Evening star., 1960-11-15
ATCHISON'S
ANGLE
pimIico a Veritoble Showploce
OY LEWIS : ATcHisoh

PimIico :. q Veritoble Showploce
PIA11Co THREW OPEN the doors 0, its plush new
clubhouse yesterday and to make the occasion even more
memorable Charlie Johnson the publicity director threw
out couple of spanking ideas about horse racing He
calls the glassinclosed version at Pimico Americas
newest indoor sport and insists that the 81 oettoEs are
participants.
A splitter may argue both points, but Charlie is
right about it being indoors its modern Baltimore
setting. Sitting there in we!padded clubhouse chair
behind Of glass has the feeling OF watching
giant Tv The windows and heat weren't neces
sary IN yesterdays perfect auumnal weather but come
December, with its icy blasts they'll be than welcome
?mco you haven't been told runs through December Is
..@aE
EVERYTHING SAID ABOUT the plush clubhouse
appeared be during tour Of the SIS million plant
"One Baltimore newspaper did me wrong" Johnson
complained 1T left off the last three in The story
opening The would have loved to have
gotten it for that"
The new building has everything including un-
limited supply OF mutue tickets. Some patrons found
them useful yesterday, and others merely decorative
The day was sraught with peril Tor members OF pim-
coS oical family two Of which still reported miss
ing johnson and Keene Daingeraeld steward, spent 80
minutes figuring out how to get from the administrative
ofces to the members clubhouse Tor early orning
OF coffee misfortune beie Don Reed Of the
publicity STAFF Setting out the vast unmapped area
of the building for the press box he ended in the
boiler room.
But Pimlico was proud enough to bust its buttons.
x wrote much stuff about this place before saw 1t.
began to doubt 1t could be that good But just look at
this layout" Reed said.
Tommy DeNatae major domo Of the dining room,
threw up his arms in an a-encompasng gesture when
his new domain.
IT is the beautiful race track dining in the
country he said.
TOMMY MAY HAVE BEEN carried away, but the new
h,}ldi vybi ndS old
part OF the grandstand-and the members original club
house. is veritable showplace You think see dab
OF yellow here green there red blue and white Actually
the interior decorator you're gazing at godenrod Bit
tergreen, meringue. Riviera, Bali and lilac.
Young Joe Stevens of the famed Stevens catering fam
y which supervses the cuisine at the track dropped by
to see the Gay Nneties Gold Room" He liked II. but
though the decor suggests that nostalgia period won't be
known the Gay Nineties Johnson intends that all
the will have names closely identified with racing
This probably will become the "Preakness Room"
Whatever they dub IT, IL is comfortable inviting and
the is appetizng One diner facetiously suggested
that strawberry shortcake for dessert wouldn't be bit
iattening
Nothing at the race track is fattening" his waiter
replied without cracking smile.
Another visitor noticed that the indoor paddock and
the finish line visible from the dining But
leave his seat to watch Teevision
scattered around like ashtrays and Ray Haghts calls
clear and distinct especially when he that
horse is in front.
I'VE have a new ampifying system Johnson ex-
planned Had To get It because with the horns the Odds
board the sound bounced of the glass windows like
cannon shot. Now have amplifers that direct the
sound down the outside. Inside It Is like always,
cept think It is better"
THE NEWEST IMPROVEMENT to the old Pimco plant
which only six years than 96year-od Saratoga
recalled that only few years ago Herman Cohen
and Lou Pondfeld told the Maryland Racing Commission
sad story of how impossible it would be to continue racing
at the old stand There for expansion neigh
boring institutions complained that odors from the stables
didn't remind them of Chanel No. S, and there weren't
enough racing dates.
We've added 20 OF paved parking since then -
Charlie pointed out but still think Marylands major
tracks should have more dates. How you sell a
trainer bringing his horses here for a short, split
meeting when he make the longer circuit in New York
and New Jersey and then winter in Forida?"
Johnson noted that the major tracks contribute 10
per cent Of the derived from Maryland racing to
the State and get As per cent Of the dates Everybody in
See ATCHISONS ANGLE Page 20