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LEXINGTONS INAUGURAL HEADLINER DRAWS EIGHT Phoenix Handicap Attracts Crack Band Greentree Names Entry Keeneland Association Makes Numerous Improvements to Plant in Preparation for Opening Today of Third Annual Spring Session Good Weather Predicted LEXINGTON, Ky., April 12. Keenelands third spring meeting, eleven days in length, will be inaugurated tomorrow with every prospect that with the fair break in weather expected, it will be the most successful since tfie track was opened in the fall of 1936. More than 700 horses quartered here, at the nearby trotting track and at several of the prominent breeding farms in this locality, are available for the meeting and workouts show the vast majority of them ready for competition. The quality of available racing material represents an improvement over those providing the sport at previous meetings. The expectation of high-class sport is likely to attract a greater number of out-of-town visitors than ever before, as well i KEENELAND FEATURES j LEXINGTON, Ky., April 12. Eight were named for the ,500-added Phoenix Handicap, top number of Keenelands inaugural program to be offered tomorrow. Six three-year-olds, two of i which are eligible to the Blue Grass 1 Stakes and Kentucky Derby, will run one and one-sixteenth miles in the Crestwood Purse, the secondary number. The fields for the handicap and Crestwood Purse, in order of post positions, weights and probable jockeys, follow: THE PHOENIX HANDICAP. PP. Horse. Wt Jockey. 1 Biscayne Blue.. 110 H. Schutte 2 Preeminent ....122 S. Coucci 3 Torchy 114 ,.J. Rosen 4 j Cherry Jam.... 104 H. Lindberg 5 t Armor Bearer. .113. E. Arcaro 6 Bernard F 115 R. Dean 7 Easy Mon 104 T. Atkinson , 8 The Fighter 120 C. Bierman fGreentree Stable entry. THE CRESTWOOD PURSE. PP. Horse. Wt. Jockey. 1 Radio Gold 116 C. Bierman j 2 Bellitas Babe... Ill H. Schutte 3 Repeller 105 C. Charlton 4 Brown Ben 114.... W. Yarberry J 5 Roll and Toss. ..116 E. Arcaro 6 Viscounty 105 JST. Pariso J... .4 as to stimulate local interest to a higher pitch. Using the profits of past meetings to excellent advantage, the Keeneland Association has made numerous necessary improvements, the most important being the construction of another stable. The main entrance off the new four-lane highway from this city has been widened and automobile traffic will be handled with 100 per cent increase in expediency. The new highway is expected to result in a greater number of visitors from cities like Louisville and Cincinnati. ATTRACTIVE PLANT. The jlant is more attractive than ever, due to the natural growth of trees and hedges. Except for that portion of the infield where the lake had been, it is now covered with a thick growth of grass. The lake was drained last year to remove the glare from the afternoon sun, and in time this area will be covered with grass. As a result of the success of prior meetings Keeneland is offering a greater distribution in purses, the minimum being raised from 00 to 00, but less than one-third of the events will be valued at the low figures, the others ranging up to ,200. Eight horses have been named for the Phoenix Handicap, first of the four stakes programmed for the meeting and the inaugural feature. This dash of six furlongs will be endowed with ,500, and with all the entrants starting, it will have a gross value of ,700, with the winners net share being 025. 122 TOP WEIGHT. Top weight of the field, with 122 pounds, is Preeminent, veteran sprinter in the stable of Hal Price Headley, the Keeneland president, but the favorite may be William F. Morgans The Fighter, which has been assigned 120 pounds: Others certain to attract support are the Greentree Stable entry of Cherry Jam and Armor Bearer, I. J. Collins Bernard F., Dixianas Torchy and Calumet Farms Easy Mon. Torchy holds the mile and one-sixteenth Keeneland record. The secondary attraction is the Crestwood Purse, at a mile and one-sixteenth, and its six overnight entrants included the Kentucky Derby candidates, Roll and Toss and Viscounty. The former is in the Greentree Stable and the latter races for the Valdina Farms. Radio Gold, second to Ariel Toy in the Arkansas Derby, js another Crestwood candidate. Several other Derby eligibles are in the six furlongs dash for three-year-old maidens that is third on the card. Eight races, the first to be run at 2 oclock Central Standard Time, are on the inaugural Continued on twenty-third page. LEXINGTONS INAUGURAL HEADLINER DRAWS EIGHT Continued from first page. program, and all are well filled, three having capacity fields of a dozen. The opening event is for two-year-olds, over the Headley course, forty feet less than four furlongs, and three are on the also eligible list. Some of the youngsters have seen service at the winter tracks, but most of them will be making their first appearance under silks. Freezing weather prevailed at Keeneland this morning and the track was in a heavy condition, but as the temperature rose during the day while a strong wind blew, the going dried out steadily and may be classified as good for the opening program. Warmer weather is predicted and one of the "largest crowds in the history of the track may turn out. PROMINENT OWNERS. Many of the most prominent owners in the country will be represented during the meeting, whose highlight on closing day, April 27, is the ,000 added Blue Grass Stakes. In addition to H. P. Headley, the Greentree Stable of Mrs. Payne Whitney, Valdina Farms of Emerson F. Woodward, Calumet Farm of Warren Wright, Dixiana of Charles T. Fisher and William F. Morgan, other patrons whose well known silks will be seen here are E. R. Bradley, Bomar Stable of C. A. Bohn and P. B. Markey, J. O. Keene, Howard Oots, Thomas D. Taggart, Milky Way Farm of Mrs. Ethel V. Mars, Russell A. Firestone, ArnoldHanger, Leo J. Marks, Louis B. Mayer, J. Cal Milam, E. E. Fogelson, Shandon Farm of P. A. and R. J. Nash, Joseph E. Widener, Royce Martin, Baylor Hickman, Conn Smythe, J. W. Par-rish, Thomas J. Piatt, J. Graham Brownt R. B. George and C. Hainsworth. The best group of jockeys ever assembled here are available for the meeting. Among the saddle artists registered are Eddie Ar-caro, Carroll Bierman, Earl Steffen, Silvio Coucci, Warren Yarberry, Joe Rosen, Irving Anderson, Herman Schutte, Willie Garner, F. A. Smith, Charles Charlton, Nunzio Pa-riso, Elmer Thomas and Jack Flinchum, the latter quartet among the apprentices
