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Ascot Park — By W. A. Cruse Run Ten Races Each of Last Three Saturdays Interesting Brochure on ThistleDown Track James D. Price to Remain in Cleveland Area ASCOT PARK, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. May 9. — According to a recent announcement from general manager Peter J. ODonnell, the Ascot* Park Jockey Club, will offer 10 races on each of the three Saturdays left of the meeting. Included in the dates are next Saturday, May 11, May 18 and May 25. An interesting note to this schedule is the fact that two of the richest events of the meeting are up for decision on May 18. The 0,000 Ascot Gold Cup for three-year-olds and older over the marathon two-mile distance, and the ,000 Steppin Pappy Handicap, also for three- year-olds and upward but at six and one-half furlongs. This coming Saturday the ,000 Fairlawn Heights Handicap at one and one-sixteenth miles for three-year-olds and older and the ,000 Beacon Journal Handicap at six and one-half furlongs for the same age group are scheduled. The closing Saturday. May 25. . finds the ,000 Ascot Silver Cup up for decision as well as the ,000 Ascot Speed Handicap. In all, the 30 races offered on the three Saturdays remaining of this meeting, as well as the daily nine-race cards, should reimburse in full for the days lost earlier in the meeting because of an unsafe racing strip, brought about by unusual weather conditions. The ThistleDown meeting follows Ascot Parks close on May 27. ThistleDown located just a short distance from Cleveland, is a "neighbor" of Randall Park and Cranwood. It again will run for 44 days this season. A brochure on ThistleDown has been prepared by general manager John OKeeffe. Of particular interest is a short history of racing in the state of Ohio in which he describes the early sport in the Buckeye State. "It flourished in crude form locally before Ohio had been accepted as a state. Then back in 1838 thoroughbred racing moved across the big river from Kentucky and into Cincinnati. That year a meeting was conducted in the southern Ohio city backed by capital from New Orleans." Sport Dates Back to Civil War Era OKeeffes history of Ohio racing has the sport arriving in the Cleveland area about the time of the Civil War-. It states that Erin Go Bragh won the first race at a recognized meeting in the sector and goes on to say that a race is named in honor of Erin Go Bragh annually at Cranwood. Also in the records are the facts that Maple Heights, Bainbridge and in 1925. ThistleDown. were the first tracks. Since those days, however, Ohio can boast of eight major race courses which include Ascot Park. Beulah Park, Cranwood, Fort Miami, Hamilton, Randall Park, River Downs and ThistleDown. All but one of these now are permanent, with the lease on Hamilton about to expire. However, the management of that half miler, the only one remaining in the state, is reported looking about for greener pastures. Akronotes . . . Trainer James D. Price announced today that instead of shipping to various parts of the state this summer, he will stay right in the Akron -Cleveland area. Jim has one of £he largest public stables on the grounds with 15 head in all for six different patrons. Included on his registration list as owners are Marie Brandt, of Indianapolis, Ind.. William Mayette, the Watseka, Illinois sportsman; the Lake-view Stable, Mrs. L. Davidson, who is from Peewaukee. Wise. Prices local employers include Earl Kelly of Akron, Walter Mendenhall and Joyn Reneau and Eric Zepht of Cleveland. Price has taken first call on apprentice Michael Koptyra and leased the lads contract from Leo Wells. Plan Roman-Double So Mating Ben Myres, who trains for the Potato Chip Farm, owned by Harry Husman of Cincinnati, shipped the mare Double So to John Randolphs Shadyside Farm at Lexington, Ky. She will be bred to Roman. . . . According to the new law written into the Ohio rules of racing one race a week is to be carded for Buckeye -bred or-owned horses. . . . Jim Savoy, one of the younger as well as more successful trainers on the grounds, is expecting three more horses to be shipped to him. Jim trains for Mrs. G. Iannelli, the Pittsburgh, Pa. patron. He is expecting Noble Partner, King for All and Alpine Prince from Lincoln Downs. Jim has shipped Sary to George Handy at the New England course. . . . Ray Douglass, currently a patrol judge at this meeting, has been appointed clerk of scales for the Audubon meeting at Henderson, Ky. which opens on May 29 and concludes on June 22. . . . Jack Klucina, who will be racing secretary at the Audubon Park Raceway meeting will be here at Ascot on Monday, May 13 and will distribute the first edition of the condition books on that day. . . . William Stapleton, mayor of Shaker Heights, was a recent visitor. The mayor was on hand to present a trophy for the Shaker Heights Handicap. ... A visitor to the Ascot press box this week was Leo Kiely, of Pittsburgh. Kiely, right-hand man to Art Rooney, owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers pro football team, stopped over on his way back to the Steel City from Randall Park, an enterprise in which Rooney recently became connected.
