Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-05-09
BY LEWIS F. ATCHISON.

announced and will be withheld
until the Derby date is set.
BY LEWIS F. ATCHISON.
Racing. halted last January 3 by
War Mobilization Director James
Byrnes to speed the war effort, was
restored to the sports calendar today
by his successor. Fred M. Vinson.
At the same time j. Monroe John
son, director of the ONCE of Defense
Transportation, announced the ban
on shipping horses from one track
to another had been lifted. Special
trains or private cars still are not
allowed.
Pointing out that questions OF
fuel, manpower, absenteeism and OF
reduced effort from labor because OF
"extracurricular" activity caused Mr.
Byrnes to issue the racing and cur
few ban, Mr. Vinson said Mr.. Byrnes
had his "eyes turned as always on
the winning of the war" He re-
called that Mr.. Byrnes, in his last
report to Congress on April l, rec
commended that these orders should
be rescinded after We day.
Those measures have been re-
scinded as of today" he said. Cur
few shall not ring tonight"
Vinson, warning that the trans
portation problem in the months
ahead would be the most critical
of the war period, unwittingly
squelched the Redskins last slim
hope of returning to San Diego,
Calf. He said he saw no hope for
increase in transportation facilities
for some time to come.
johnson said the shipment of
horses was mot serious transpor-
tation burden" but that no special
trains would be permitted to be
operated to tracks. All the reStric-
tons on racing and sports imposed
before Byrnes' edict of last jan
uary remain in effect, he said. Only
the racing ban and curfew are
lifted.
Wilson'S announcement not only
found horsemen ready, but hard at
work on plans for quick resump-
ton of the sport, confident of the
bans removal.
Pimlico Opens Next Wednesday.
Harry A. Parr, president of the
Maryland Jockey Club, announced
Pimlico was ready to reopen next
Wednesday for To-day meeting
and would hold the traditional
Preakness the Saturday after the
Kentucky Derby. Delaware Park,
which plans to begin 30-day meet
ing May 20, has agreed to close down
Preakness day to avoid conflict with
the historic Hilltop course.
Some 900 horses are stabbed at
Pimlico, with an additional 300 at
Laurel, which would be sufficient to
fill daily cards Racing Secretary
Charles j. McLennan already has
begun to prepare the condition book
and expects to have it in horsemen's
hands soon.
Parr pointed out that the track
would have numerous minor
obstacles to hurdle before 1t could
reopen. These included printing of
tickets and condition books as we'll
as hiring employees. He said no one
would be hired whose work at the
course would violate any War Man.
power Commission ruling.
Maryland tracks will concentrate
on autumn racing. Laurel has ap-
piled to the State commission for
September l to October Is, and
Pimlico will ask for October Is to
November 20. Plans of the Bowie
and Havre de Grace courses, still
badgered by transportation prob
lens, are indefinite, but some of the
half-mile ovals, Cumberland, MARI
boro, Bel Air and Hagerstown, are
expected to apply for dates. They
usually are allotted 10 days EACH
Racing Officials were optimistic
about the immediate future, al
though the lifting of the ban at this
time meant curtailed seasons fol
m ost tracks.
Will Run Major Stakes.
New York ofhcials indicated al
major stakes would be run, includ.
ing the Belmont Stakes. final test
of the triple crown" The decision
whether Empire City and Saratoga
will conduct meetings at their owr
tracks Is UP to Gov. Dewey, the AS.
sociated Press reported, but al
tracks will share the remaining
dates.
In Kentucky, Keeneland was re.
ported ready to open its meeting al
Churchill Downs May 10, but II
New England, Narragansett spokes'
men said the course would open {
25-day meeting Saturday and re-
open Labor Day for an additions
80 days. Suffolk Downs has planned
a 54-day meeting ending the weel
of August l, and Rockingham has II
days scheduled in August and 49,
day meeting later in the year.
Beulah Park, Ohio, would be read,
to resume within two weeks, whil'
California may have summer meet
ings at Santa Anita and Bay Mea
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