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RIVER DOWNS OPENING MAY 4 Cincinnati Track Expected to Stage Highly Successful Meeting. Track Superintendent Brown Believes Track Will Be Faster Than Ever Strong Among Arrivals. CINCINNATI, Ohio, April 19. Viewed from every angle, the River Downs Racing Association seems destined to enjoy one of the most brilliant spring meetings in the history of horse racing in the Greater Cincinnati area. Twenty-three days of racing will be held at the beautiful race course, located on the banks of the Ohio River, starting Wednesday, May 4, and ending on Monday, May 30. The first running of the Decoration Day Handicap for three-year-olds and upward, at a mile and a sixteenth, which will carry a value of ,500 in added money, is the feature attraction on the closing day program. The River Downs management was cheated of a chance to race last spring because of the havoc wrought at the track by the record-breaking Ohio River Valley flood. EXPEND 75,000. Far from discouraged by the amount of damage the swollen waters of the Ohio River did to the track property, officials of the River Downs Racing Association remodeled the entire plant last summer at a cost of more than 75,000, and now it is rated one of the most beautiful race tracks in the country. Check of early reservations for stall room reveals many of the fleetest thoroughbreds in the country will be stabled at the Downs when the meeting gets under way May 4. J. Baumbach, who is rated as one of the best trainers in the turf game, has decided to race his powerful string of horses at the Downs and he is expected to arrive the latter part of the week. Zevson, a son of the world famous Zev, which raced the great In Memoriam to a nose decision, is the big gun of the Baumbach stable. Zevson has won many big stakes during the past two years, and he also ran second to War Admiral in the Widener Handicap at Hialeah Park six weeks ago. TRACK IN SHAPE. Track superintendent J. O. Brown has whipped the racing strip into first-class condition, and it is believed that the track will be faster this year than it has been for several years. Edward P. Strong, managing director of the River Downs track arrived upon the scene Monday morning and immediately plunged into the task of completing preparations for the twenty-three day spring session opening Wednesday, May 4, during which six stakes will be decided. "The track never looked better and with a few minor changes left prior to the opening the River Downs track will be one of the finest in the country," stated the genial official after a personal inspection of the grounds. More than 400 horses are already on the grounds and each hour brings many more and the track has become a beehive of activity. Every available stall is expected to be filled before the opening bugl blows. More thoroughbreds of the higher quality fill the many stalls at the spacious Ohio River track and best grade of sport ever offered local fans is assured. Judge Joseph A. Murphy, director of racing at the local track as well as Thistle Down and Detroit is expected to arrive here Wednesday and Thursday to take up his duties.
