The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-01-02
ALL AMERICAN TRACKS MUST
 CLOSE TODAY
BY LEO IT. PETERSEN United Press Sports EdltOr)

New York, January 2. - CUP) - Horse racing, sports biggest indus try, becomes a wartime casualty toe day.
 Race tracks at fair grounds, New Orleans, and Tropical Park, Miami, as well as a number of dog tracks in Florida, scheduled their final pro- grams for this afternoon and to- night in compliance with request from War Mobilization Director James F. Byrnes that all animal tracks be closed by January 3.
 The ban will continue until such time that conditions permit rcsump- ton. Track operators were hope ful that the war situation would De bright enough to permit operations by spring, but they were prepared to stay closed as long as necessary as a measure to aid the war effort.
 Hope that racing would be permit ted Co continue on a limited basis or that the deadline would be extended were blasted Saturday when Byrnes refused to modify his request The Office of Defense Transportation also prohibited the shipment Of horses without a government per- init after D. m, EWT, last Satur- day and the War Manpower Com mission withdrew the wage ceilings under which the tracks hired their employees.
 Over the Border
 The ODT explained its action was necessary because a small number of horSemen were at tempting to circumvcnt Byrnes' re- quest. Reports from Agua Caliente. Mexico, said about 300 American horses arrived at the race track there before the OD'T ban went into effect.
 The Agua Caliente Track, which had been closed since December l3, opened Sunday for a two-day pro- gram over the New Year holiday. It is just across the border from San Diego, Cal, and is one of three tracks which are expected to attract the attention of United States Bet- tors while tracks in this country are idle
 The ether two are Oriental Park at Havana. Cuba. and Hipodromo De Las Americas, at Mexico City. The Cuban track operates on Thurs days Saturdays and Sundays and holidays The Mexico City track was operating on the same schedule but after the ban on U. s. racing was announced arranged to add a day to its schedule, operating on Fridays, in addition to the other days. There 'has been some talk that both tracks may hold daily racing.
 On their next to last day of rac- ing Fair Grounds drew l0,497 per- sons, who bet $382,327, yesterday while Tropical's attendance was 1A,749 with an estimated mutuel play of $777 900.
 Bookmakers expected big slump in their business but most of them figured they would get enough play on the three tracks to stay in business.
 Most owners expected to receive travel permits from the ODT to re- turn their horses to their home stables. It was too early to tell how many of the 40, ,000 track and breed- ing farm employees will go into war work.
 War Comes First
 Racing enjoyed its best season in 1914. setting new betting and at tendance records. Byrnes asked that the sport be stopped because 1t was using manpower and materials needed for the war effort.
 Some 30 tracks in New York, Flor ida, Illinois. Rhode Island, New Jersey. Maryland. California, Michi- gan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire. Delaware. Arkansas, Washington, Ohio. Louisiana. Kentucky and Wes4 Virginia operated last year.
 They drew 18,000. 900 persons M1io bet more than billion and quar- ter dollars. Of that amount nearly $60,000,000 went to the states in revenue. The sport had raised $l6,-. 100000 in war charity funds since Pearl Harbor.
 Investments in horse race tracks, stables, breeding farms and the other things which make up the industry were estimated at about $l75 GOO. .000 with the value Of thor oughbreds approximately $55, ,000 GOO. The l944 payroll for track and breeding farms employees aggre- gated more than $50,000000.