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► = 4 Detroit Meeting Opens on Friday Big Influx of Horses From Kentucky Under Way; More Stabling Space This Year By DON FAIR Staff Correspondent DETROIT, Mich., May 19.— The Michigan Racing Association, which organization operates the Detroit Race Track, will inaugurate a 56-day meeting here next Friday, May 23. The swank plant, located near Plymouth at Middlebelt and Schoolcraft Roads, undoubtedly will enjoy one of its best seasons for many top class stables are moving in from Kentucky, Illinois, and other racing sectors. The heaviest influx of thoroughbred stock at this time is from Churchill Downs, which Kentucky Derby course completed its spring session Saturday afternoon. Robert G. Leavitt, general manager of the MRA, pointed out today that many stables well known to Motor City racing patrons are back on the scene and that several others in the same category are due momentarily. The added stabling space, made possible by the acquiring of the old barns from the Fair Grounds, increased stall capacity at the Detroit track to such an extent that some newer establishments to Wolverine State racing are being accommodated this year. President E. E. Dale Shaffer and executive vice-president George Haggarty, of the MRA, conferred with Leavitt this morning and complimented the youthful1 manager on the physical appearance of the entire plant. Considerable landscaping has added much color to the huge course and the 1952 thoroughbred season opening certainly will be presented in a setting pleasing to the eye. Belle Isle Opening Feature The big stand at the local oval is one of the finest in the nation and it has been put in splendid shape for the Friday inaugural program, which is to be headlined by the Belle Isle Purse, a six-furlong sprint for three-year-olds and older. With such crack units as those of Henry Forrest, Marion VanBerg, Lloyd Gentry, Maj. Lee Niles, Nicholas Burger, Dwight Denham, A. G. "Lex" Wilson, R. Harold Raines, Victor Perez, and Kenneth Noe, among others, on hand for the season, racing secretary Charles McLennan and the members of his staff should have little difficulty in filling the better grade races slated for decision here this spring. Along with, these establishments will come some well known reinsmen, the hustling Cook brothers, Lois and William McKinley, Tommy Barrow, Tommy Cafarelli, Jerry West, Sherman Armstrong, Chuck Headley, Willie Zakoor, Alfred Monteiro, Bobby Peabody and others too numerous to mention. While the Belle Isle Purse, opening day feature, is attracting considerable attention at this time, the Livonia Handicap, one mile for three-year-olds -and older, which is to be the principal offering on Saturday, May 24, also is creating quite a stir locally. Entries close on Thursday, May 23, for the Livonia, which carries a ,000 purse,- and weights for the eight-furlong attraction are to be posted on Friday morning. The weekend card also will have a good supporting number in the Ferndale Purse, six furlongs for three-year-olds, which should bring out a good field from that particular age division.
