The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-05-29
This Sporting World
Greek Met Greek;
 So Business BO0u1s
By JOHN A. CLUNEY

HilI Hslis, the Golden Greek With ali that money made in black gold Coil to youse, ChomondDley) got together with the Pappas bro aheEs up In Boston, and before you could say Dsmosthones Kiuakides (Winner of the Boston manthon) they bought the sunolk Downes e0rss race track for ts,O00,0OO. Mr. Mslis, from New Orleans, by the way, spends dollars like car Wal hcrf spends time-in short, if he wants something he will bid high e than anyone else to get it. For Instance. he paid oo6,OO0 for one aacrse, which he named Pericles hkat did not go to the Sost for an entire year after the sale, but won his first race when he finally did break from the gate.
 Now, don't get the idea that Helis THROWS his money away, distain- ang any financial return for his in- Nestment, just because he is a multi millionaire. And remember, too, that the Pappas brothers can tell the difference between . "Mck" and a ssawbuck" with the greatest of ease. Let me elucidatet
 They paid &3,6OO,OOO for Suf-
 folk Downs, which opened a split
 60 day meet yesterday, when 26,-
 900 fans defied steady rain, cold
 wind and a muddy track to bet
 91 ,i606o2 on 6 races. Of course
 1t was opening day, but when 25,-
 900 fans will come to Suffolk ing how many will show up to- Downs on a terrible day for rac-
 morrow, Memorial Day, If the weather is fine? In other words,
 what will daily average atten-
 dance be for the 60 days of rac-
 ing ct the East Boston track? It
 should be 26,0O0 per day.
 The admission price to the track was increased 10O% from 50 cents 10 4l for grandstsnd patrons and from 4l to g for clubhouse cus- toners. They are using SILVER DOLLARS to get in because the money goes into a slot in the turn gtiIe, and dollar or two dollar bills cannot be used tn that fashion; 90 HeNs, Pappas and Pappas got A5O.OOO worth of silver dollars for use of their patrons, who were formerly using 50 cent pieces at MaE%RNIIk TA0uvnR
 Just think of the thrill you get by slipping two big silver cart wheels" in the slot, rather than an "unlucky" Q bill? Or sliding In a nice-big silver dollar into machine, which caught only ordin- axy 50 cent pieces up to noon yes- tardAy.
 Now. here's where we get out the lightning calculatorl Let's say tho average daily crowd at Suf- fox Downs for the 6O-day meet N 26,OOO which IS a fair figure on yesterdays evidence; and barring GraAn strikes, gasoline rationing etc. On the 5O-cent increase for arandstand fans, HeliS and his associates pick up &76O.0O0 in two Knonkz1e. On tlse dollar increase for clubhouse patrons, they pick up 3l 10000 more in 60 days; total of s2,26OyO00 from INCREASED ADMISSION PRICES ONLY: to gay nothing of the tracks daily s.talre" from the millions of dollars that will be wagered before the tall meeting at 8. D. closes October
 They paAd $s.6O0,Ooo for the. track. They profit $2,500,OO0 on
 the admissions to the track up to
 and including October 26 which
 leaves Q balance of a measly $l,-
 DOO,OOO before they get all their
 money back. And If you think
 they won't make enough tn 60
 days of racing to pay all over-
 head, including daily purses and
 the $100, 900 Massachusetts Handi-
 cap, you can drop the dunce cap
 on your noggin immediately. if
 not sooner.
 So you see, when Greek meets Greek, they do not necessarily open . restaurant. They might open q race track, which cost millions of dollars just for the fun Of mak- ing more millions of dollars than