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| AK-SAR-BEN TURF NOTES ♦ s Paul Keiper, who won his first race at Ak-Sar-Ben last year and from there wentj on to become one of the leading riders of the, nation, will be back at the Omaha plant to| accept engagements when the meeting opens May 27. Young Keiper, who was under con-| tract to L. R. Gilchrist at the 1938 Ak-Sar-: Ben competition, currently is the leading rider at Beulah Park. j Perhaps the No. 1 Omaha product in the racing game today is Carol Bierman, who started at Omaha three years ago under, George Pruett, the Colorado horseman. Bierman came to Omaha as an exercise boy, but soon was drafted into riding service. He went two weeks without a victory, then won and started a remarkable string of victories. Pruett disposed of Biermans contract for a fat fee. Saturday Bierman had the leg up on Ciencia in the 0,000 Preakness Stakes. Jimmie Ashcroft, the sensation of the eastern tracks last winter, got his first big boost at Omaha last year. Coming here as an unsung apprentice rider, Ashcroft became the meetings leading "bug" rider and has since become one of the top riders of the country. Bob McCarty, Earl Dew and Frankie Chojnacki are other riding stars who used the Ak-Sar-Ben meetings as springboards to; later riding triumphs. Keiper has advised W. H. Schellberg, chairman of Ak-Sar-Bens racing committee, that he will be on the grounds May 22. His duel with Gus Dye, West Coast leading rider,-promises to add fireworks to the 1939 meeting. Superintendent Jimmy Ronin has the Ak-Sar-Ben track in really splendid condition, and horsemen are unanimous in their praise. The new odds board is a decided improvement, being streamlined and much lower, permitting a full view of the back stretch. Horsemen returning to Ak-Sar-Ben found a new manager of the field kitchen, or cafe. He is "Pinky" Stiles, an accommodating young restaurateur, who is conducting the cafe for the association. His orders are to provide good meals, at low prices, in clean envirnment and to disregard profit.
