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Omahas Purse Increases Assures Banner Meeting Set ,200 Minimum to Handicap Events at Thirty-Day Session OMAHA, Neb., May 6.— As an added incentive to one of the greatest fields of stellar thoroughbreds ever to compete at Ak-Sar-Ben, purses have been generously increased for the 1942 running races, which 1 open on Tuesday, May 26, announces W. H. j Schellberg, racing committee chairman. Races will be held daily, except Sunday and Monday, through Saturday, July 4, for a top program of thirty racing days in all, Schellberg said. All of the handicaps of the 1942 meeting have been raised to a minimum of ,200, he pointed out, and total purses for the entire meeting will be in excess of 50,000. The smallest purses in open races will be 00 and the 1942 Ak-Sar-Ben condition book is liberally studded with events in which 00 or 00 is offered. "More of the finest stables between Omaha and the West Coast than ever before will be at Ak-Sar-Ben track this season," Schellberg stated. "Many are already working out their mounts. We feel, therefore, that with so much outstanding turf talent on hand and purses raised so substantially over those of a year ago, fans will see some of the hottest racing ever brought to the Middle West when the 1942 Ak-Sar-Ben meeting gets under way." The distance events, which are so popular with the public, have been especially encouraged by added money, Schellberg said. Four of the most important ,200 handicaps of the entire season come in quick succession during the first two weeks of the 1942 meeting. They are: The Inaugural, opening on Tuesday, May 26; the Memorial, on Saturday, May 30; the Ak-Sar-Ben Princess, on Wednesday, June 3, and His Majestys Council Handicap, on Saturday, June 6. The Ak-Sar-Ben Princess Handicap will be at a mile and seventy yards, lending additional zest to the event. Others mentioned will be for the speediest sprinters over a six-furlong route.
