Evening star., 1954-01-19
Belmont Park Given
II Of 80 Days Taken
From Empire City
1y.she Asseslased prss.

New York state Racing Com
mission increased racing days for
four tracks today after the EN-
pire City Racing Association,
which has been operating for IL
years at Jamaica. withdrew its
application for 1864 dates.
The 80 days allotted to Empire
City last year were split up, with
Belmont Park gaining IL days
for q total Of 81 days at the
plush Long Island course. ia
maica picked up five days. Aque-
duct seven days and Saratoga
six days.
The commission approved 1876
racing days, same rs last year.
The dates:
Jamaica.-April 1-24, 81 days.
Belmont April 26-June IL. AZ
days. Aqueduct-June l4-July
10. "a days. Saratoga-at-Ja-
maica-July 12-July 81. 10 days;
at Saratoga Springs. August q
28, "a days. Acknowledgements
30-September 81, 20 days. Bel
mont-Sept. 22-October 20, 25
days. United Hunts. at Belmont
October 21-22. 2 days. Jamaica
October 23-November Is, 20
days.
Unprecedented Situation.
James Butler. who operated
the Empire City track without a
home, announced yesterday he
would not ask for dates this year.
York tracks.
Thus q situation unprecedent-
ed in horse racing circles came
to an end. at least temporarily.
Back in 1943. the gasoline short
age and various other wartime
troubles forced Butler to close
down his track at Yonkers. just
outside the New York City limits.
Empire City was permitted to
run at Jamaica during the war,
and afterward the arrangement
was maintained, with Buffers
organization getting a slice Of
the dates with the other New
York tracks.
All this was granted because
Butler was talking about build
ing a new track in New York.
Then he sold his Empire City
plant to trotting interests for
a reported $2,400.000 in 1949,
which meant he had nothing but
a name on which to conduct his
operations.
Ashley Trimble Cole, chairman
Of the New York commission.
was instrumental in changing
the dates. Cole long has frowned
on Empire City's conducting
meetings at another track and
a year ago observed that I'VE
members of the commission are
not happy with the rental DEAL"
Belmont Park also opposed the
arrangement and in the past two
years has voiced its opposition
in resolutions.
Usually a Routine Matter.
The first hint that all was not
well among the usually close
knit New York associations came
in December when the business
Of awarding dates dragged on
until the meeting was adjourned
with no action being taken.
Ordinarily. this is a routine
matter.
Last Wednesday, the five New
York tracks submitted their re-
quested dates to the commission
and the belief was that Empire
City would be granted a token
meeting of six days.
"After consultation with my
family" Butler said in a state
mert, Eve have decided that it
is in the best interests of New
York thoroughbred racing. in
which my father and grand
father took an active part be-
fore me, to withdraw the appli-
cation we made with the other
New York Racing Associations.
Accordingly. Empire City will so
notify the New York State Rae
ing Commission"
Butler added that, although he
had no plans at present for next
year, "it doesn't mean that En-
pire will not apply for dates in
1856"
Speaking Of the long -talked-of
new track, Butler said:
"The new track venture is
something the association direc-
tors and will have to think out.
Future plans are still to be re-
solved"