view raw text
► """"" :V ** :||§|. # " "". HAVE ONLY ENTRY IN DERBY— TheThre* Mackle Brothers owners of Elkcam Stable, Frank left, Elliott right and Robert second from right, and their trainer, Ray Metcalf, who will be represented by Atoll and Open View today. Mackle Brothers First Try in Derby Atoll, Open View Standardbearers Paid 00,000 for Former With Chesler as Partner; Leading U. S. Home-Builders By Staff Correspondent CHURCHILL DOWNS, Louisville, Ky., May 1. — Though theyve been racing horses for almost 20 years, the three Mackle Brothers — Elliot, Bob and Frank Jr. — whose General Development Corporation is one of Americas leading home-builders, will have their red and green silks carried in the Kentucky Derby for the first time Saturday by their Open View, and Atoll, whom they purchased for 00,000 last winter together with a business associate, Lou Chesler. Beach Boy First Horse Youve never met three brothers any closer to one another than the Mackles, pleasant, energetic and astute businessmen who share a deep interest and devotion to racing as a buffer against the pressures and irritations of commercial life. One secretary serves the three at their single, large office in the handsome General Development Building on Miamis Coral Way. A room adjoining their office is filled with photos and trophies denoting the success they have enjoyed in racing since they hired Ray Metcalf as their trainer some six years ago. American Racing Manuals, turf magazines and newspapers are all within easy reach of the Mackles desks, and the brothers are knowledgable devotees who can discuss breeding and other facets of the sport with an easy familiarity. The Mackles selected their red and green colors when they bought their first horse — Beach Boy — as a Christmas gift to themselves almost two decades ago. Since then, theyve built their stable up steadily, usually have some 15 to 20 horses in training with the able Metcalf along the New Jersey and Florida circuits, and also own a 130-acre bloodstock farm at Lake Placid, Fla., where they breed many of their own runners. In addition, they own a share in Mike Phipps magnificent training center at St. Lucie, Fla. Metcalf claimed Open View for the ! Mackles last summer in New Jersey for ,500 and to date hes earned over 0,000 in their colors. Atoll accounted for the Swift and Gotham Stakes in his first two starts this spring, and will serve at stud for the brothers in Lake Placid when his I racing career is ended. But the Mackles pride and joy is probably Hubcap, a hard- I hitting sprinter they bred themselves, who I has earned over 5,000 and is still going strong. Another good claim Metcalf made for I the brothers several years ago was Ifabody. j Haltered for ,000 from Harry Isaacs, If-I abody went on to earn over 5,000 and is now at stud at the farm. The brothers realize the importance of good mares in a 1 successful breeding program and are con- stantly in search of top matrons to augment the band theyve built up in recent years. The Mackles have been building homes in Florida for over half a century. Frank Mackle Sr. founded the firm in Jackson- j ville in 1908, and his sons have carried on ID a manner that would have pleased their father. Elliot Mackle, 50, is president of the corporation; Bob, 46, is secretary- j treasurer; and Frank Jr., 42, is vice-president. To date they have put up more than 30,000 homes, and their 80,000-acre de- ! velopment at Port Charlotte, on Floridas west coast, is probably the largest such j planned city in the country. All three brothers studied engineering and architecture, Elliot and Bob at Wash- j ington and Lee University, Frank at Vanderbilt. During World War II. Elliot ran the business while Bob and Frank j served with the Navy engineers. Their sons indicate an enthusiasm for carrying on in their footsteps. Elliot Jr., 16, is already a company employe during summer vacations from .school, while Bob Jr. and Frank III. are also expected to participate in the companys progress in due time. Bob also has a daughter, Barbara; Franks daughter is named Nancy, while Elliot has another son, Douglas. Interestingly enough, the Mackles are associated with several other prominent racing figures in their business. Fred W. Hooper, president of the American Thoroughbred Owners Association does their heavy construction work. Lou Chesler, head of Universal Controls — parent organization of the American Totalisator Company — is Continued on Page 51 D Mackle Brothers Making First Try for Derby Atoil, 00,000 Purchase, and Open View to Carry Their Silks Continued from Page 18 D also heavily invested in General Development, and is their partner in Atoll. Chesler, a fabulous figure in the world of finance, made many millions on the Canadian stock exchange. Now a U. S. citizen, he is quite active in American securities. Several years ago he purchased controlling interest in Universal Products, as it was then known, a holding company which includes the tote company and E. P. Clair, a manufacturer of electronic equipment which has extensive contracts from the government for guided missile parts. Both the Mackles General Development Corporation and Cheslers Universal Controls boomed on the American Stock Exchange this spring, rising over 30 points each before they leveled off. Their racing stock is booming, too, and the Mackles and Chesler will be on hand tomorrow to see if Open View and Atoll will declare a dividend.
