Evening star., 1945-04-01
Cites Financial
Beating in Aid
To War Effort
McLennun Sees Little
Chance for Maryland
Tracks This Summer
By BUS HAM,
Associated Press Sports Writer.


Associated Press Sports Writer.
Racing people last night formally
received from Jimmy Byrnes the
word they have been awaiting for
weeks-that the ban on their sport
will be lifted We Day.
While this announcement lacked
an exact date, it nevertheless was
accepted as being specific enough
for racing to get set" for the 1945
season.
In report on war progress to the
President and Congress, War Mob
ilizer Byrnes said, in part:
"Lagging production has made 1t
necessary for various conservation
measures to be placed into effect to
include a reduction in travel, the
suspension of racing, reduction in
the use of electricity in night light
ing and the closing of places of en-
tertainment at midnight.
These measures are of an emer-
gency nature and, with the excep-
ton Of the travel measure, should
be withdrawn on We Day"
In making this announcement,
Byrnes praised racing people for
their cooperation during the shut
down since January 8, 1945, and told
reporters, They were just what
you'd expect them to be, good
sports"
Turfmen Support Byrnes.
In recent weeks many a letter
writer and many caller at
Byrnes' door or on his telephone
has urged modification of the ban,
but owners of tracks and horsemen
were with him." despite financial
losses, and felt his decision was
right. Byrnes said at a news con-
ference.
Byrnes mentioned that thousands
of miles Q9,000) of telegraph wire,
telephone facilities and manpower
have been made available to the
general public and war effort during
the racing ban.
Harry Parr, Sd, of Baltimore, pres
ident Of the Thoroughbred Racing
Association, and spokesman for most
of the major tracks, said of Byrnes'
announcement:
That's swell Now we can begin
preparations. Well still have a few
problems, including transportation,
but we can straighten out most of
those and be ready to operate on
about a 80 per cent basis 30 days
after Germany falls"
Classics almost on Schedule"
Parr added that chances are
bright" with war progress so rapid,
for running the Kentucky Derby,
first Saturday in May, and the
Preakness. following week, almost
on schedule"
While racing may have to resume
without being "tip-top." the sport
will mot be seriously affected" by
the shutdown since January, Parr
said.
Lifting of the ban apparently will
come a little too late to accom-
modate some of the early Eastern
meets, such as Bowie, Md, which
traditionally opens early in April.
Parr indicated that it will be up
to racing officials to determine
whether the season-long program
can be so rearranged as to make
room for such meets.
Winn Sees Fast Action.
In Chicago, Col. Matt Winn, pres
ident of the Churchill Downs, KY,
race track, said:
II know racing enthusiasts will
be happy and grateful for the good
news. We at Churchill Downs be-
lieve that our track can be put
in operation within six weeks after
Mr.. Byrnes gives the go sign. Let's
work together for speedy victory in
Europe"
Benjamin F. Lindheimer, exc
cutive director of Washington Park
and Arlington Park race tracks near
Chicago, said his racing organiza-
tions will be ready to go ahead
with our plans to give the public
the high class of racing which has
become traditional at both tracks" "
Tracks Face Many Barriers.
In New York, where the racing
season normally opened early in
April, a spokesman for the State
Racing Commission said they had
heard nothing about the re-opening
of the tracks on We day. He said
the New York racing associations
such as Belmont, Jamaica, Aque-
duct, would meet sometime next
week to discuss the problem OF
opening. 1t would take two or three
weeks to get ready.
Some 75O horses already are quar-
tered at Belmont, Jamaica and
Aqueduct.
Charlie McClennan, general man
ager of Havre de Grace and rae
ing secretary for Pimlico, Suffolk
Downs, Garden State Park and
Hialeah, said:
II don't believe Havre de Grace
will open until after the Pacific war
is won. Transportation to tracks
virtually will be impossible until
there's plenty of gasoline, and the
railroads are less flooded with wal
traffic. In fact, it is my opinion
no track in Maryland will be able
to go this summer.
Suffolk Downs opens its stables
Monday, and the meet was sched-
uled to start May 49,"
]Griffs Amon0 |