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Absecon Island Stakes Increased to 5,000 Two-Year-Old Grass bourse Race Scheduled for Oct 1 ATLANTIC CITY, N. J., May 4. — The Absecon Island Stakes, richest grass race for two-year-olds, will carry added money of 5,000 this year, it was announced today by the Atlantic City Race Course, which opens its 50-day, meeting on August 9. The Absecon Island, a one-mile event, is scheduled for Saturday/ October 1, and is one of eight stakes to be -run on the tracks fine turf course. Last year, the Absecon .Island was run as a handicap, with Rokeby Stables Cup Man, Jack Westrope in the saddle, taking the! winners share of the 0,000 prize. Named for the island on which the city of Atlantic City is located, the Absecon Island has been a fixture since the opening of the shore course in 1946. It was run on the main track until 1951, when it was moved to the turf course, and last year for the first time became a two-year-old event. "The Absecon Island, which this year; will carry ,000 more added money than in the past," John B. Kelly, track president, said, "is an interesting event in that it is for two-year-olds at one mile on the grass. It is a good test for the young racers and we hope will become a trial ground for a number of those who will go after the worlds richest race at Garden State a bit later in the fall. "This year we will continue to emphasize grass racing, which" we at the Shore feel makes a major contribution to a well-rounded racing program. We are especially proud of our one-mile turf course, which at 100 feet is the widest in the country, it is a really outstanding racing strip. In the 00,000 "triple turf classic," with its American and foreign-bred stakes and climaxed by the United National Handicap, we believe we have a series that produces a true champion. Our complete stakes schedule, soon to be announced, includes eight grass races and we plan to run many overnights on the turf course."
