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Ak-Sar-Ben Attendance, Play Up Considerably Crowds Show 10 Per Cent Upward Trend and Wagering, 25 Per Cent OMAHA, Nebr., June 2. — Despite one of the worst rainy periods in history, the Ak-Sar-Ben track here has made a remarkably good showing in the first eight days of its 1951 race meet. Attendance through May 31 was 59,900 this year, for a daily average of 7,487, against a daily average of 6,772 persons on the corresponding eight days a year ago. This in an increase of 10 per cent. The mutuels, however, show a much bigger increase, with the daily average jumping to 63,335, for a total of ,106,683, against a daily average of 10,598 for the same eight days in 1950. The increase in the daily average handle has been 2,737, or 25 per cent. Rain in Omaha this year is more than double the normal rainfall, and as a result, Ak-Sar-Ben has had an "off" track most of the time thus far. -Nevertheless, the track crew, under assistant general manager Al Wolf, has won the praise of the horsemen for keeping the racing strip safe and sure at all times. James P. Lee, chairman of Ak-Sar-Bens racing committee, and general manager J. I. Issacson were especially warm in their praise of director of racing R. A. Leigh and the horsemen; for providing well-filled fields in practically all of the races to date. In keeping with its past policy of improving purses when business warranted, Ak-Sar-Ben has alerady raised all overnight handicaps from ,500 to ,000, and is also adding to the advertised value of other feature races when good fields are provided. The feeling here is that the rains cant go on forever, and when good weather does come, Ak-Sar-Bens 1951 meet will soar to record-breaking proportions.
