Calumet devils red and blue the top money-winning colors of the local meeting. - Hope to Equal 57 Meeting Garden State always is beautiful, even with the unbelievably swift encroachment of suburban homes and businesses to this once pastoral scene, and Messrs. Mori and Donovan outdo themselves in attempting to present the public with the utmost in modern conveniences. Flattery, perhaps, but these are the sound reasons that have made Garden State Park the success that it is, where the average daily handle exceeds ,000,000 and over 1,000,000 fans attend the races each year. Donovan "hopefully expects" the pending meeting to approximate last year which, in Donovans words, "will be quite a feat." He explains that last year was the most successful season in the tracks history and that "even if the recession causes a slight drop in business, we will be satisfied, but the most important factor always is the weather." One of the innovations here this spring will be the Daily Double wheel windows in the clubhouse and grandstand where an ambitious bettor can save time and effort for himself and those who would otherwise be impatiently waiting in line behind him while the machines whirr. Should be a great success here, where the per capita betting is one of the highest in the nation. The aforementioned generous attitude of Mori and his track towards the rivaling interest of the Kentucky Derby was to have passed on to the Garden State patrons, through the medium of TV sets that had been placed at strategic points throughout the plant. Technical difficulties, in the nature of union restrictions, thwarted the managements plans, however, and the local throng will have to be content to crowding about the few pocket radios that are certain to be among the public or wait until track announcer Morris Tobe gives the result. The union technicalities in no manner affect the workings of the stationary closed-circuit TV screens which flash the local races daily to the recessed portions of the track. r i f A ..Is. .L v Li v «* f s. . a 9 .. t v .-i v y
