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Ascot Park J. R. Batty Plan Gala Finale for Ascot Park Meeting Four Handicaps to Feature May 21 Card New Retention Barn Nearing Completion ASCOT PARK, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, May 7.— Never before in the long history of racing at Ascot Park Park has has such such an an array array of of feature feature : races been posted for Park Park has has such such an an array array of of feature feature : a single program as is planned for closing day here Saturday, May 21. Racing secretary and handi-capper Charles Henry announced to horsemen that the final program of this 44-day meeting will contain two events offering purses of ,000 and a pair with ,500 endowed. The quartet of races includes the Adios Amigos Handicap, at four and a half furlongs; the Old Portage Handicap, at six and a half furlongs; the Auld Lang Syne Handicap, an endurance race to be decided over the locally popular distance of one and nine-sixteenths miles. All of these handicaps are styled for three-year-olds and older horses. First impression would be to doubt that Henry can attract enough horses to fill all four of these races and when questioned the California official stated quite conf identally .that he should experience little difficulty because neighboring ThistleDown, which is opening its doors for admittance to horses next week, will supply some fresh racing material for this plant. Henry has posted limit fields of 10 starters in the majority of his races already presented and he is of firm belief that the stabling area will contain more than an ample number from which to select until the closing program is decided. Silver Cup Consolation Event The Ascot Silver Cup is carded especially as a consolation prize for horses which will compete in the Ascot Gold Cup, according to Henry. The winner of next weeks Gold Cup race will automatically be ineligible for the Silver Cup. Preference in the Silver Cup will again be to horses which have won or finished second at one and a half miles or over. Score another first for Ascot Park. The Akron area racing strip not only will be the first track in Ohio to have an Ohio State Racing Commission wholly-approved retention barn, but is going a step further in making certain that winners reach that barn under complete supervision. As each winning horse leaves the winners circle, the thoroughbred is picked up by one of the tracks pony boys and escorted directly to the retention barn for state-required saliva and urine tests. The new retention barn is being constructed in record-breaking time under supervision of Joseph V. Solomon, state veterinarian. Walls and stall have been completed, the barn goes under roof before the end of the coming week. Peter J. ODonnell, general manager here, is hopeful that by the time the Ascot Gold Cup is run Saturday, May 14, the winner will be escorted to the new barn. A race results service to fans in the northern Ohio area is now being provided nightly over radio station WADC in Akron. Bill Griffiths, veteran Akron sports announcer, broadcasts the results from all the major tracks from 11:15 to 11:45, six nights weekly. The program has a wide audience among turf followers in Akron and Cleveland. Willie Pool May Ride This Summer Jockey Willie Pool was a visitor today. Pool is an Ohio representative for the Jockeys Guild and conferred with Adams and ODonnell on routine matters. The veteran saddlesmith accepted several mounts in the area last year and plans to don silks a few times later this summer. He lost his "bug" some years ago. Pool now makes his home at Bedford, Ohio, and operates a restaurant outside the gates of Randall Park . The book of conditions containing the final 1 1 days of racing here was distributed to horsemen Friday. . . . Jim R. Burnett, who owns and trains a stable of six horses, is undecided aboutthe next town of campaign. . . . Florida license tags are prominent at most meetings but notice how they disappeared from cars here the past week. All parties working at this track are being compelled to purchase tags of this state. Seems Florida does the same when Buckeyes visit the Sunshine State. George Lewis, sports writer and handicapper for Cleveland Plain Dealer, came over from the Forest City to view the races Saturday. . . . Sica television of Akron, provided the three 27-inch Admiral television receivers over which Ascot Park fans viewed the 81st running of the Kentucky Derby. . . . Station WADC provided the audio over the public address system. . . . Apprentice Louis Argenio accepted his first Ascot mount when he rode Spring Meeting in the fourth race Friday. The lad comes from Providence, R. I. He is 1 9 years old and trainer Dave Robertson has his contract. Robertson, conditioner of 26 head here, one of the largest strings on the grounds, reports Argenio rode nine races this winter at Sunshine Park and handled himself well in the irons. . . . E. Thurston Colglazier sent along word from Churchill Downs that he will be at ThistleDown with the I. J. Collins horses. . . . W. A. Sklenicka, trainer of a publicly owned stable numbering eight head, is former Mayor of Warrens-ville Heights, Ohio. !
