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i i | I 1 i j 1 [ I I I I | : I j ! . Improvements Just About Finished at River Downs Feature Events Carded for Each Wednesday, Saturday Program CINCINNATI, Ohio, May 14.— Preparations for the biggest race meeting in the history of River Downs race track moved into high gear this week as top officials arrived at the mile oval to direct completion work on many innovations for the June 5 opening. The 1953 meeting at River Downs will run from June 5 through July 25. The largest purse distribution in the his-] tory of southern Ohio racing will highlight the 44-day session with more than 0,000 offered in feature purses alone. The total purse distribution for the 1953 meeting will be in excess of 35,000. Sixteen permanent feature events will headline the nine-race Wednesday and Sat-i urday programs with 15 of the features celebrating fourth anniversaries as members of the top races at River Downs. The only newcomer to the list of stake events will be the ,500 Pur Sang Purse run on Saturday, June 13. This one mile and seventy yards race has been named in honor of the Robert Kowall thoroughbred that took winning honors in the 1,000 River Downs Championship even in 1952. Two of the top trio of races at the Cin-I cmnati oval have received sizable increases for the 1953 meeting. The River Downs Championship, run on closing day, July 25 will carry a 5,000 purse for the fourth annual running. This is a ,000 increase over the 1952 purse value and gives south-I ern Ohio racing fans the first 5,000 race at River Downs since the early days of Queen City racing when the track was known as Coney Island. The two-mile Mar-I athon, won last year by C. H. Everitts Ball Hawk, has. been increased from a ,500 purse to 0,000 for the fourth running on Saturday, July 18. The Cincinnati Special Handicap to be run on Independence Day, July 4, will again carry a ,000 purse value! The River Downs office in the Sheraton Gibson Hotel, was opened Monday and all communications for the 44-day meeting should be addressed to that address.
