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INCREASED ACTIVITY Return of Colonel Winn to Churchill Downs Steps Up Preparations. Condition Books for First Seven Days of Meeting Are Being Distributed 696 Nominations for Stake Races. LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 11 With the return of Col. Matt J. Winn, who went to "Chicago a week ago to attend a meeting of the American Turf Association, which again elected him its president, the tempo of preparations for the Churchill Downs spring meeting, opening April 29, has been stepped up and that the program of improvements will be completed well before the inaugural, is assured. Col. Winn, who expects to spend most of the remaining time between now and the sixty-fifth running of the Kentucky Derby on May 6 here in Louisville, is well pleased with the progress made -in his absence and he has a right to be, for the historic old plant is more beautiful than ever. Colonel Winn took time out from the many matters engaging his attention to reiterate his forecast that Derby day this year would be the biggest ever, and with this in view he is overlooking no detail to provide for the comfort and pleasure of patrons on that, Americas biggest day of racing. EXPECT 75,000 OR MORE. Churchill Downs is expecting to entertain 75,000 or more spectators on May 6 and those unable to crowd their way into the spacious stands and clubhouse enclosures will find points of vantage in the centerfield which last year was thrown open to the public for the first time. Work on the new general admission terraces at the east end of the grounds has virtually been completed and it Is expected to draw thousands of persons who might otherwise remain away on that day. Considerable improvements have been made in the clubhouse and grandstand and racing patrons will find a plant ultra modern in every respect awaiting them when the local season gets under way. The wheels of the racing department also have been set into motion at greater speed, the latest development being the distribution of the first book of conditions, as written by racing secretary William H. Shelley, a veteran member of Churchill Downs official staff. The attractively decorated book covers the first seven days of the nineteen-day meeting and also includes the names of nominees for the eight stakes to be run here this spring. NEARLY 700 NOMINATIONS. A total of 696 nominations were made for these Downs features and this figure should give fans some idea of the caliber of horses which will be here, for the local season. The Kentucky Derby drew 115 nominations; Debutante Stakes, 144; Bashford Manor Stakes, 121; Churchill Downs Handi-, cap, 70; Kentucky Oaks, 68; Derby Trial Stakes, 66; Clark Handicap, 62, and Kentucky Handicap, 50. All except two of these features, the Oaks and Kentucky Handicap, will be run the first seven days of the meeting. The minimum purse during the local meeting will be 00, but the first condition book includes only one race of such value each day. The others provide for 00, 00 and ,000 overnight purses. The Kentucky Derby will be worth 0,000 in added money, the Oaks ,000 in added money and the other stakes ,500. Secretary Shelley has drafted a most attractive book and the sport should be of the same high standard as has been offered at the Downs in the past. Horses continue to arrive daily at the Downs and at Douglas Park, with the problem of finding stabling room becoming more and more acute. Track superintendent Tom Young is finding himself in the unhappy position of having to turn down many who desire to race here in spite of the fact that approximately 1,400 horses can be accommodated at the two Louisville plants.
