The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-28
Today's Sport Parade
By HENRY McLEMORE United Press Stan Correspondent)

six days 6 week and the meetings have run well over 50 days. The profits accordingly have been tre- mendous-around Q million dollars 6 year.
 Brand New
 But the melancholy days are here This season things are vastly dif. ferent. There is c new governor and a newer race commission in Califor- nia. And there is bitter competition for winter dates from Hollywood Park, the second Los Angeles track For several months during the fall the various racing officials traveled to Sacramento and the legislature so often they beat Q new trail to rival El Cainino Real.
 The outcome of the pickering - and pickering is a mild word If ever I used one-is that nobody is happy Hollywood park failed to get winter dates and must operate again in the summer. And with 6 fine show Of fairness, the white haired fathers decided that there would be no dis- elimination. They cut the santa Anita meeting to 4i days and de- cided the Arcadia plant could run only on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Erie days and Saturdays. This action ap- parentiy was taken just to even ffiat- ters Up.
 Hollywood didn't like it's dates; Santa Anita didn't like the butch- cred schedule; the horseman and owners apparently didn't like any. thing. The parties Of the first and second parts, being well versed 'n public relations. took their medicine without showing open hostility. But the horscmen were not diplomatic
 Many of them announced they would campaign in Florida. Alfred Vanderbilt said he would keep his stable in Maryland. The rest baked at the ruling and baked loudly, be- cause their chances Of meeting the hay bills decrease with each day that is cut of the season.
 But Santa Anita won't suffer from lack Of horses. There are more than ever before, in fact, but that is because the sport has been growing with record speed and breeding is finally beginning to keep pace with racing. The discouraging note is that this year Santa Anita's either can't ---or won't-match the growth.
 Last season the profits ieveled of Instead of staggering increases, the handle showed only q fractional gain. So this season the track cut down it's purses. The biggest chunk, from S2S,00o to Si0,000, was topped of the San Juna Capistrano Handi- cap. Several other stakes were les- sened, and, most important, value Of the ordinary, weekday races was cult.
 Race Track Business
 Blame, if there is blame, has not been determined. The track, like any business, must retrefich when stormy days are in sight. And even if its sucker list is larger than those of other corporations, 6 race track is 6 business. First, last and always it must make money.
 So far as I know Santa Anita never has been greedy. It hasn't even tak- en the share of the inutuels to which 1t is entitled under state law. Now, because 1t has been siccess- fii, 1t Is being punished. Why, l frankly don't know. The citizens voted in favor of racing and Santa Anita has given 1t as clean and hon. est racing as can Dc found any where.
 The only fault that can Dc found with the track is that it is high- powered. It does things in the de luxe fashion and the grand manner. Yet, iii the vicinity, that sort of pro- cedure is afi absolute must. The studios in nearby Hollywood have used it for years and I've never heard of picture houses being cut down Co Q four-day week simply because they were drawing full houses.
 Maybe you had better toll mo.