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Renovate Centennials Strip for Coming Meet Mix 1,200 Yards of Fine Sand To Improve Cushion of Track LITTLETON, Colo.., May 26.— Renova- tion of Centennials racing strip for the 50-day season opening here July 2 will be completed some time this week, according to track superintendent John Gilbert. Under Gilberts supervision, some 1,200 yards of fine sand has been distributed over the one-mile oval. It will be mixed with the tracks soil to improve the texture of the racing cushion. The special sand was discovered by Gilbert in the Sand Creek area northeast of Denver after a search of the entire region. He described it as the finest sand in the Denver area. By blading and harrowing it into the existing surface, Gilbert expects to develop a softer, fluffier cushion, as well as a mixture that will crumble readily following rains or heavy watering, instead "of balling into clods. More than 6,500 yards of sandy silt loam were added to the Centennial track last year, and horsemen agreed the racing surface was the best in Centennials four-year history. After the 1953 meeting, the track was broken up to prevent winter, erosion, then returned to racing condition this spring. It has been harrowed frequently since April 1 to restore last summers safe, springy cushion in time for pre-season training.
