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Jackson Raceway Meet Success Presages Well for Big Tracks JACKSON, Mich., May 24.— With racing in Michigan opening on the major circuit Friday, the four associations which make up this select group — Michigan Racing Association and Hazel Park Racing Association for the thoroughbreds and Wolverine Harness Raceway and Northville Downs for the standardbreds — can take hope from the figures coming out of Jackson Raceway in Jackson, Michigan, where night harness! racing has been going on since May JL2. .--Jackson Raceway is located 75 miles from Detroit in a city of 50,000 population surrounded by open farming country. In its first two seasons, the going was rough, but Leon A. Slavin, Kalamazoo paper manufacturer, who as president of Jackson Trotting Association and general manager of the; track is also its financial backer, wouldnt give up. "Its going to take time," he said repeatedly. "We have to start almost from scratch and "sell" racing to the people in this area, and we need some support from Detroit fans."" Apparently the selling job has been successful on the local level, and the support from the Detroit area has been little short of "amazing." Surveys last week-end reveal that on Friday night, 106 cars bearing Wayne County Detroit license plates were checked into the parking lot. In addition, Greyhound Lines brought in 68 passengers. Saturday, 240 cars were tagged from Detroit, and Detroit bus passengers totaled 78. Saturday nights crowd wagered 8,007 for a new mutuel record at the track. Percentage-wise, at the end of the first nine days of the meeting which concludes on June 9, wagering stands 47 per cent above above the corresponding totals a. year ago.! t t 1 a y it f y. id- c 5 1 * , z-
