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Osborne, Maxwell Wait River Downs Start Friday Approximately 900 Horses on Hand For 44-Day Meeting at Ohio Plant CINCINNATI, Ohio., June 2.--Southern Ohios 1954 racing season will get under way Friday, when River Downs throws open its gates for a 44-day meet at its mile plant. Approximately 800 horses already are on hand and by the time the first call to the post rolls around, the horse- colony will be swelled by at least another 100 head. Many thoroughbreds that saw action at Ascot and Beulah Parks are awaiting their bids for achievement and purse earnings for their respective owners. Prominent among the horsemen now at River Downs are Gail Osborne and Pete Maxwell. Osborne, who has a public stable of 20, was the leading trainer at last years River Downs session and topped the conditioners at the recently concluded Beulah meeting. Ih fact, Osborne set a new mark of 20 winners during the 44-day meeting in 1953. Maxwell, who has 15 charges in his care, all his own, has been one of Ohios leading owner-trainers for the past four seasons. He was the No. 1 owner at River Downs last year with 12 victors, and has been the top man at Ascot for the last three years, holding the record for number of winnersj 24, saddled during a meeting at the three-quarter mile track in Akron. ijTiaay s opemng-aay ieaiure wm ue me ,000. Welcome Purse, with the ,000 New River Downs Purse headlining a nine-race card on the second day of the meeting this Saturday. Eight races will be presented on week days, nine on Saturdays and July 4. Post time for the first race will be 2:30 p. m with the Daily Double windows closing five minutes before post time for the initial event. Heading the feature race list is the 0,-000 River Downs Championship.
