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Horses Start Arriving At River Downs Course Expect Over 850 Head to Be on Hand for Meet Opening June 4 CALIFORNIA, Ohio, May 27.— The first 100 thoroughbreds, who will soon be racing for the finish wire at River Downs, were bedded down at the mile track on Wednesday and will be working out on the racing strip daily in preparation for the June 4 opening of the local oval. Gene Schmitt, official announcer at River Downs as well as at Churchill Downs, is serving as stall superintendent at River Downs and reports that most of the early invaders have been shipped from the recently closed Churchill Downs meet and from Keeneland Race Track at Lexington. More than 850 horses are expected for the 44-day session at River Downs which runs through July 24. Many of the stables will ship in the first of next week following the close of Ascot Park meeting near Akron, and the close of Beulah Park near Columbus. However, more than 250 horses are scheduled to arrive at the Queen City oval before the end of this week as Eastern horsemen send in thoroughbreds before the opening, and more campaigners arrive from Kentucky. The tempo of final work at River Downs has been speeded up this week to insure completion of all details several days before the Friday, June 4 opening. An extensive landscaping program, which was held off until the last minute due to the recent inclement weather, was completed early this week, and last of many gallons of paint used to beautify the Ohio River course will be brushed on the middle of the week. Eight races will be run every week day during the 44-day meeting with nine events on Saturdays and Independence Day, Post time for the first race daily will be 2 :30 p.m. The feature race of the day will be the seventh event on the eight-race cards and eighth race on the Saturday and Holiday programs. The opening day feature event will be the fifth running of the Welcome Purse, a ,000 event over the mile and one-sixteenth distance.
