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Arlington Park's operating methods are remarkable because they are unique. Its success is remarkable because it is nothing of the sort. A wave to reform Reform laws against gambling swept the U. S. in 1933. Gambling is now legal in 26 states and the renaissance of horse racing that started in 1932 is still booming. Since 1933 14 new tracks have opened and $3,000,000,000 have been wagered. As noteworthy as the success of Chicago's Arlington Park has been that of at least two other major U. S. establishments officially dedicated to improving the breed of horses.
California's Santa Anita is the product of innumerable gold fillings by Dr. Charles H. Strub, whose chain of dentist parlors gave him the resources to buy into a San Francisco baseball club, later to join Cineman Hal Roach in putting $1,250,000 into a race track on the site of the late Elias Jackson ("Lucky") Baldwin's famed Santa Anita Rancho. Since Santa Anita Park opened on Christmas Day 1934, racing has become a major Hollywood hobby.
Its aquamarine grandstand on an ordinary racing afternoon houses more flashy celebrities than any other in the world, but the track's real "take" comes from lowly Los Angeles punters. In its first season, Santa Anita got back its whole original investment. Last season was even more profitable. Its "handle" (i. e., total of all bets made through its pari-mutuel windows) was $25,250,000. The track's gross income from admission fees and 5% of bets was $3,000,000. Currently Santa Anita is planning to up its total of purses and stakes for next winter's racing to $800,000, hopes the California Horse Racing Board will not permit another track near Los Angeles.
Unlike Californians, New Englanders are traditionally hard-headed and closefisted. That generations of economic inhibitions have turned them at last into a race of spendthrifts is the conclusion implicit in the way they are currently patronizing New England's four new race tracks, Rockingham Park, Agawam, Suffolk Downs and Narragansett Park.
Rhode Island's Narragansett has been a good thing ever since its fast start two years ago, when the State Legislature weakened before smart lobbying and legalized pari-mutuel horse-race gambling. Within a month the Narragansett Racing Association was incorporated and before the summer was done held its first race with paint still wet on the grandstand. The track takes 62% of all bets made, keeps the "breaks" (i. e., odd pennies left over after bets are paid off to an even nickel). Including the breaks, Narragansett's take last year was $2,174,000. Concessions, programs, gate receipts, added another $457,000. After handing out $717,000 for purses and paying all other expenses, Narragansett showed a clear profit of $507,000 for the year, which made it financially the best track in the U. S.