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Omaha Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc., Now Going Corporation in Nebraska Seven Members Brought 1935 Triple Crown Winner West To Improve Breeding in State OMAHA Nebr., June 6.— There are a lot Ail people in Nebraska and neighboring states who know very little about thoroughbred horses and thoroughbred horse breeding. The reason, of course, is that up to now thoroughbred horse breeding has been a minor industry in this part of the country. But thanks to a novel idea and the interest of seven men in improving Nebraskas racing stock, the thoroughbred horse business is destined to take a more important place in the Middle West. The idea originated with the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben and the prominent New York horseman, William Woodward, owner of Omaha, the famed thoroughbred who captured the "Triple Crown" in 1935. Through special arrangements with Woodward, Ak-Sar-Ben brought Omaha to Nebraska last fall to stand at stud for 12 months for the purpose of improving the thoroughbred breed in Nebraska. Then a group of Nebraska business men, striving to assure the success of Omahas mission, went a step further. They purchased five topnotch mares in Kentucky, two others in Nebraska, and shipped all seven to Nebraska City to join Omaha at the Grove Porter Farm. Today, that seven-man group is a full-fledged corporation, under the laws of the state of Nebraska, and doing business under the name of Omaha Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. President of the corporation is Bert Murphy whose name long has been associated with Nebraska sporting events. Vice-presidents are Leo A. Daly, Jr., Omaha architect; Robert P. Samardick, Omaha armored car company president, and H. J. Schwab, Scottsbluff lumberman. Secretary is J. J. Isaacson, general manager of Ak-Sar-Ben. Assistant secretary is Ralph E. Boomer of Lincoln, secretary of the Nebraska Racing Commission, and treasurer is Grove Porter, Nebrasba City farmer and horseman. The group has no interest in and little opportunity of realizing a cash profit from their venture. Offsprings from their Omaha-bred mares will not race for the group, but will be placed with mid-western owners and trainers for racing careers. The articles of incorporation state that the groups business will be to "promote and encourage the breeding of thoroughbred horses in Nebraska and neighboring states by purchasing thoroughbred mares, breeding them to thoroughbred stallions, and selling or leasing the mares with foal or colt to purchasers in Nebraska and neighboring states, to improve the number and strain of thoroughbred horses in this part of the country." Omaha is expected to sire between 30 and 40 foals during his 12-month stay in Nebraska. So by 1953 there should be that many sleek, two-year-olds racing throughout the country with the famed big red horses name on their breeding papers. That will be the profit for Omaha Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. — the knowl-edege that they have helped to improve the caliber of racing stock in the Middle West.
