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View of new horsemens cafe at Ak-Sar-Ben track at Omaha, Nebr. New Cafe in Ak-Sar-Ben Stabling Area Will Greet Horsemen and Racing Fans Workmen Swarming Over Big Omaha Plant in Preparation For Meet Opening on May 19 OMAHA, Nebr., May 3. — Every year at this time the long-awaited spring weather brings increased activity to Ak-Sar-Ben Field where the Omaha civic organization is busily preparing for the opening of its 35-day race meeting on Thursday, May 19. " All during April huge truck vans and the railroads transported horses to the sprawling West Center Street grounds from other tracks in California, Louisiana, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida and Kentucky. Workmen have been swarming over the grandstand, stabling area and other parts of the grounds to complete scores of new improvements before opening day. And to watch all this activity and get an early preview of the many new features, hundreds of onlookers have been paying regular week-end visits to Ak-Sar-Ben cFisld to watch early morning track workouts, and inspect the modern new installations. Then to top off their outing the visitors, many with their children in tow, mingle with stable owners, trainers, jockeys and other track personnel to enjoy a hearty breakfast in the newly-constructed, horsemens cafe. The new cafe is just one of the many improvements which will greet racing fans and horsemen at this years meeting. The new glazed tile and stucco cafe, surrounded by a spacious parking lot, is located in the southwestern stabling area of Ak-Sar-Ben | Field. j Colorful Paddock Buffet Most popular perhaps, from the patron point of view, is the colorful new paddock buffet, patterned after a similar installation at Santa Anita. Stressing comfort and eye-catching beauty as well as convenience, the new buffet is located in the lower grandstand area formerly occupied by the indoor paddock. The paddock buffet will be open to the public at 11:30 a. m. each racing day. General manager J. J. Isaacson said Ak-Sar-Bens extensive improvement program extends into the upper grandstand where all 10,000 seats are now of the streamlined and comfortable stadium type, complete with arm rests. A new standing ramp in the outdoor paddock has elevated steps facing both the paddock and the track and will accommodate an additional 400 to 500 fans. Patrons seated in the grandstand this year will have an unobstructed view of the finish line. The old stewards stand, formerly on the lawn level at the finish line, has been replaced by a new all-steel structure on the roof of the grandstand, which also houses new quarters for the press, radio and television, track announcer and photo finish equipment. A fast new camera has been installed in the photo, finish booth and is capable of shooting several thousand feet of film per second. The film patrol system will be used here for; the first time this year, with movie cameras at strategic points around the track filming every detail of each race. An unique closed circuit television hookup, which will screen the racing action on a special stewards television set in the stewards stand, will make it possible for the stewards to review any race within two minutes of its conclusion without ever leaving their quarters. Other major improvements in the Akr Sar-Ben stabling area include the construction of a new 48 -stall barn, the installation of additional automatic sprinkler systems for increased fire protection, and the com- I pletion of spacious parking lots for horse- mens cars. Isaacson said Sunday, May 15, is to be "open house" day at Ak-Sar-Ben, and visitors are invited to inspect the grounds and facilities from 9:00 to 11:00 a. m.
