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SEE RECORD INAUGURAL Keeneland Officials Predict New Crowd Mark on Opening Day. Only Quick Change in Weather Likely to Prevent New Attendance Record at Lexington. LEXINGTON, Ky., April 12 With preliminary details about completed, and all departments functioning under their full forces, the Keeneland Association is ready for the opening of its second annual spring meeting on Thursday. The arrival of Pierre Lorillard Jr., presiding steward, and William Davis, patrol judge, brought the racing division up to its full strength and tonight Mort Shaw came in to take over the pari-mutuel department, which has been put in working order under the direction of Ernie White. Only a change from the ideal spring weather, which prevailed today, will prevent the new and modern plant from having the greatest opening in its short history. A check of the owners of the Phoenix Hotel Handicap eligibles, the inaugural attraction, reveals that they are well pleased with the weights and indications point to a field of a dozen starters. In the event of an adverse track, several candidates will pass up the six furlongs sprint, but a majority of the eligibles are mudders and, regardless of track conditions, a well-balanced field is assured. SUPPORTING ATTRACTIONS. The seven supporting attractions, chief of which is the Crestwood Purse, for three-year-olds, should attract good fields and Sidney Brown, who is substituting for racing secretary Charles McLennan, stated today he expected all of the races to fill. Not only is the class of the thoroughbreds better and more evenly balanced than heretofore, but there are more nationally known stables. This not only insures better programs, but means that Keeneland is nearing the spot intended for it by its members. More than fifty requests for boxes have been placed on the waiting lists, while many associate members have been added to the membership to the clubhouse. With the track near its best condition, the training period was the busiest of any time since the track was built. Nearly 200 horses were seen in trials and among them were a number of eligibles for the Kentucky Derby and Blue Grass Stakes. f Continued on fifteenth page. SEE RECORD JNAUGURAL Continued from first page. Menow, the ranking three-year-old quartered at Keeneland, which will make his 1938 debut in the Trial Handicap on Friday, gave a brilliant demonstration of the speed that carried him to a six and a half furlongs worlds record of 1:15 over the Belmont Park straightaway, when he sped three furlongs in :34, handily. With Copy Cat, also a stake candidate, the son of Phara-mond H. and Alcibiades went the opening quarter in :2256. Copy Cat was driving at the end of three furlongs in :35, while Menow was well in hand. GOOD WORKOUTS. Tom Youngs pair of candidates, Congressman and Ball-O-Fire, went six furlongs, Congressman showing to the best advantage when he turned it in 1:15. Ball-O-Fire was clocked in 1:15. Ball-O-Fire sped the opening quarter in :22, half mile in :47, and Congressman was timed the quarter in :23, half mile in :47 and five-eighths in 1:01. Valdina Farms Lassator breezed seven-eighths in 1:30. He was accompanied by Valdina, a non-eligible, which led throughout and was timed in 1:30. Mrs. A. M. Creechs Sir Ally also went seven furlongs, being timed in 1:32. He was accompanied by Sister Polly. Having his first breeze since arriving here from Miami, J. W. Parrishs Knee Deep ran five furlongs in 1:06. A majority of the nineteen eligibles for the Phoenix Hotel Handicap will have their "blow-outs" tomorrow, while on Thursday eligibles to the Trial Handicap will be seen in their final training drill before entering competition. MISS BUTTERCUP DEES. Miss Buttercup, two-year-old chestnut filly by Jock Buttercup, owned by E. B. McAtee, died at Keeneland last night as the result of injuries sustained while being breezed Tuesday morning. Suddenly floundering at the stretch turn, former jockey A. "Chico" Rodriguez, who was astride the filly, quickly pulled her up and it was first thought that she had thrown out a right rear stifle. The actual cause of the demise of Miss Buttercup was ascribed to being uncoupled, by J. G. McAtee, trainer of the juvenile. While being walked back, Miss Buttercup collapsed suddenly and Dr. Fraser Smith was summoned to ascertain the extent of the injury. The filly was lifted to her feet after much difficulty, but collapsed again and a float was used to return her to the barn, where she expired.
