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LOUISVILLE BOOKS ISSUED Racing Secretary William H. Shelley and Churchill Officials Congratulated by Horsemen. LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 9 The condition book for the sixty-second annual spring meeting at Churchill Downs, opening on April 25, has been published more than a week, but it has been only in the last several days or since he returned to Louisville that horsemen have been able to congratulate its author, William H. Shelley, the Downs racing secretary and handicapper, and the officials of the track. Offering a more liberal purse distribution than last spring, the program includes no race with a purse of less than 00 value and is topped, of course, by the Kentucky Derby, which this year has an added value of 0,000. Supporting the Derby on the stake program for the meeting are the Clark Handicap, to be run on opening day, and the Bashford Manor Stakes, to be run on May 16, and both of them have added values of ,000. Although the Derby, naturally, attracted the largest number of nominations, 102, the other two stakes were liberally subscribed to and drew nominations from nearly as many different stables as did the Downs Blue Ribbon feature. The Clark Handicap, named for Louis M. Clark, the founder of Churchill Downs, attracted the names of sixty-seven handicap performers while fifty-six juveniles were entered in the Bashford Manor. The Clark Handicap is one of the oldest fixtures on the American turf for, like the Derby, it was run the first time sixty-two years ago, although from 1875 to 1901 it was known as the Clark Stakes. This year will mark the thirty-fifth running of the Bashford Manor. Among those expected to be pointed for the Clark Handicap are such able performers as Yantis, Coldstream, My Blaze, Tear-out, Whiskolo, Beaver Dam, Bandalore, St. Bernard, Open Hearth, Safe and Sound and Gilbert Elston. Although the complexion of the Bashford Manor is too difficult to determine at this early date, it too is certain to attract a representative and smart band. While the Derby and the two stakes are the outstanding features of the condition book, horsemen are more than pleased with .the liberal purse distribution, which Churchill Downs will offer this year. Only few of the races carry the minimum purses of 00. Most of them are of 00 value while there is a varied assortment of ,000 and ,200 purses which appeal to the horsemen. The conditions of the races themselves too have struck a popular note, for they give ample opportunity for horses of all the better classes to earn purses. Eight races are included on each days program.
