view raw text
J. J. ISAACSON — Genera! manager of Ak-Sar-Ben, which will inaugurate its annual 35-day meeting this afternoon. ► , ■ Ak-Sar-Ben Opens Annual Meet at Omaha Oval Today Offer Inqugural Handicap 4 In Two Divisions; Agreement Made With HBP A on Purses By J. SWEENEY GRANT Staff Correspondent AK-SAR-BEN, Omaha, Nebr., May 19. — Thoroughbred racing returns to Nebraska tomorrow with the opening of the Ak-Sar-Ben track which will present 35 days of sport ending on Saturday, July 5. J. J. "Jake" Isaacson, general manager of the track, long since has had the plant in excellent shape for the opening of the 1952 season, which gives every indication of being the mpst successful in the history of racing in the "Cornhusker" state. Isaacson and other, members of the executive staff including director of racing R. A. "Dick" Leigh met with committeemen of the Horsemens Benevolent and Protective Association Sunday and amicably worked out a purse increase agreeable to both factions. It was agreed to increase purses in the first condition book on the basis of a ,000 raise in daily distribution for the initial -12 days. Isaacson gave the horsemen added optimism by stating that the purses would be additionally increased again after the firstr 12 days should the mutuel wagering so warrant. The racing secretary received 19 nominations for the Ak-Sar-Ben Inaugural Handi- Continued on Page Three Ak-Sar-Ben Inaugural Run in Two Divisions Omaha Track Management, HBPA Reach Agreement on Purses Continued from Page One cap and as during the past several years decided to, present the six-furlong event in two divisions "with each carrying the original ,000 endowment. Topweighted members of the first division are A. C. Sipes Charing Light and E. Carey and J. Evans Ill Be, both of whom will answer the bugle under equal 113-pound imposts. Comprising the remainder of the field are the Love-land T Stables First Blue 112, J. M. Fleishmans Mio Ace 110, W. E. Britts Dry Summer 107, W. D. Rorick and L. O. Lanes Thistle Dog 106, Delia Shrivers Take All 195, H. E. Donovans Charlotte F. 105, Alice Likins Royals Last 103, and Robert Warrens Newton Airds 100. The second division attracted S. S. Barretts top-burdened Auntie, who will parade postward under a 112-pound assessment, the Loveland Stables Black Battle 110, Circle R Ranchs Snapheel 109, Mrs. Earl H. Beezleys R U There 109, W. D. Rorick and L. O. Lanes Dr. Tulip 109, Guy and Walter Schultz Butch K. 109, Bus Petschs Lasting War 108, William M. Fudges My Time 107, and Louis Marchios Makaylita 106. Ill Be has been training cleverly over the local strip and most likely will be accorded the favorites role in the first division. Mio Ace and Charing Light have also been impressive in morning trials and promise to furnish the chief contention. Dry Summer, Thistle Dog, and Take All must merit consideration under their respective modest imposts. The second division gives every promise of being a more heatedly contested spectacle than its counterpart. Auntie has never been better and she should display a fondness for the firmness of the Omaha strip. Lasting War, who was purchased from the Mrs. Emil Denemark unit during the Oaklawn Park meeting, was unable to score during her stay in Chicago recently, but gave every indication that she will prove difficult to down in future engagements. Butch K. is one of the more pronounced local favorites and will command support. Snapheel is highly regarded, but following a period of inactivity may need racing to attain top form. My Time was a winner at Oaklawn Park, but has been laid up for the past several weeks. Both Snapheel and My Time could garner the major portion of the purse if ready. In the new purse schedule arrived at with the HBP A, ,000 a day was added to last years distribution of 53,000. On the basis of 33 days sport last year, this would make the 1952 purse outlay, 86,000, plus the purses to be given on two extra days being raced this year. A minimum purse of ,200 was agreed upon. "We found the management most reasonable in its desire to cooperate with the horsemen," said M. R. Latimer, regional vice-president of the HBPA. "Not only did they agree that present day conditions warranted increased purses, but they also acted favorably on suggestions regarding physical condition of the plant." Representing the HBPA as a committee for the horsemen, besides Latimer, were L. O. "Spec" Lane, Guy Shultz, Jerry Ten-nant, Leonard Owens, Earl Cowey, Allen Higgins and Lee Bush. Ronnie Stewart served as secretary to the committee. Ak-Sar-Ben was represented by general manager J. J. Isaacson and director of racing R. A. Leigh. At a general meeting of the horsemen Sunday afternoon, the agreement with the management was approved by a vote of 93 to 10.
