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Northern Ohio Harness Season Opens Tonight Painesville Draws Record Number Of Entries for 27 Stakes Events PAINESVILLE, Ohio. May 1.— The 1958 Northern Ohio harness racing season starts its merry whirl Friday night when the first of three tracks in the district opens its doors. Painesville, located on U. S. 20, had the greatest season in its history last year when the average mutuel handle went over 00,000 for the first time in the plants history. The handle was 07,091 for the 1957 session, which was held under the direction "of Don H. Roberts and Walter J. Michael, both key men in the Northern Ohio standardbred racing picture. A total of 781 entries, the largest ever, was received, for the 27 stake events. Features of the early-closing program are two ,000 pacing events, and three ,000 trots. Fred Bach of Aurora, Ohio, will defend his 19,57 driving title which he won with 25 .victories in .199 starts. The universal driving rating system titleholder in 1957, Johnny Caton of Canton, Ohio, is also on the grounds ready to defend his crown. Sixteen pacers entered the ,500. Inaugural Purse and the opening feature- was split in two divisions, each section competing in a pair of one-mile dashes. The fleet Calumet Scott, Xtougwill and Kiljoy, the latter owned by Hunter M. Bennett of Weston, W. Va., should attract most support in the first division. The second sections probable favorite would appear to be Dazzle Lee, owned by the Cleveland combine of Mark Zettlemeyer and Richard Downing. Dazzle Lee won five starts, with five seconds and two thirds in 17 outings last year. Post time will be 8:30 p. m. EDT nightly with the Daily Double window closing at 8:20 oclock.
