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Aqueducts Distribution 13,500 First Ten Days First Issue of Condition Book Shows 1,500 Boost Over 1951 AQUEDUCT, L. I., N. Y., June 9.— Horsemen examining the recently issued Aqueduct condition book, which covers "the first 10 days of the 27-day meeting starting Thursday, were agreeably pleased to find a substantial increase in purse distribution. The book offers 13,500 in overall distribution for the 10 days, an increase of 1,500 over the 52,000 handed out for a like period last year. These figures include stakes, both on the flat and through the field, and all overnight events. Aqueduct has always ranked high nationally* in the purse distribution department. The 1952 American Racing Manual lists the Queens County course fourth in the nation for total distribution, the list being headed by Belmont Park, Santa Anita and Hollywood, all of which have longer meetings than Aqueduct. In daily average distribution Aqueduct ranks fifth. The first edition of the condition book is a well-planned one. It gives horses in every division an opportunity to run, from the lower-priced claimers to stakes performers. Several classified handicaps, car- rying added money up to 0,000, are included. Five stakes on the flat and two over the hurdles will be run during the period. Four overnight handicaps are also on the agenda. Opening-day feature is the 0,000 added Queens County Handicaps, followed by the 5,000 Gazelle, the 0,000 Astoria, the 0,000 Shevlin, and the 5,000 Edgemere. The ,000 Aqueduct National Maiden Hurdle and the ,500 Amagansett Hurdle will also be. decided. The Happy Argo, Brighton Beach classified and the Audacious, all at ,500, and the 0,000 Miss Woolford are overnight handicaps designed to attract the better performers. Of the 80 graces scheduled, 20 are for two-year-olds at five and a half furlongs. Sixteen six-furlong sprints, six at seven furlongs, 18 at a mile and a sixteenth, 11 at a mile and a furlong, and one at a mile and a quarter give a diversified program. The remaining eight events are over the jumps.
