Milford chronicle., 1957-07-12
Closing News From
Delaware Park


Delaware Park came through its
20th race meeting with flying CO.
lors, and they were not black and
blue" despite its severest compe-
tition Of al time from other tracks
and two weeks of near-I00 degree
heat. Only seven out Of % racing
& US we're free Of New Jersey con-
Fiction, and on the only Saturday
of that period, June s, it rained all
day.
Total attendance hit AL, 500. a
daily average of 13.797 The pari-
mutuels tot i was $34, ,2S7, ,968, av-
eraging $1,071, ,499. OF that total,
approximately 80 per cent was re-
turned to the race going public
(about 81 per cent from out-of-
stated that wagered it.
Track President Donald P. Ross,
who recently announced the ap-
pointment of a building committee
iimed at improving the facilities at
Delaware Park, reiterated after
the Independence Day finale that
for sever4l years our officers and
directors have been aware of the
changing conditions governing rae
ing in the state. Taking cognizance
If the increasingly difficult COM
petitive situation, the directors met
an unanimously voted to appoint
building committee.
Vice President and General Man
ager Bryan Field said: THE sue
cess of the Distaff Big Three and
Of the racing generally. was graft
tying to everyone, but far and away
the biggest thing at the meeting
Wis Don noss's appointment OF a
building comittee. We can face the
future confidently"
Last year, the Stanton track had
}3 racing days. With that extra
day, attendance came to 473,S67,
averaging 1882. Wagering totaled
s36, 1868 ,207, a mean of SLIT ,O67.
Thus, the decrease in average at
tendance comes to 3.8 per cent, and
n wagering, Al per cent. Under
The circumstances, this was con
sidered a splendid showing and,
once again, the states only Thor
oughbred racing has proved a
source of subst initial revenue to
Delaware, as figures available la
er from the Delaware Racing Com
mission will show.
The Independence Day finale
brought out 1926 fans, topped
only by the Memorial Day turnout
of 28,7O5 They w2gered $1,946,082,
easily the best of this meeting, as
was the daily double pool of $780,
976. The days handle bettered that
Of the same holiday a year ago
when $1.935, ,9S9 was bet by 28,961,
largest 1856 crowd.
HighIighting the 1867 meeting,
Of course, was the Distaff Big
Three embracing the $51,425 Oaks,
S37, 400 New Castle Stakes and the
$164,625 Delaware Handicap ~
which set another new record as
the worlds richest race for fillies
and mares. Several other marks
were set in this sequence: the gross
value of the Big Three events this
year actually surpassed the GUS
tomary estimate of a quarter-mil-
lion dollars, the total being $685.
$50. The Delaware H.ndicap also
established a new high in added
money-$117 ,000-and net to the
winner, the $120,S25 won by Cal
umet Farms Princess Turia.
Mrs. Gene Markey's fabulous
Calumet stable, now we'll on its
wy to its 10th money-winning
title nationally in II years, eclip-
sed the Delaware Park record for
stable earnings with much to spare,
although only two of its horses ac-
counted for the unmatched $154, ,275
Calumet net figure. Princess Turia,
who also won the New Clstle and
IN overnight race plus getting a
third in the Wilmington Handicap,
established another mark, that for
a horses net earnings at a Della
wire meeting-by cleaning $751;
275. The other $1,000 for Calumet
went to Amoret.
Delaware Handicap Dav. June 20.
produced a record $189,625 gross