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Ascot Park Attendance, Mutuel Figures Just About Equal 53 Crowds Average 4,250, 4 Handle, 38,022 for Meeting of 39 Days Ascot Park, the three-quarter mile oval at Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, concluded its 39-day spring meeting on Memorial Day on a highly successful note. This little course, that actually lies in Northhampton and once went under the name of Northhampton Park, got Ohios racing season off to a record start on April 14 when an unprecedented opening-day crowd of 8,295 wagered 84,584 on the inaugural eight-race program. Both figures were opening-day records for Ascot. In 1953," the opening day attendance was 4,551, and they braved chilly weather to wager 43,373 on nine races. This year, there were only eight races under a new rule by the Ohio Racing Commission limiting the number of races to eight, except on holidays and Saturdays. On closing day last Monday, 9,173 patrons bet 06,402 to brirg the respective totals for the meeting to 165,732 and ,282,875. Ascots daily attendance average r -mained even with 1953 when the daily mean was 4,241. This year, nine more persons attended on a daily basis. The daily average handle for the recently concluded session was 38,022, as compared with 40,819 in 1953, a drop of a mere one per cent. Some Fun captured the 14th running of the two-mile Ascot Gold Cup, big feature race of the meeting, on May 29. This event. which is increased in added value by ,000 each year, was worth ,400 to Some Funs connections. This horse also finished second once for a grand total of ,400 in earnings to top the thoroughbred money-winning list. Maxwells in Top Spot Mr. and Mrs. P. Maxwell landed in the No. 1 spot among the money-earning owners with 3,875. Maxwell, who trains the horses who run under his wifes colors, easily led the trainers with 25 successes. In the jockey competition, it was G. Parker also easily on top with 63 winners in 256 mounts and the best percentage too .25. E. Plesa was runner-up with 46 victors in 232 attempts. A possible strike by the jockeys was cancelled on opening day when the riders agreed to give the owners more time to study a wage scale the jockeys wanted. Representatives of the jockeys and horsemen-met later in the week andjsettled the issue. ; Racing on May 10 and li was canceled by the stewards, who made their decision after watching several horses work out over the weather -wrought strip. The unsafe condition of the track was caused by an unsual amount of rain in the area during the previous three weeks. A hole just inside the first turn had to be properly repaired. On Saturday, May 8, all races were carded at four and one-half furlongs for the second time during the meeting to avoid the risk of using the first turn. Ike Bassett, central manager of the Jockeys Guild was called to the Akron course and, after lengthy discussion with track officials, allowed the jockeys to ride, but it was under protest. After the weather obstacle, nine races per day were conducted for the remainder of the term in order to enable horsemen to recoup their losses for the two-day cessation. Frank Moore, director of operations at Ascot, asked the State Racing Commission for this concession, and it was granted immediately. Complete Ascot Park statistics: April 14 to May 3139 Days Gross distribution 70,700 Net distribution .70,700 Daily average net distribution . .,505.13 Attendance 165,732 Daily average attendance 4,250 Mutuel handle ,282,875 Daily average mutuel handle 38,022 Leading Money-Winning Owners Owner. 1st 2nd. 3rd. Won; Maxwell, Mr. and Mrs. P. 25 23 11 3,875 Wynkoop.J.K. 14 7 4 11,525 River Divide Farm 1 1 0 9,450 Surber.J. 9 5 14 9,075 Berry, F.N. 9 9 -4" 8,650 Leading Money-Winning Horses Horse. - 1st. 2nd. 3rd. Won. Some Fun 1 1 0 $ 9,400 Dashing Count 5 0 1 6,100 Bless Me Too 4 3 1 3,725 DaingerRing 4 2 0 3,575 Blacktype 1 0 0 3,450 Just Free 4 4 0 3,450 I JOCKEY ALFRED POPARA Was astride three winners in a row on Saturdays Lincoln Fields program.
