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[ • i I I 1 | I , j f j J OMAHA RACING TODAY Beautiful Ak-Sar-Ben to Throw Open Its Gates for 1939 Season. Everything Ready for Inaugural — "Daily Double" to Be Introduced for the First Time at Track. OMAHA, Neb., May 26.— Beautiful Ak-Sar-Ben will throw open its gates Saturday for the 1939 season and from all indications the sport will be ushered in under ideal conditions. The program of eight races, headed by the Inaugural Handicap, is above the average offering and, while- some of the races are light in the matter of entries, there appears an abundance of contention in every instance. There were twelve acceptances in the principal race, which will represent nine interests. According to the board of handi-cappers Polaris is rated a slight edge and will carry top weight of 118 pounds. This is three more than San Luis Rey and Anopheles, while His Girl will perform under an impost of 111 pounds and, in assuming that task, will concede Fast Move one pound. The weights dip down to 100, which is the assignment allotted Learner. PLANT BEADY. Everything is in readiness for the opening and a large crowd is looked for at the Omaha course. With a continuance of the prevailing weather, the racing strip will be lightning fast for the inaugural days pre-. sentation. Admission prices to this ultra-modern plant will be 55 cents, while the reserved boxes will be held at .65 per seat. The management also offers two ladies days a week for the members of the fair sex and on these designated days, which will be Tuesday and Friday during the month of J une, they will be admitted for the nominal payment of 25 cents, which covers the tax in accordance with the code of the law in Nebraska. "We anticipate a sufficient increase in the sports popularity," Mr. Schellberg, chairman of racing admitted, "to offset the reduction of prices, otherwise we could not have adopted the change. It is very necessary that we have a fair share of revenue from the gate to meet the obligation of payment of the liberal purses which we are offering during the twenty-nine days of racing and has attracted the best horses available. "DAILY DOUBLE." The "Daily Double" combination which has proved so popular on the major courses of the nation will be among the new innovations offered at Ak-Sar-Ben this season and some of the tremendous pay-offs which have been returned at other tracks may be recorded here. The Nebraska State Racing Commission has approved the following officials for the meeting: Ben Holmes, steward and racing secretary; Albert J. Heffernan, associate steward ; J. L. Watkins, placing judge and clerk of the scales; Ralph Robinson and Harvey Foster completes the staff of placing judges; Noel Chilcutt, who did such brilliant work dispatching the fields last season, is back again and will serve as starter. Otto Torrell will be the official timer; James Ronin, for many years track superintendent, will again supervise the grooming of the course; Dr. C. C. Hall will officiate as track veterinarian, while the destinies of the meeting will be guided by W. H. Schellberg, chairman, and J. J. Isaacson, manager of activities.
