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LaaKiMBl Ak-Sar-Ben By Hugh J. McGuire Profits From Ak-Sar-Ben Well Spent Goes to Charities and Philanthropies Fosters Good Will for the Turf in Area AK-SAR-BEN, Omaha, Nebr., June 1.— Records were toppled here on Memorial Day both for attendance and mutuel handle for an eight-race program. Nebras-kans kans and and visitors visitors to to the the number number kans and and visitors visitors to to the the number number of 18,582 passed through the turnstiles to top by 433 persons the mark set on the same day a year ago. In the wagering department 10,687 passed through the totalisator as compared with the previous high, for an eight-race program of 56,711 recorded July 3 of last year, a Saturday. Memorial Day handle a year ago was 24,916. All of which made general general manager manager Jake Jake Isaacson Isaacson general general manager manager Jake Jake Isaacson Isaacson LaaKiMBl and his associates quite happy in the knowledge that the profits will be utilized for additional improvements to the plant and for other charitable and philanthropic causes. Perhaps nowhere else in racing in this country are the surpluses of the sport divided in such a tangible manner. Rather than place racing profits in the states general fund to be lost in the shuffle, this non-profit track pinpoints the money for specific events and the public is made aware of the benefits that accrue from the sport. Keith Carter, assistant general manager here, showed us a list of civic, educational and charitable activities scheduled for 1955 and these included such items as 100 scholarships at the University of Nebraska and two fellowships for graduates at the same seat of learning. There are 36 scholarships at the Curtis Agricultural School. Aid to 4-H and Future Farmers Programs In addition provision is made for financial aid to upper classmeh, and to 4-H and other units. There are awards to livestock and dairy shows, Future" Farmers programs, agricultural road shows, poultry shows, food products, good neighbor and newspaper recognition, public affairs committees, county fairs and a host of other projects. All of these grants and awards give credit to the sport of racing and cannot fail to provide a strong assist to good public relations for the thoroughbred industry at large. All civic clubs are to be invited luncheon guests of the association during this meeting. No less* than 72 of some 90 counties in the state are availing themselves of the privilege of matching grants from Ak-Sar-Ben for the improvement of their local fairs. The sport has become definitely integrated with the entire enonomy of the area in a. manner certain to build good will for racing. A novel feature of the track operation here is the maintenance of the Junior Jockey Club. This is an area fenced and supervised, at the west end of the grandstand and reserved exclusively for the use of children. Many of the owners and trainers racing here live in nearby trailers and in the general neighborhood and their children are supplied with replicas of the regular admission badges. They are brought to the enclosure by their parents and left there where they have their own grandstand, refreshment booths and other facilities. Nebraska law prohibits children under 16 from frequenting the betting area but they are allowed in their own section. Children of other patrons pay a nominal admission to the enclosure. In other sectorsv the prohibiting of children at tracks is thought to create a stigma against the sport in the minds of the youngsters. Here the small fry learn early that racing has nothing to hide. Continuous Improvement a Major Factor Because of the non-prof it factor in the operation of this course the plant is not permitted to become • static in *its appointments. When there are -profits tHese must be spent and the various departments are constantly kept up to date. On the planning board and effective following this meeting is the demolition of •the last four of the oldest barns on the property. These are to be replaced with three barns of modern design, each with 40 stalls and eight tack rooms. When these are completed all barns will have been equipped with sprinkler systems. Some small older buildings will remain only until the eventual accomplishment of a major project that will include the building of a new access road to accommodate patrons from the west and north. In Brief : Trainer Vern Long has decided not to send the two-year-old gelding Vohn to Chicago for his engagement in the Joliet Stakes. The youngster has taken to speedy-cutting himself which Long attributes not to faulty action but to natural growth. Long is of the belief that Vohn will make a better three-year-old if he is sparingly raced but he may be pointed for the ,000 Ak-Sar-Ben Juvenile Stakes here June 29. He was a convincing winner here just the other day. . . . Jockey Buddy Mills is making his first appearance here since 1949. He has enjoyed considerable success on the Ohio circuit. . . . Local fans who saw Hijo Lanty race here several seasons ago, saw her first foal, Bull Lanty, finish second last Saturday. The youngster is*a handsome son of Spotted Bull. _
