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Wheeling Downs to Be Sold At Public Auction June 12 WHEELING. W. Va.. May 13.— Federal Judge Harry E. Watkins today ordered Wheeling Downs Race Track sold at public auction June 12 to satisfy part of a government tax bill of ,285,632 against owner William G. Lias. Lias attorneys entered no objection to the government motion to sell the track. Watkins also approved a government motion formally setting the amount Lias owes. The half-mile track on Wheeling Island, along with other of Lias property, has been in federal receivership since February 22. 1952 when the government took control to protect tax liens. The government moved to sell the property shortly after the U. S. Supreme Court rejected Lias appeal from the tax ruling. Two days later, the government filed a motion requesting dissolution and liquidation of Wheeling Downs Racing Association, owned by Lias, his wife and two children. Value of the track has been estimated at between ,000,000 and ,000,000.
