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Ak-Sar-Ben By Leon Rasmussen More Criticism of California Boards Leniency Paddock Buffet Boon to Omaha Racegoers Highclass Two-Year-Old Competition Looms AK-SAR-BEN, -Omaha, Nebr., May 30. California trainer Reggie Cornells early reinstatement and California trainer Willie Molters light suspension by the California Horse Racing Board following stimulations of horses in their care, continues to bemuse and bestir officialdom in this sector. "The boards leniency," said one of Nebraskas leading turf salons, "is matched only by its inconsistency. The same men who suspended Molter 30 days on a stimulation charge and who reinstated Cornell after serving 30 days of his suspension on a similar charge, gave a groom the meeting for drunkeness. It is difficult to find any compatibility between the charges and the sentences." Jack S. Young, who has served in the stewards stand at many of the nations leading tracks for 24 years, and is serving in that capacity here with Ralph E. Boomer and Noel Chilcutt, also expressed the opinion that the California board was too lenient. Young, who served at Michigans first state steward and was also state steward in Kentucky for 12 years, helped revise the rules of racing in those two states as well as Louisiana. In each case he made sure that the California rule on stimulation was included. "The California rule in such instances," explained Young, "is not only explicit, but is the best rule yet devised to handle this problem which has continually harangued and plagued the turf. The rule," he said, "declares the trainer shall be the absolute insurer of and responsible for the condition of horses entered in a race, regardless of the acts of third parties.3 What could be clearer? It is fine to wish to defend the character of Cornell and Molter, who are almost certainly not guilty, but it is, in my mind, more important to defend the character of racing. This must be done until a better way is found by holding the trainer responsible. Laxity and negligence cannot be excused so lightly when so much is at stake." Touch of Luxury With Sport Ak-Sar-Bens paddock buffet is about as pleasant" a place to eat as you will find at any race track. It was that way last year and it is more so this season. When the new concourse was built, it was ulso possible to enlarge the paddock buffet. Its capacity was expanded 30 per cent, so that today over 300 tables can seat 1,048 people, while there is a stand-up area which can accommodate another 280-. In other words, this one room exclusive of the spacious concourse, the grandstand and the two terrace rooms can handle 1,328 people, or over 13 per cent of the daily average attendance, at ony time. The paddock buffet customers have two wall tote boards for their convenience, plenty of mutuel windows for their action, and two closed TV monitors for viewing the races while eating. The room is especially popular on hot, humid days, for it is kept delightfully cool by 160 tons of air-conditioning units. It is also tastefully decorated; being especially congenial to a person with a true affection and respect for the thoroughbred, for hanging on its walls are a series of exceptionally well done paintings of the "immortals of the turf" Omaha, Alsab, Seabis-suit, Equipoise, Exterminator, Whirlaway, War Admiral and Man o War. These paintings, executed by Les Blei of Omaha, are large and imposing and handsomely bor- - dered with leather belts inside lined oak frames. Blei, who is with the Nebraska Clothing Co., loans the paintings to Ak-Sar-Ben each meeting. They are a great - asset and give the buffet a definite air of distinction. Considering all its appurtenances, the paddock buffet is a hard place to leave once you get there. And the food is good, too. Racing Secretary Kenneth Mcintosh, who recently resigned a similar job with Oaklawn Park in order to devote more time to his Ak-Sar-Ben post, was just saying that the Omaha course has never had better racing stock in all divisions. "In years past," he noted, "we always had a few good ones, but this meeting we have good ones and we have them in depth." An observer can certainly agree on the depth, for anything less than a 12-horse field here looks like a match race. Dean Williams, Daily Racing Form trackman and chart caller, spends all of his free time peering enviously at the short New York fields. Mcintosh Notes Balance of Race Stock The two-year-old division is headed by Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Goodmans Nevada-bred Murray Canyon, upset winner of the 0,000 Bay Meadows Futurity. Nebraskans .are counting heavily on the homebred Curley Kem, who set a track record in winning the Fonner Park Futurity at Grand Island. J. K. Houssels, the Nevadan who is pacing the owners in money won here, is also said to have a quick one in Flashy Token, winner of several races at Sportsmans Park, Chicago. Another pair, Black Signal and Miche Claire, who ran with distinction in Phoenix this winter, should help keep the two-year-old competitions pot boiling. The former has not arrived at the track to date, and there is a fear he may have run afoul one of those tornadoes. If that is true, it is a shame, as that is about the only thing that can outrun this Johns Joy colt out of a Roman mare.
