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. . — . — ■*-™ River Downs I By VV. A. Cruse : 1 I Meeting Expected to Fare Better in Second Half Weather, Small Fields* Reasons for Early Drop Management Notes Third Anniversary Monday RIVER DOWNS, Cincinnati, Ohio, June 20.— River Downs, with president Leon A. Slavin at the helm, is now in the second half of a 44-day-meeting which is . . — . scheduled scheduled to to close close on on Saturday, Saturday, scheduled scheduled to to close close on on Saturday, Saturday, July 13. At the midway point of the 44 days, both mutuel play and attendance are running behind the first half of the 1956 session. Mutuel play is down 13 cent from the corresponding period of 56 while attendance was also off 13 per cent. A total of ,844,646 passed through the mutuels at midpoint, compared to ,712,517 for the first half of last last years years meeting. meeting. There There were were — ■*-™ last last years years meeting. meeting. There There were were 99,434 fans who attended this year against 114,579 last season. There liaveeen more "guesses" , as to the reasons for the decline in both attendance and handle than there are excuses when an qdds-on favorite is beaten. Probably the most logical was the fact that early in the meeting the weather was inclement and for the most part the horses on the grounds were not ready to run. This resulted in smaller fields than usual. However, racing secretary James P. Ross has alleviated this situation to a great degree. The regular races have been receiving, greater subscriptions and the stakes schedule is holding up well. Past records show that River Downs has usually been a bifr-slow starting off, but rapidly picks up momentum during the final weeks of the session From recent indications, this again will be the pattern and at the end of the 44 .days it is not improbable that the trend for this course will be on par with that of the other major race courses throughout the country. Legislature Rejects Second Session Slavin also felt that River Downs would pick up as this season progressed and applied for 44 additional racing dates. There was a twofold purpose, however, in Slavin s request. First, to keep the revenue in the state of Ohio. The other, with the additional days, it was the thought to curtail the efforts to revive thoroughbred racing in northern Kentucky. However, by at vote of 87 to 23, the Ohio House Tuesday turned down the bill to grant the additional 44 days of racing for the three years from 1957 to 1959. FoyR. Allen is the track security chief here at River Downs. After a 10-year stint with the TRPB ,he resigned from that organization in 1956 to go into business for himself as a security director at various race tracks. One of Foys first assignments was at the Toledo Turf Club Fort Miami this spring, which is headed by Ralph A. Parachek. He completely reorganized the staff for the policing of that plant and did such an excellent job that he will probably be on deck again for the 1958 spring opening at the Maumee, Ohio, course. Kiver Notes: Elmer Thomas Williams, press box custodian, seldom runs out of any of the ingredients needed for sandwiches or for refreshments of any kind. This is particularly unusual as the quarters in which he works are rather small. We asked Elmer the other morning how he managed so well. "After 30 years as a dining car waiter it is not too difficult." . . . Frank" Ashley, the man on the public address system, will leave here in time to take up his same duties at the Fairgrounds Speedway, Louisville, when that plant begins its 28-day meeting- on June 26. Yankee Horseman Earns His Share Trainer James F. Savoy added two patrons to his registration list. The young New Englander now has** Warm. Ace in his care for James Chetasso of Boston, Mass., and Kristi W. will now be conditioned by him. for Jess McKee, the Cincinnati, Ohio, sportsman. Savoy also trains the thoroughbreds of Mi*, and Mrs. G. Iannelli, the Allentown, Pa., patronsr and has a good record at this meeting.-He has saddled 11 in all, earned three wins, two seconds, two thirds and two fourths. The charming Mrs. Savoy is equally enthused about Jims success as a trainer since he gave up riding in New England in 1952. The Savoys have two lively sons, James Jr. and Richard. J. Melvin Mackin, currently serving as a placing judge at this meeting, will leave here for Narragan-sett over the week end. Linus Pierce, who has been serving as a patrol judge, will move into the placing judges stand and Walter D. Ogle will again move into the patrol judges stand on Monday. It is Pierces first appearance at River Downs since Leon Slavin and his brother, William, took over the plant three • years ago, but it will be Ogles second consecutive year in the capacity of patrol judge. Slavin announced that next Monday, June 24, will be "Third Anniversary Day" here at River Downs. Similar to the appreciation days offered at other race tracks, admission to the grandstand and parking will be free. In addition, there will be a drawing with three particularly delightful prizes going to different ticketholders. The prizes include a 21-inch color television, a three-quarter ton air-conditioner and a, two weeks accommodation at a new, luxurious motel at Miami Beach, Fla.
