Connors was born and raised in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood. He attended St. John's School and Roxbury High School.[1]
Business
Connors became a prominent businessman in Boston through his work in the linen industry. He served as president of the Federal National Linen Service and the National Coat and Apron Manufacturing Company. He also served as a director of the Union Savings Bank of Boston.[1]
Horse racing
In April 1937, Connors became a shareholder of the Eastern Racing Association, owners of Suffolk Downs, and was elected first vice president.[2] That December he was elected president after Charles Adams decided to give up the position to focus on his other interests.[3] Adams, who remained as the chairman of the board, would later state that Connors was elected at the behest of Governor Charles F. Hurley.[4]
In 1939, Connors resigned as Suffolk Downs president amid allegations that he, his brother-in-law (State Racing Commissioner Thomas R. Foley), and Outdoor Amusements, Inc. (a company applying for a license to open a track in Westport, Massachusetts) attempted to gain control of horse racing in eastern Massachusetts. According to the Eastern Racing Association, Foley secretly worked to acquire a license for Outdoor Amusements, Inc. Meanwhile, Connors demanded that Adams and Bruce Wetmore sell him their shares of Suffolk Downs or they would not get any favorable racing dates.[5] Connors denied he had any involvement with Outdoor Amusements and stated that he left Suffolk Downs because he objected to the racing secretary's exorbitant salary as well as the graft and thievery at the track.[4] The racing commission voted to revoke Outdoor Amusements' license due to misleading information in their application, but found that there was not enough evidence to establish a conspiracy between Outdoor Amusements, Connors, and Foley.[6]
Later that year, Connors bought extensively into the Narragansett Park, including the shares of track founder Walter E. O'Hara. In 1940 he was elected chairman of the Narragansett Racing Association, a position he held until his death.[1] His brother Charles A. Connors succeeded him as chairman.[7]
Connors died on July 11, 1941 at his home in Newton, Massachusetts. The cause of death was Coronary thrombosis.[1] Narragansett Park's Old Colony Stakes was renamed the James H. Connors Memorial Stakes in his honor.[7]
References
^ abcde"James H. Connors, Racing Magnate, Dead in Newton". The Boston Daily Globe. July 12, 1941.
^"James H. Connors Joins Eastern Racing Board". The Boston Daily Globe. April 28, 1937.
^"Connors President of Suffolk Downs". The Boston Daily Globe. December 16, 1937.
^ ab"Adams Claims Connors Back of New Track". The Boston Daily Globe. February 7, 1939.
^Harris, John G. (February 4, 1939). "Plot to Rule Racing Charged". The Boston Daily Globe.
^"Westport Racing Out; Fight Likely". The Boston Daily Globe. February 24, 1939.
^ ab"'Gansett Stake Race to Commemorate Late J. H. Connors". The Boston Daily Globe. August 1, 1941.
^"Democrats Fete James A. Farley Here Tomorrow". The Boston Daily Globe. April 20, 1940.
james, connors, american, horse, racing, executive, businessman, served, president, suffolk, downs, contents, early, life, business, horse, racing, politics, death, referencesearly, life, editconnors, born, raised, boston, roxbury, neighborhood, attended, john. James H Connors was an American horse racing executive and businessman who served as president of Suffolk Downs Contents 1 Early life 2 Business 3 Horse racing 4 Politics 5 Death 6 ReferencesEarly life EditConnors was born and raised in Boston s Roxbury neighborhood He attended St John s School and Roxbury High School 1 Business EditConnors became a prominent businessman in Boston through his work in the linen industry He served as president of the Federal National Linen Service and the National Coat and Apron Manufacturing Company He also served as a director of the Union Savings Bank of Boston 1 Horse racing EditIn April 1937 Connors became a shareholder of the Eastern Racing Association owners of Suffolk Downs and was elected first vice president 2 That December he was elected president after Charles Adams decided to give up the position to focus on his other interests 3 Adams who remained as the chairman of the board would later state that Connors was elected at the behest of Governor Charles F Hurley 4 In 1939 Connors resigned as Suffolk Downs president amid allegations that he his brother in law State Racing Commissioner Thomas R Foley and Outdoor Amusements Inc a company applying for a license to open a track in Westport Massachusetts attempted to gain control of horse racing in eastern Massachusetts According to the Eastern Racing Association Foley secretly worked to acquire a license for Outdoor Amusements Inc Meanwhile Connors demanded that Adams and Bruce Wetmore sell him their shares of Suffolk Downs or they would not get any favorable racing dates 5 Connors denied he had any involvement with Outdoor Amusements and stated that he left Suffolk Downs because he objected to the racing secretary s exorbitant salary as well as the graft and thievery at the track 4 The racing commission voted to revoke Outdoor Amusements license due to misleading information in their application but found that there was not enough evidence to establish a conspiracy between Outdoor Amusements Connors and Foley 6 Later that year Connors bought extensively into the Narragansett Park including the shares of track founder Walter E O Hara In 1940 he was elected chairman of the Narragansett Racing Association a position he held until his death 1 His brother Charles A Connors succeeded him as chairman 7 In addition to serving as a track executive Connors also maintained the Gaeta Irrian Farm racing stable in Meredith New Hampshire and kept show horses on his farm in Alton Bay New Hampshire 1 Politics EditConnors was an active member of the Democratic Party In 1934 President Franklin D Roosevelt named Connors as the industrial member of the New England Labor Relations Board In 1938 he chaired a large testimonial dinner for Postmaster James A Farley at the Copley Plaza Hotel 8 Death EditConnors died on July 11 1941 at his home in Newton Massachusetts The cause of death was Coronary thrombosis 1 Narragansett Park s Old Colony Stakes was renamed the James H Connors Memorial Stakes in his honor 7 References Edit a b c d e James H Connors Racing Magnate Dead in Newton The Boston Daily Globe July 12 1941 James H Connors Joins Eastern Racing Board The Boston Daily Globe April 28 1937 Connors President of Suffolk Downs The Boston Daily Globe December 16 1937 a b Adams Claims Connors Back of New Track The Boston Daily Globe February 7 1939 Harris John G February 4 1939 Plot to Rule Racing Charged The Boston Daily Globe Westport Racing Out Fight Likely The Boston Daily Globe February 24 1939 a b Gansett Stake Race to Commemorate Late J H Connors The Boston Daily Globe August 1 1941 Democrats Fete James A Farley Here Tomorrow The Boston Daily Globe April 20 1940 Preceded byCharles Adams President of Suffolk Downs1937 39 Succeeded byCharles AdamsPreceded byMorgan Belmont Chairman of Narragansett Park1940 41 Succeeded byCharles A Connors Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James H Connors amp oldid 1095499614, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
