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OMAHA INAUGURAL SATURDAY Fans and Officials Marking Time — Forecast Popular Session. Noel Chilcuut to Start Ak-Sar-Ben Fields — Governor and Mrs. Cochran Expected for the Opening. OMAHA, Neb., May 26.— Thoroughbred horse racing, the "King of Sports," returns to this region when the Ak-Sar-Ben Racing Association launches its twenty-eight day meeting commencing Saturday, May 28, continuing through July 4. Racing officials and track attendants were putting the finishing touches to preparations and the plant in general should be in spic and span condition when turned over to director of racing J. J. Isaacson, who has been on the grounds for several weeks directing the work personally. Unless the keen interest, which has been expressed by the racing devotees of this section and other adjacent townships is misleading, the management will probably play host to a crowd of 20,000, which is expected to witness the racing opening day. That the meeting from the start will prove a popular one, is reflected in the list of reservations for boxes and other select points to witness the sport, some of which were submitted over a month ago, which was rather gratifying to manager Isaacson. POPULAR RENDEZVOUS. Ak-Sar-Ben should prove a popular rendezvous for the socialites and sporting fraternity of Omaha, Council Bluffs, Fremont. Columbus and Lincoln. The dates selected by the officials governing the racing are certain to be tremendously attractive to these folks. Crowds at Ak-Sar-Ben will be augmented by many of the out-of-town visitors spending their vacations in this region. The office of the racing secretary was the busiest place on the grounds. The large and experienced crew in charge of presiding steward and racing secretary Ben Holmes has been at work for several days, and only a few minor details are needed to be completed before the opening. A general movement of horses from various points of the nation has been in full swing for the past week, and by Saturday it is estimated that every stall on the grounds will be occupied, which means there will be close to 1,000 performers here, ready to participate in the various events which will be offered. Presiding steward Ben Holmes and his associates delved into the task of approving the applications filed by the various trainers and jockeys that will participate in the meeting. It is understood the judges will interview each applicant individually and relate what kind of saddle work will be expected of the riders and the consistent running of the horses by the trainers. That there will be no tolerance of loose practices was signified by manager Isaacson, who stated: "Those that violate the rules of racing at Ak-Sar-Ben will be severely dealt with." "It is the intention of the Ak-Sar-Ben management to give its patrons racing of a high class and every phase of the sport will be watched with keen scrutiny, nothing will be overlooked. Those not complying with the wishes of the officials will get notice to go elsewhere and when warranted they will be denied the privilege of the course and recommendation to the Racing Commission of further suspension will be forthcoming." IDEAL LOCATION. Ultra modern in every respect, the Ak-Sar-Ben track is situated within three miles of Omaha and varied distances from the respective adjacent cities and towns in this region. Its facilities includes a grandstand which will seat 12,000, there are spacious and elaborately landscaped terraced lawns. The track is a one mile oval, with a racing strip which pars with the best in the nation. Officers of Ak-Sar-Een are George Brandeis, president; W. O. Swanson, vice-president; W. B. Millard, secretary and treasurer, and J. J. Isaacson, manager of activities. While the Inaugural Handicap will not close until midnight Thursday, there are prospects of one of the finest contests in the opening day feature, many of the starters will be drafted from the following list which have been nominated: Sobriety, Sky Pirate, The Pelican, Tarping, Short Skirt, Checks, Claude Omar, Lee Walker, Gray Dust, His Girl, Cee Jane and others. Racing will be confined to five days a week during the meeting, there being no racing Mondays with the exception of Decoration Day and July Fourth, which fall on Mondays. What seems certain to be an all-time stable entry record for Ak-Sar-Ben seems assured for the 1938 races, W. H. Schellberg, chairman, said Wednesday as final plans for the Saturday opening were being whipped into shape. There are now more than 450 horses in the stables and at least 200 more will be here before the opening, Schellberg said. Still to come are a hundred thoroughbreds from Aurora, three cars from California, five from Ohio and two cars from Kentucky. Governor and Mrs. R. L. Cochran will be honor guests for Saturdays opening program of eight races.
