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I • ! ! ! r - ; » j . ; I ; 5 . ; r . 1 . ; . . J Centennial Park Is Now Open to Receive Horses Expected to Be Filled to 900 Capacity by June 30 Opening DENVER. Colo., May 16. — Centennial Park opened its gates today for the heavy influx of horses for the coming meeting, which gets under way Saturday, June 30. General manager Willard F. "Bill" Tunney stated that well over the capacity of 900 horses would be on hand before opening day. The fifty-day meeting, lasting through September 8, will be studded with some 15 stakes and handicap events. The top race on the roster is the Colorado Mile, a 5,- 000 added event for three-year-olds and upward. This event will be run Saturday, August 25, and will undoubtedly draw the top horses of the sector. Last years run-. ning of the Colorado Mile went to Mr. and Mrs. C. McDonoughs Mad Moment, who scored over Sunny Toots and Flaming Bush, with the net value to the winner being 2,000. Second in monetary value will be the Centennial Derby formerly the Colorado Derby, which this year will carry a value of 0,000 added, an increase of ,000 over the value in 1950. The Derby, of course, will be for three -year -olds, and will be over the one mile and one-eighth distance. The winner last year was Fleet Princess, owned by Mr. and Mrs. A. F., Hoyt. The opening-day feature will be the Speed Handicap for three-year-olds and upward, to be contested over the five-fur -t long distance with a purse of ,500 at stake. The Fourth of July headliner will be the Centennial Handicap, bearing a value of ,000, and is for three-year-olds and upward at six furlongs. Following the Centennial Handicap, racing secretary Ivan Thomas will return on Saturday, July 7. with the ,500 Royal Gorge Handicap for three-year-olds. One week later, Saturday, July 14, will be the Longs Peak Handicap at one mile, carrying a value of ,500 and is for three-year-olds and upward. The ,500 six-furlong Red Rocks Handicap will be contested Saturday, July 21, and it will be open to three-year-olds and upward. The first two-year-old feature will be the Silver Stakes, carrying a value of ,500 added, and the juveniles will be asked to travel five and one-half furlongs. The Mt. Evans Handicap to be run Saturday, August 4. and this feature will bring together topflight sprinters over the six-furlong distance contesting for a purse of ,500. The Mt. Evans will be for three-year-olds and upward. On Saturday, August 11. the Pikes Peak Handicap at one mile and one-sixteenth will take over the stellar spot. On Saturday, August 18, the top race will be for fillies and mares three-year-olds and upward and will be the ,500 Columbine Handicap at one mile. Following the Colorado Mile will be the Colorado Futurity to be run Saturday, September 1, and carries a value of ,000 added and is of course for two-year-olds over the six-furlong distance. Labor Day, Monday, September 3, will feature the Rocky Mountain Handicap for three-year-olds and upward at one mile and one-eighth with a value of ,000 added. The closing day feature on Saturday, September 8, will be the Colorado Breeders Stakes featuring the top two-year-olds bred in this state, and carrying a purse of ,500 added. The latter will be at five and one -half furlongs. Meanwhile, general manager Tunney is making rapid strides in readying the colorful mile oval for the approaching season. Track superintendent Johnny Woodward has the golden mile in nearly top condition at present and will have numerous horses breezing over the strip within the next few days.
