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Better Class of Horses To Race at Ak-Sar-Ben Feature Events to Be Offered At Thirty-Day Meeting Listed AK-SAR-BEN, Omaha, Neb., May 16.— Thoroughbred racing will return to the Cornhusker State on Tuesday, May 27, when Omahas civic organization, Ak-Sar-Ben, inaugurates a 30-day meeting at its spacious West Center Street plant. Richard A. Leigh, presiding steward and racing secretary, already is on hand with several members of the official staff and there is considerable activity here as stables arrive for the impending spring season sport. J. J. Isaacson, activities director for Ak-Sar-Ben, and James F. Ronin, veteran superintendent at the Omaha track, presently are engaged in assigning stall space and both officials are of the opinion that the class of thoroughbreds now on hand is better than that of last year. The racing strip, which was re-surfaced immediately after the war, is in excellent condition this year, and some of the better horses registered for Omaha campaigns have turned in clever trials. Benjamin Masden, well-known Kentucky clocker, checked in from Churchill Downs last week and he believes that the Ak-Sar-Ben track is one of the best in the nation. Masden said that the course is firm but well-cushioned and that he was favorably impressed when he witnessed the morning works of some of the better grade horses in training here. The minimum purse at Ak-Sar-Ben this year will be 00 and races carrying the smaller purse valuations are very much in the minority. The first book of conditions lists a great many events, carrying values from 00 to ,200 and handicaps are worth ,000 and ,500. There is a generous sprinkling of overnight allowance and handicap offerings listed for decision at the Omaha plant and one of the outstanding programs scheduled is that of Saturday, June 7. For that half-holiday sport, the ,500 Ak-Sar-Ben Princess Handicap, a six-furlong sprint for three-year-olds and upward, and the ,500 Board of Governors Handicap, one mile and one-sixteenth, for horses of similar age divisions, are to co-feature the card. The Ak-Sar-Ben Inaugural Handicap, at six furlongs, for three-year-olds and upward, is the traditional opening day head-liner and entries for that sprint will close on Saturday, May 24. Handicapper Leigh will post weights for the race on Monday, May 26, and he expects a crack field to parade postward in the initial feature of the 1947 session. On Friday, May 30, the ,500 Memorial Day Handicap, one mile and 70 yards will highlight the holiday racing and on the following day, Saturday, May 31, the ,500 His Majestys Council Handicapis, expected to draw a quick band of sprinters to meet at six furlongs.
