The sun., 1919-10-30
BELMONT PARK NOT
TO CHANGE OWNERS
Joseph E. Widener Denies He
Is Trying to Buy Control
of Plant.
BELMONT WILL NOT SELL
Reports Branded as Propa-
ganda of Horsemen Who
Want Track Changed.
BY HENRY ". KING.

Reports that the control of the West
chester Racing Association and its plant
at Belmont Park was to pass out OF
the hands OF August Belmont and his as
sociates reached that stage yesterday at
which II became necessary to run them
to ground. Stories came simultaneous
ly from New York. Baltimore and Louis
willie sources that Joseph E. Widener
of Philadelphia had obtained an option
or the track and was ready to close the
deal Investigation in this city and In
Philadelphia developed the fact that
there was absolutely nothing in the re-
port.
Mr.. Belmont, when questioned yester-
day regarding the possibility of his SELL
ing his interest in the track, said that at
first he had taken the story as joke,
but that It had developed 50 fast that
Il now riled him considerably.
There "a no chance whatsoever that i
will sell my stock" he said. MY In
terest In Belmont Park is not for sale
and l do not believe the other stock
holders will sell their interest In the
plant"
Mr.. Belmont attributed the reports to
propaganda Of a set OF horsemen who
are DESTROYS of changing the track 30
that horses will run to the right In
stead of the left as they do now.
On top of Mr.. Be!mont's denial word
came from Philadelphia that Mr.. Wild
ener has no intention OF buying any
interest in the plant. The Philadelphia
sportsman said that he Is not seeking
any interest in the track and is not try
ing to induce any one else to purchase
stock in 1t. He said that he had care
fully inspected the plant with view OF
making suggestions to the directors Tor
Its Improvement.
II was also learned that Mr.. WideneI
had never made an offer for the Queens
County Jockey Club, which owns the
Aqueduct course. Several months ago
an offer was made for this plant, but 1t
was made by A K. Macomber and not
Mr.. Widener. James Shevlin. the presi-
dent, and the other stockholders re-
FUSED to entertain the proposition at the
time and Mr.. Shevlin said yesterday
that they had no intention of selling 1t
now.
After denying that he was contem-
plating selling his interest in the course
Mr.. Be mont discussed the track. He
etil believes that running to the left Is
the better way. but he is willing to give
way to popular demand for a change II
he dnds that this demand is really pop
ular and not the product OF a certain
professional element. Once convinced
that a change is advisable. Mr.. Belmont
said that 1t would be necessary to tackle
q tremendous problem.
To make the change It would be nee
essary to devise some engineering feat
to move the steel grand stand, the club
house and the field stand to the other
side OF the course, and even II this were
possible the railroad would furnish a
problem which would prove herculean.
1t would incur a tremendous expense
to the railroad company and the West
chester Association. mar the beauty oil
the course and cause patrons the iIcon-
'venience Of walking a long distance, to
the stands ..f.
Mr.. Belmont contends. as he always
has. that a great thoroughbred should
run on any kind OF a course and In any
direction up hill and down hill. around
turns and straightaway. and 1t is his
sincere belief that running the wrong
way, as 1t is called, at Belmont Park
tends to produce better thoroughbreds
than II they ran the right way at all
tracks
He said that a thoroughbred is easily
echooled and II the trainers would de-
vote a little more time to schooling
them at Belmont Park fewer horses
would run out"