The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-18
This Sporting World
Roeins Lobby Finds Trumon Tough
By JOHN A. CLUNEY

From all appearances, as of yes- terday, the Washington racing lobby. maintained by the T. R. A. (Thor- oughbred Racing Association; Henry Parr, III of Pimlico, preSident) pull ed the biggest BONER since Fred Merkle of the Giants ran to the clubhouse without touching second base. Most of the local :oE4ARP1ES were willing to wager Cat 6 to 5, al- ready yeti that the nags would be off and running aC 0elmont, no later than May Is. Some of them insisted 14CAEr0 HAD ALdEAD / BEEN PRINTED for the Belmont Spring meet, all of that information originating from the moment form CT VIVID director Jimmy ByrneS said horse-racing would PROBABLY be recumed on V-E day (officiai end of the German war). Of course. since then, Byrnes has been suc- ceeded by Fred VinSon, but the rac- ing interests went right ahead with their plans for the nors.s at New YorK and Narragansett in particu- lar.
 The thought that MT. Vinson might have little different idea about the resumption of racing never seemed to occur to them, or, they thought they had the cor rect dope right from the feed box. To bolster their plans and preparations, out comes MT. J. Monroe Johnson, director of the Office of Defense Transportation, indicating y public statement that no one could mistake, racing would be okayed again May 10; BIT, Col. Johnson was careful to point ouut, the OFFICIAL an- nouncemenJ would have to come from MT. Vinson, successor to MT. Justice Byrnes; but that would probably be forthcoming LATER IN THE WEEK, said MT. Johnson.
 In the meantime, no less a per- sonage that General like" Eisen- hover was quoted all over the world as saying that he, as su- preme commanoer of the Allied Armi:s in Europe would not pro- claim VIE Day until every last vestige of German resistance had been broken; including t.. usual ''mopping up" W hen general or ganlzed resistance is conquered or eliminated.
 But, the stupid, over-confidcnt, rich, powerful and optimistic rac- ing interests had tnc word from Washington, 50 they went right ahead with their plans for opening the tracks on MAY 10; talking too much, getting tickets printed bragging to each other in a de- lerium of delight as they saw millions of $$$$$$ within easy reach once again.
 While all this talk, speculation and preparations for HORSE RAGING was going on, our late president of the United States, rranklin ID. Roosevelt had not been dead one week.
 So, President Harry Truman, al his first press conference yesterday whsn asked about the resumption o1 horse-racing, said HE intended tt keep the clamp on racing at least until VIE Day, and General Eisen- hover intimateS that might be some little time yet, depending upon de- velopments in the Ruhr Valley and near Berlin.
 Today, an official of a Horsemens Benevolent and Protective Associa- ton was silly enough to be quoted tc the effect that If the tracks are not opened soon, many of 3,00( horsemen of his group will have dil appatad their INVESTMENT and might have to ASK THE GOVERN MENr FOR AID.' It's a solid prob- ability that at least 50 per cent o1 those 5000 "horsemen" have hardly enough money to feed THEM SELVES, let alone broken-dowr candidate for a GLUE FACTORY but they insist upon living in tht style to which they have become accustomed, while the rich owner. of the tracks and big stables gel richer, and live on the fiat of the land", born of SUCKER MONEY thrown away by ordinary guys who like to see the horses run, but have to earn their bread by the sweat oi their brow.