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Ak-Sar-Ben By Leon Rasmussen New All-Time Attendance Mark at Ak-Sar-Ben Corn Huskers Brother 16.1, Still Growing Owner-Breeder Tells Background of Colt AK-SAR-BEN, Omaha, Nebr., June 3. J. J. "Jake" Isaacson, general manager of the vast Ak-Sar-Ben organization, speaking of Memorial "bays all-time attendance record of 19,590 fans, said, "We were highly pleased and agreeably surprised, especially in view of the threat of rain and the heavy condition of the track. A lot of players hesitate to wager on other than fast tracks. The comments on our new grand concourse, which gives us 44,000 more square feet of space, were all complimentary. This added space, plus the closed TV circuits, adds comfort and convenience for the patrons. On this, the largest gathering in our history, the crowd seemed no larger than on a Thursday twU light program. Since all our profits are plowed back into doing worthwhile things for the citizens of Nebraska and western Iowa, we are pleased to have been able to make these improvements for the benefit of the people who make all this possible, the horse-players." The previous all-time attendance high at Ak-Sar-Ben was the 18,592 attending Memorial Day, 1955. Last years throng, was 17,991. A new Memorial Day betting record was also set, thehandle of 01,047 topping the previous high of 62,294. While nine races were run this year, as compared to eight in 1956, the handle was up by any comparison as Thursdays eight-race handle was the highest in the. tracks history. Waiting for Longer Distances to Start Youngster Just had a long visit with Try It, the bay two-year- . old full brother to Corn Husker, who is the talk of the Ak-Sar-Ben backstretch. Not only because of his famous brother, who has a peculiar knack for winning 00,000 races, but because he has shown some smart speed in his trials here. His owner, breeder and trainer is D. R. "Jake" Thompson, a tall, pleasant, bashful rancher from Colorado. He, giving the husky youngster plenty of time, doesnt intend to start him for another few weeks. "Well wait until they stretch the races out a bit," he says. "Ive only asked him for speed once," he mused, while looking at the 16.1 colt, "and he did three-eighths in :35 and change from the gate. Well go to Denver Centennial race track after this meeting and go after that Colorado Breeders Stakes. You see, he was foaled in Colorado, on my ranch near Springfield." Try It is a pleasing colt to look at. Although of good size already, he has ample room to grow and will probably be a 17-hander. He has good bone, a fine hind leg and nice flat knees. He is something of a character, too. Likes to intimidate you. Gets back in his stall, pins back his ears and makes faces at you, but if you stand your ground he gives up and comes up to you for attention. He was raised in the backyard of Thompsons "dad-in-law" in Springfield and "got real spoiled. Hed eat anything," said Thompson. "You know, like lettuce, onions and potatoes. The kids were always teasing him and playing with him, so he got a little ornery, but hes beginning to learn whos boss and we dont have much trouble any more. Hes a tough one. Raised cain with his stall here several times. Keeps a carpenter working nearly full time just patching it up. Yet, the only scars on him are a small one on his- left knee and one inside his right leg between the elbow and forearm he got when he went through a fence as a weanling. Mare Had Trouble Foaling Colt "He was a bottle foal, too. Miss Nebraska had a lot of trouble foaling him. Couldnt get up for 24 hours and she practically dried .up. But he did a good job on that bottle and he was eating mash after three days. You know you dont need brains in. this business, you need luck. I went down to Keeneland in 1954 looking for some yearlings to buy. The ones I wanted I couldnt get. Didnt have any idea of buying a broodmare, but when I couldnt get anything else, I decided to raise one of my own. "I saw where this Miss Nebraska had had a colt called First Endeavour by Endeavour H., that had run good placed in "stakes, I believe so somebody bid 00 for her and I tilted it to 00 and thats what I got the mare, in foal to Endeavour II., for. When Corn Husker came along last winter and won all that money at Santa Anita, Mrs. Lunn wanted Miss Nebraska back and I sold her. She was interested in Try It, too, but Id given the colt to my wife and I think Id probably lose my home if I sold him. Every horse my wife raises she falls in love with and this ones no different. Fact is, this time it may be worse." Just then Stoner Cole, Thompsons slight, red-haired and freckle-faced exercise rider and helper he used to ride at Omaha back in 1940, said, "Yep, when Jake sold her and the time came to take her the eight? miles back to town to the railroad car, she just refused to get into that dad-blamed van. I finally had to put a saddle on that old mare and ride her all the way to town. But this colt of hers can run. He did that :35 and something Continued on Page Forty-Orn AK-SAR-BEN By LEON RASMUSSEN Continued from Page Five like nothin. And when I breezed him yesterday in about :38 with all my 140 pounds, why he moved along just as sweet as could be." "Why not come out West with this colt and get some of that California gold," you query. "I tried that once before," smiled Thompson, "but I couldnt get any of that gold. But maybe if this colt shows me something this summer, Ill try it again that is if I can get me some stall space." This colt, we assured him, if he shows any promise at all, with his pedigree and colorful background, will be welcome at any track.
