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AURORA AURORA OPENS OPENS ILLINOIS ILLINOIS RACING RACING SEASON SEASON TODAY TODAY ******** ******** *•** *•** Churchill Churchill Downs Downs Track Track Crew Crew Works Works Hard Hard to to Improve Improve Sloppy Sloppy Course Course a I ♦ Gala Preparations for Inaugural at Remodeled Fox Valley Course • Inaugural Handicap Heads Initial Program of Seven Races — Twenty-Four Overnight Eligibles — Indications Are for Good Weather « AURORA, 111., April 30.— Gala preparations have been made for the inauguration of the 1936 racing season Friday afternoon at the Fox Valley Jockey Clubs Aurora track here, and indications point to a capacity throng of lovers of the thoroughbred sport being in attendance at the renovated track. Seven races and a substitute event, headed by the ,500 Fox Valley Inaugural Handicap, have been arranged by racing secretary R. A. Leigh on the opening days program, which will bring out some of the top-notch performers quartered here. Prospects for ideal weather for the ushering in of the long Illinois season are exceedingly bright, though the track isnt likely to be at its best for the run- 3ning of the first day; program. Rains earlier in the week made the footing a bit soggy, and the track hasnt dried as rapidly as was expected. Howevei, unless there is more rain between now and the sound of the opening bugle, it is probable that the track will be close to fast. Stewards C. J. FitzGerald of the Illinois Racing Commission and T. C. Bradley and J. T. Ireland went over the numerous applications throughout the day, and everything was in spick and span order for the launching of the Illmois season. Twenty different interests are represented in the feature attraction, of which the Old Gold Stables Transmutable has been given the post of honor. The four-year-old brown son of Transmute — Chickie has been assigned 115 pounds by handicapper Leigh, which is one more pound than W. C. Stroubes Croon is scheduled to carry in the six-furlong sprint. Held next in the esteem of the handicapper is A. G. Tarns Epernay and B. Hernandez* The Pelican, each being assigned 110 pounds, while the lightest imposts were drawn by Palm Island and Runamuck, drawing 97 and 94 pounds, respectively. CRACK INAUGURAL FIELD. The field for the Fox Valley Inaugural Handicap is regarded as the most representative in the history of the track, and, therefore, will prove quite a magnet in attracting a tremendous crowd from Chicago and its environs. The secondary feature, occupying sixth position on the program, is styled the North Aurora Purse, a claiming event for three-year-olds and upward at a distance of a mile and one-sixteenth. Only seven are scheduled to start in this event, but what the race may lack in quantity, the class of the performers more than makes up. Thistle Jock, Barrette, Noahs Pride, Lady Marlboro, Redress, Pan Toy and Jaber make up the field that will contest in the North Aurora, thus indicating a thrilling battle. Other races on the card also have their attractive points, which, all in all, provides one of the best balanced cards offered patrons of the thoroughbred sport in this section. Continued on twenty-second page. AURORA OPENS ILLINOIS RACING SEASON TODAY Continued from first page. The first race is scheduled to get under way at 2:15 oclock, Eastern Standard time. The field for the Fox Valley Inaugural Handicap follows: PP. Horse. Wt. Jockey. 1— Panic Relief 102 R. Cole 2— SjThe Darb 104 3— Croon 114 R. Mozer 4— Heart Break 103 H. P. Ferguson 5 — Emigrante 104 6— +tSalaam 109 7— tMr. James 102 R. R. Simpson 8— rTransmutable 115 J. Wray 9— :tPalm Island 97 10— Runamuck 94 11— t:Hueu .102 F. Polk 12— ijMorning Mail 100 13— Veeks 101 14— +Back Log 108 R. Tilden 15 — Garden Messge. . 105 R. Haber 16 — tEpernay 110 H. Duncan 17— Whistling Boy 101 18— Ding Bin 101 19— *The Pelican 107 20— Inf idox 110 L. Turner 21— Reaping 106 22— Jay Vee 106 23— *Lolschen 100 C. Hanauer 24— Below Zero 103 +A. G. Tarn entry. £Blue Ridge Farm Stable and Old Gold Stable entry. +tC. E. Davison entry. XtC Troutt entry. §Mrs. E. Oros entry. *B. Hernandez entry.
