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Ascot Park I «/ W. A, Cr«i;o Two Now Handicap:! Feature Saturday Card Wagering Increases, But Attendance Down Knight to Make Presentation on Week End AandcdV IAltlC, Cuyahoga Kalla, Ohio, May V,-itaelng «ocretary Charlea F. Henry announced Monday that bccatifjo of rack condltlona the entilert for Uic Falrlawn Holghta and Hcacon-Journal handleapa will bo accepted until noon Thuraday. J tol.h oventa are to be ataged 8at-urday, and It will bo the Inauguration or both to be presented annually hero. The FalrJawn hart a one mile and ono-aixteenth fltaglng and la dealgncd for thrtc-year-olda and older lioraea. The lioaeon-Journal la to be conteated at ylx and one-hair rurlonga, but the aame age group la eligible. Moth ovonta are endowed with a ,000 purse, . . , Last week we were in error when the attendance figures were quoted u« having Increased. The attendance rlgurea for the first 27 daya of the meeting are con-alderably less. For the 1055 sesalon, hiring the aamc number or days, 170,303 fans were recorded. Ho far this year there have been 144,731 to pass through the turnstiles, 25,572 fewer than last year. There has to bo aome aort of reason, but at this moment it eacupes us. To date, there htm been 1956.sh,792,090 wagered, while for the same period last year the figure was ,oa0,Bf53. Last year, the weather waa Ideal and thla year there have been but two days when the track was normal, with rain and cold weather prevailing. The 02,830 Increase in handle Is approximately eight per cent. Many Akron Notables on Hand Clubhouse Notes: Frequent visitors arc Robert A. "Bob" Wilson, and Allen T. Simmons. . . . Wilson is general manager of Radio Station WADC In Akron and Simmons operates Idle Hour Farm at Lexington, Ky. Gus Burkhardts bay colt, Mr. Bob W., one of the nations most promising two-year-olds last season, was named for the WADC general manager. . . . On hand for Akron Day here last Saturday was Akrons mayor and service director and their v/Ivcs, Mayor Leo A. Berg and service director Leo A. Walters. . . . The mayor picked the winner of the Akron Handicap, to which he made the presentation, but he did not back up his judgment. . . . Frank Knight, son of John S. Knight, publisher of one of Americas best known newspaper chains, embracing the Akron Beacon Journal, Detroit Free Press, Miami Herald, Chicago Daily News and Charlotte Observer, will be on hand Saturday to present the trophy for the ,000 Beacon-Journal Handicap. Mrs. John Raymond, wife of the Akron industrialist, is a frequent hostess for her many friends among the Akron social set. . . . Robert "Bob" Wolfes talents ordinarily are devoted to commercial art, but the co-owner of Akron Adversiing Art can lend an appraising eye to thoroughbred art as well. He is a box holder and a regular patron. . . . Nick Citfello, one of Akron areas better-known sports backers, and owner of Luigis, a midnight-to-dawn eatery, has decided to forego his sleep for the meeting. Nick is on hand just about every afternoon. . . . Ron Gamble, manager of the Palace Theatre, and G. Bernard Harris, prominent young Akron lawyer, were among those on hand for the Akron Handicap. . . . Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hudson, Grove City, Ohio patrons of the sport, were on hand for several days. Going into the final 18 days of the meeting, Gail Parker, although he is sitting out a vacation imposed via the stewards, leads the jockey race with 18 wins, nine seconds and 11 thirds. The Idahoan has taken 66 mounts, been in the money 38 times for a rather healthy percentage of .57 plus. . . . Norman Hart, however, is closing in and may pass Parker before the suspension is lifted Friday. . . . Hart has had 17 visits to the winners circle, 15 seconds and 10 thirds. He, too, has been in the money .57 per cent of his times out. Apprentice Noah Atchley, also serving a suspension, was quite a sensation around here with a spectacular debut. He and John J. Rivera have 13 wins each. . . . There are but three horses at the meeting with perfect records; Mr. and Mrs. P. Maxwells Heart Flash, D. P. Hagarmans Southern Kid and H. F. Lukas Bless Me Too have each turned in three winning performances. Maxwell Leading Trainer at Meet Owner-trainer Pete Maxwell appears to have a substantial lead for the trainers award. . . . "Pete" has saddled 61 for a score of 13 wins. His closest rival is Thurman Gammon, who has had 32 to go postward and eight have been winners. . . . E. E. New, is a close third with 28 saddling chores for seven winners. . . . H. Munk, W. Gateman and J. Kemp are tied with six each. . . . A party of friends toured River Downs over the week end and report that the plant will have one of the most modem turf courses in the country. The turns are reportedly very well banked and the grass appears to be coming very thick and heavy. . . . River Downs will begin a 44-day session May 25 and conclude July 14. . . . Trainer William P. Bell is now called "The Chicken King." . . . The portals of a local hotel were a bit noisy one night last week after Bill called down to tell the night man on the desk that there were little chicks in his bed. The night man, figuring it an untruth, told him "that is all right Mr. Bell, go back to bed." . . . The culprit who performed the act is still being sought and, at last report, Bell was carrying on a very intensive private Investigation.
