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Eilken Opens Centennial Racing Secretary Office Has Stall Applications for Some 1400 Horses From 275 Trainers LTTTLiETON, Colo., June 4. Lou Eilken, fresh from official duties at Pimlico, opened the racing secretarys office at Centennial Race Track Monday in preparation for the eighth summer of racing. Eilken, a prominent West Coast official during the winter months, will be handling the secretarys duties for the second 3rear and Centennial general manager Ivan Thomas said, "We couldnt have a better man." On arrival Eilken found much of the preliminary work already in the operation stage. On his desk were applications for stalls from some 275 trainers representing about 750 owners from states throughout the Midwest and West. "We have had applications for some 1,400 horses already," Thomas said. "Since we will be able to take care of only 860 thoroughbreds, it will necessitate sharp culling to approve the top horses available. I feel our caliber of horses will be a bit higher than ever before on an overall picture." Thomas visited Ak-Sar-Ben in Omaha last week and visited with horsemen. He declared on his return to Centennial that "all of the trainers who have been with us in other years will be back again to take advantage of our 60,000 purse program laid out for the 50-day period from June 29 to Sept. 7."
