The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • Page 11

THE LINCOLN STAR Sports Monday, April 26, 1976 imm? gm Ak-Sar-Ben: Are 75 Days Just Too Long? By MARK GORDON Star Sports Writer Omaha Can Omaha support a horse racing season of 75 days? the big question as far as this meet is noted Ak-Sar-Ben executive director Dick Becker as he surveyed the more than 8,000 persons that attended open house festivities. know if we can. This amounts to a trial balloon to see how much horse racing this area can he continued. re taking on 19 days over last year. Becker said this year's meet will be carefully analyzed as to how many days Ak-Sar-Ben will request from the Nebraska State Racing Commission The majority of the added days (15) were taken to help the State Fairgrounds meet since there will be no Lincoln racing this season while the new grandstand is being constructed.

Last year's Ak-Sar-Ben season included 56 days. The longest Omaha meet was 59 days in 1972. Still, last meet attracted a record daily average crowd of 15,427 and a daily record mutuel handle of Whether those figures can be maintained throughout the 75 days is somewhat questionable. If they are, then there probably is no reason why Ak-Sar-Ben seek 75 days each year. If the totals are, down, obvious oversaturation is a key factor.

really know how our 60 days (the regular Ak-Sar- Ben meet) will Becker said. might be down a little for the 60 days. In past years, we've always peaked near the end of our meet year, with 15 extra days after our regular season, people may just wait until the end of the 75 days to come out. We be building up to a finish like we usually all goes back to somebody had to help Lincoln. not sure that really advisable for us but good for us to help and glad to do Becker said.

For the second straight year, the open house exhibition races had to be canceled. Maintenance workers were repairing a soft spot on the main track near the eighth-pole, forcing officials to disband the scheduled races. Heavy rains a year ago canceled the races. had it fixed last fall, but heavy rains the last few days made it so we weren't satisfied with the Becker explained. started work on it at 8 a.m.

and we felt it was imperative that we have it fixed by opening day on Tuesday. "We hated to do it, but we really didn't have much choice. Rain is forecast for Monday and it has to be done before the first he added. Becker said he is expecting 16,000 to attend opener, which will be highlighted by the $15,000 Inaugural Purse for 3-year-olds. think the in excellent he said.

we're ready and looking forward to big he said. Ak-Sar-Ben will race Tuesdays through Saturdays with Monday racing on May 10 and 31 and July 5. Post times will be 4 p.m. on weekdays and 2 p.m. on Saturdays and holidays.

THE PADDOCK By Mark Gordon Star Sports Writer Flyers, Bruins In Semifinals i Paul Letcher (8) drags down Dave Shamblin (81) during Nebraska football scrimmage. The extra legs involved staff photo by dave Kennedy in the tackle belong to Jim Williquette and following the play is Lawrence Cole (88). Sorley Breaks Throwing Arm By RANDY YORK To Tom Sorley. the emotional pain was greater than the physical pain Sunday when he broke his right arm in two places on the second play of Nebraska's football scrimmage. think the only thing hurt is his Sorley wife, Kendra, said of No.

2 quarterback behind Vince Ferragamo. Ironically, Sorley started the scrimmage with the No. 1 unit in place of Ferragamo, who was an hour late to practice because of admission tests to medical school. Sorley broke both bones above the wrist on his throwing arm when John Pluck nett, a junior middle guard, tackled the Big Spring. sophomore redshirt for a one-yard loss on a quarterback keeper play.

Nebraska head' coach Ton Osborne feared the injury could require a six-month recovery. it was high enough in his right forearm where at least he didn't get into a lot of complicated wrist he said. Osborne indicated Sorley arm will be placed in a cast for two months He probably will wear a splint for another month, meaning he will be unable to throw until August at the earliest, according to Osborne. Sorley was taken to St. Elizabeth's Community Health Center.

had to set it, but they didn't have to cut his wife said. The injury set a tone for the rest of the scrimmage. seemed to really dampen the spirit of the entire offensive Osborne observed least they didn't play with a whole lot of sharpness the rest of the Four touchdowns were scored when the top three units battled. Freshman fullback Mike Washington plunged for one yard for the only touchdown against the Black Shirts, but they were playing without all- American tackle candidates Ron Pruitt and Mike Fultz during that drive. Despite his late start, Ferragamo completed 10 of 17 Another Fine Season Grand Island The 1976 chapter in the Fonner Park horse racing scrapbook is yet another example of how a community with a limited population can host an excellent race meet.

With less than 40,000 persons in the Third City, Fonner produced a daily average mutuel handle of $412,649 the first time an outstate Nebraska track averaged more than $400,000. More importantly, that figure represented a healthy U.l per cent increase over the 1975 season. predicted a 10 per cent increase, but that looked kind of skinny for a while since we started out so well until we had two bad days because of noted Fopner general manager A1 Swihart broke every mutuel record and just missed the one-day attendance record (by 15 persons when 9,202 jammed the plant on March he continued. hope to go up another 10 per cent next year, To increase the totals by another 10 per cent will obviously require expansion of the physical plant. And that's exactly what Swihart is contemplating got plans, but they depend, of course, upon the he explained.

re going to add another 100 tables in the clubhouse give us 400 additional spaces so we can accommodate about 1,000 next year. also got temporary plans for a third level on the grandstand That probably add that many seats but it will give us some more mutuel windows, which we really need on he added. Even Bigger Gain Swihart explained that this 11.1 increase in the daily mutuel handle was really greater than it appeared This was the first year Fonner Park was comparing each nine- race day to a nine-race day of the previous year. Last 11.7 per cent hike over 1974 was really somewhat inflated since that compared several nine-race days to eight-race days in 1974. true increase per cent last year was 9.5," Swihart said.

you took those figures, actually be further ahead no use playing with he admitted. The only disappointing aspect to this program was a canceled race on April 15 when jockeys refused to ride, citing too much water on the track and darkness as a major factors to skip the ninth race never heard a word from the horsemen wanting to make up the Swihart said "The HPBA hasn made any overtures to make up the purse It actually fault the race go sure they realize that." Nevertheless, Swihart and assistant general manager Hugh Miner deserve congratulations for the excellent program they provided Nebraska horse racing followers this season. It is a credit to both of them and their staff for the continuing improvements Fonner could well serve as an example of what progressive leadership can do for a town, a race track and a state. The two largest obstacles to Fonner rac ing bad weather and a lack of population density have been overcome with effective promotions and a quality product, Fonner will never reach racing on a scale of Holly wood Park or Aqueduct But that mean that Fonner this state's shining example of perhaps the nation finest thoroughbred plant in a small dty environment A1 Swihart and Hugh Miner should be proud of their facility and operation Ziegler: My Heart Went Into Overtime NEW ORLEANS (UP1) The pressure showed up in giant buckets full Sunday and it was all there ready to fall on Larry Ziegler. But the likeable tour veteran refused to be a party to any choking.

And when he rolled in a putt of between two and three feet on the final green of the Lakewood Country Club, Ziegler picked up his third pro golf tour New Orleans the $35,000 that went with it. Ziegler survived the pressure of a final-round course record-tying 64 turned in by Tom Watson and the tension of a down-the-stretch duel with Victor Regalado to capture the event by a stroke. All Ziegler had to do, as it turned out, was two-putt from 30 feet on the 18th green to edge Regalado, but Ziegler left his first putt a little short. heart went into Ziegler said. was nerve wracking.

My heart was in my pocket. But I told myself that the worst you can do is miss it, so just go ahead and hit Ziegler, who opened the final round with a two-shot lead, fired a dosing 70 over the par-72 Lakewood Country Club course to post a 72-hole total of 274 and edge Regalado by a stroke. Regalado, a native of Tiajuana, Mexico, shot a 69 for his final round. Watson equalled the Lakewood course record with a sizzling 64 and entertained thoughts of overtaking the leader, but his four-round score of 276 left him alone in third place two shots behind the winner. Ziegler and Regalado battled head-to-head during the final round and Ziegler never lost his lead But Regalado made it close by reducing the deficit to one stroke with a 6-foot birdie putt at No 16.

Both golfers paired the final two holes to leave Ziegler the winner for the third time since joining the tour a decade ago Ziegler collected $35,000 for frst place while Regalado picked up $19,950 and Watson $12,425 A seven-way logjam developed in fourth place headed by Jack Ntcklaus who double bogeyed the second hole Sunday and was too far out for his last-minute charge to take effect. Nicklaus shot a 69 Sunday and tied for fourth with defending champion Billy Casper, Gene Littler, Gibby Gilbert. Lee Eldar, Jim Colbert and John Mahaffey happy to said Ziegler, 35. really happy about winning under pressure. I was really under pressure aU day and just happy that someone close get really hot.

But as far as I'm concerned, Victor was hot enough." Ziegler birdied two of the first three holes Sunday and opened a three-shot lead over Regalado, but the Mexican stayed close by picking up an eagle at the par-5 sixth hole. But down the stretch Regalado missed makeable birdie putts cm the 9th, 12th, 13th and 15th holes and missed par putts on the 10th and 14th as well Ziegler, a hockey fanatic who is on the board of directors of the St Louis Blues NHL franchise, won last year at Jacksonville His only other tour triumph was in the Michigan Classic in 1969 Ziegler victory climaxes a good spring in which he tied for fifth at the Citrus Open, finished 15th at Jacksonville ami tied for third at the Masters. Watson started the day eight shots back of Ziegler but toured the front nine in 31 and ran in three more birdie putts on the backside to equal the course mark New Orleans Results, Page 12 passes for 97 yards anjj one touchdown an eight-yarder to tight end Ken Spaeth against the No. 2 defense. Wingback Earl Everett accounted for the third touchdown on a 17-yard unmolested run around left end Split end Ron Nitzel scored the fourth on a 20- yard pass from Randy Garcia.

Greg 15-yard touchdown and two pass interceptions by Ben Ewing, former Elkhorn Ml. Michael standout, were scrimmage highlights among the lower units. Osborne was most impressed with the work of the Black Shirt defensive One. thought they looked better than they have all he said, citing Pruitt and Fultz in particular. Pruitt looked like himself out there defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin said "He's back to He just controlled that period he was in Kiffin also was impressed with the play of junior middle guard Jeff Pullen.

"He made a couple of real big plays, too," he said. his quickness in there helps Pruitt and Both Osborne and Kiffin thought the defense had been in a 10-day slump until Sunday's scrimmage. lot of people talk about our problem at middle Kiffin said, you're never going to convince Jeff Pullen we have a problem. He's like Jerry Wied last year. He's going to go out and get the job Scrimmage statistics for top three teams: Rushing Everett, tor 36 yards.

Donnell, 8-32, 7 26, Antnony, 9-25 Stewart, 8 21 Hipft 7 20, Kuiath, 4-19, 515. Washington, 6-16 Garcia, 3-4, Burns, 2 2 Walton, 2-0, Soriev 1-minus 1, Brown, 1 minus 4, Sueiter, 2-minus 4, 11. Passing Ferragamo, completed 10 17 passes, 97 yards. I TD; Burns, 5-8, S5, Gafcia, 717, 84. I TD, Receiving Spaeth 4 receptions tor 38 yards, I TD, Berns, 3-35.

Shampiin, 2-37 Nital, 2 28 1 TD, Lohen, 2 26, Walton, 2-U, Smith, 114, Anthony, 1-10, Everett, 1-9, Dutresne, 1-7, Kuiath, 1-7, Gillespie, 1-6, Stewart. 1- From News Wires The Philadelphia Flyers scored five goals in the second period, two of them by rookie center Mel Bridgman 16 seconds apart, for a 7-3 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs Sunday night that advanced tPwn to the Stanley Cup semifinals against the Boston Bruins, who shut out the Los Angeles Kings 3-0 The Philadelphia barrage came after the Flyers had killed off a five-minute major penalty against Dave Schultz with only one goal scored and brought them from behind to win the best-of-seven quarterfinal series against the stubborn Leafs, four games to three. Philadelphia now faces the Boston Bruins in the semifinals beginning here Tuesday night. The Flyers, who seemed to come apart in the three games they lost in Toronto, were down 2-1 after a goal by the Bob Neely shortly after Schultz drew his major for highsticking. But during the last 3 minutes 9 seconds of the penalty, the Leafs got only two shots on goal.

Then the Flyers went to work, scoring four goals in a 3:16 span of the second period. Don Saleski, one of four Flyers who faces criminal charges Toronto, scored his fifth playoff goal on a rebound at 4 43, a minute and four seconds after the Flyers killed off the Schultz penalty. At 5 48, Bridgman, a rookie center, scored from the right of Toronto goalie Wayne Thomas and he quickly poked another one 16 seconds later. The Flyers, shaking off their erratic play and a pyramid that Leafs coach Red Kelly tried to unnerve them with, widened the margin at 7:59 of the second period on a power- play goal by Ross Lonsberry. Reggie Leach closed out the scoring in the second period at 19 07 with a follow-up shot past Thomas in the right corner.

The Flyers, seeking to become the first team since the 1963-64 Leafs to win three Stanley Cups in a row, added another goal in the final period, on a power play, by Bill Barber The game was not marred by the brawls that marked Thursday night's sixth game in Toronto. Claire Alexander was injured in the second period when he banged into the boards behind his team's net and had to be carried from the ice on a stretcher, but initial reports noted he suffered an ankle injury. Boston 3, Los Angeles 0 Jean Ratelle scored two goals giving him seven in the seven- game series and assisted on the other goal to move the Boston Bruins into the Stanley Cup semifinals with a 3-0 victory over the Los Angeles Kings The victory sends the Bruins against the defending champion Flyers in a semifinal series beginning Tuesday night at Philadelphia. Gilles Gilbert, starting because Gerry Cheevers had an injured right shoulder, had to make only 15 saves in posting his second shutout of the series. Boston, held scoreless for nearly half the game, won the contest in a 2 39 span of the second period as Ratelle and Hodge scored power play goals.

Ratelle scored at 9 42 while the Bruins had four skaters to Los Angeles' three Gregg 30-foot shot was blocked by Los Angeles goalie Rogie Vachon and Hodge tried to tuck the rebound under the falling goalie. Vachon made the stop but the puck came out to Ratelle at the right post and the veteran center pushed the disc into the unguarded goal. Hodge scored on Boston's next power play opportunity after taking a pass from Ratelle Hodge took a soft shot, then poked in his own rebound to give a 2-6 lead. Katelle capped the scoring at 6 16 of the final period, three seconds after the Bruins had killed off a penalty to Gary Doak. Defenseman Darryl Edestrand passed to Ratelle at the Kings blueiine as Los Angeles was changing lines and Ratelle skated in and fired a 30-footer that broke through Vachon glove.

Gilbert's first shutout of the series was a 4-0 victory in game one. The Bruins fired 38 shots on the beleaguered Vachon Sunday night. NHL Summaries, Page 12 Sonics Rebound, 114-108 SEATTLE (UPI) BiU Russell said his Seattle Super- somcs beat back the strong inside game of the Phoenix Suns Sunday because of some tips from great The Sonics, outmuscled by the Suns in the first four games of their NBA quarterfinal playoff series, pulled down 87 rebounds to just 52 for Phoenix to earn a 114-108 victory in a nationally-televised game. great rebounder once told me that going for position, not the ball, was the key to rebounding," the Seattle coach said after the victory. Oh, I told myself Eleven of those rebounds finished in the hands of first-year forward Bruce Seals, who broke out of a playoff slump with 28 points, including 14 in the frantic final quarter when the Sonics fought off 'elimination and a sudden end to the long season Phoenix, which had whipped Seattle three straight times, had its lead cut to 3-2 in the best-of- seven series.

The Suns can move into the semifinals by winning the sixth game Tuesday on their home court. Seals had been punished by the strong Phoenix forwards and averaged only 65 points per game in the first four meetings But the slim 6-8 forward, a former American Basketball Association player, scored several tip-ins and follow-up baskets to beat back a fourth quarter rally, which was led by Paul steals and by his eight points. Phoenix climbed to within two points. 104-102, on a Curtis Perry bucket with 3 30 left. Seals countered with a tip-in and a up off a rebound, around a free throw by the Keith Erickson, to put the Sonics up by five, 108-103.

Seattle maintained that margin in the final couple of minutes as both teams turned the tense play-off contest into a near wrestling match, scrambling for rebounds and loose balls. Seals and Seattle guard Fred Brown combined for 20 first- quarter points to build a 28-23 lead With both starting Alvin Adams for the Suns and Tom Burleson of Seattle on the bench with three early fouls the two teams traded scoring spurts on the way to Seattle's 5650 lead at the half Phoenix caught the Somes slow-footed and scored 11 straight points to open the third quarter Seals was joined in Seattle scoring by Brown 's 21 points and by four other Somes in double figures. 1 108) Heard I 3-4 5, Perry 3 3-4 9. 4 3 4 II. 3 4-6 to, WattptlAl II 3-3 27, 2-4 8.

Van 3 4 5 10. 9 64 24, I 04 2, I 00 2 40 28 38 108 Saattia Norwood 6 2 3 14. Sean 10 28 4 74 15, Brown 8 57 It. 6 2 3 14 AtHJul Aiti 3 0-2 4, Bantom 4 4-4 12. So 0-0 0.

Gilliam I 2 2 4 42 1)4. 23 27 20 28-108 5aaftle 28 30 28-114 Fouled out None Totan 26. Seattle 27 A 14 996 Ernie D-elivers Buffalo Win BUFFALO (AP) Randy Smith and Bob McAdoo were the scoring stars, but both credited pmt-sized Ernie DiGregorio with sparking the Buffalo Braves to victory in Game Three of their National basketball Association Eastern Conference semifinal playoff series with Boston. got everyone McAdoo said. gave me some good passes and when moving the ball like that, it's tough for any team in the league to beat Smith echoed.

With the Braves trailing 16-10 and 3 49 remaining in the first period, the 6-foot DiGregono, a high-pneed bench warmer most of the season, entered the game. The Braves fell behind 24-12 after the first period but DiGregorio led them from behind to a 96-93 victory was important to win this game If not psychologically we would would have been out of said Smith, who scored 29 points. McAdoo, who scored 24, said he open on a couple of shots on fast many of which were started by DiGregono. McAdoo had problems making baskets early the game and he blamed the misses on the Boston defense were all over me in the setup offense and I just missed, McAdoo said DiGregorio assisted on 10 baskets and scored eight points before fouling out with 2 05 left The victory was the first for the Braves against two for Boston. The best-of-seven senes resumes here, Wednesday night McAdoo scored 10 points in the fourth period and Smith seven, and rookie toward John Shumate contnbuted seven key points for the winners Shumate came up with a three-point play and followed with a layup to put the Braves ahead 87-82 with 5 41 remaining in the game The Braves were never headed after that Jo Jo White was the big man for the Celtics, playing for the second game in a row without injured forward John Havbcek.

White, who finished with 26 points, got 14 of them in the third period but was held to just four over the final 12 minutes rugged center, Dave Cowens, added 21 points Buffalo, down by 12 points at the end of the first penod, rallied to take a 46-47 half time lead The teams were even at 72-72 after three quarters Behind Smith, who had 12 first-half points, including six in a row in the second period, the Braves rallied in the second quarter to tie the game at 34-34 with 3 50 remaining Buffalo scored 12 consecutive points in their second-period comeback The Celtics went ahead on Don Nelson's two free throws, then the Braves put together a seven-point string as Ernie DiGregorio drove for a layup, Jim McMiUian tallied after a Smith steal and then Don Adams scored on a three-point play started by a McMillian steal BOSTON (93) Netion 3 2 2 8, S.la* 5 5 5 15. 10 12 21. Whitt 11 4 7 36, Scott 5 54 IS, KoDtfvKi 4 0-0 8. McDonald 0 04 4 Slacom 0 04 0. Ard 0 04 0 17 22 93 BUFFALO (98) McMillan 6 04 12, Shymate 6 24 14, McAdoo 9 64 24.

Smith II 74 29 Char 2 04 4, 3 2-2 8. G.ttO» 1 04 2. I 34 S. 0 04 0 39 20 26 96 34 2J IS 21-93 BuMata 12 16 24 26 Fouled out OiGregorto Total 28 Buffalo 22 A 12 079 Colonels Even Denver Series LOUISVILLE (AP) Bird Averitt broke open a tense double-overtime struggle with three consecutive baskets Sunday afternoon as Kentucky defeated Denver 119-115 to square the American Basketball Association semifinal playoff senes at three game apiece. The seventh game will be played in Denver on Wednesday rught.

Die winner will meet New York in a best-of-seven championship series Averitt, who scored 34 points despite a high temperature and an attack of tonaiiiUs, gave tucky a 115-109 lead with 3:01 remaining in the second overtime hitting a long and two layups Denver closed within 117-115 with 28 seconds remaining when Ralph Simpson, who led all scorers with 35 points, converted two free throws. Wil Jones settled the issue with a driving layup with four seconds to go. Kentucky built a 14-point first half lead and still enjoyed an 83- 7b advantage with 9:50 left in regulation But Denver outscored Kentucky 10-2 over the next 3 33 to take an 87415 lead Aventt hit two jump shots in the final 1 20 to make it 97-97 at the end of the fourth period Aventt hit three straight baskets and Artis Gilmore added a tipin as Kentucky moved ahead at 1 27 of the first extra period But Simpson added two free throws and a layup to force the second overtime. Gilmore added 21 points for Kentucky while Maurice Lucas ami Johnny Neumann had 16 each and Jones 14 Dan lssel added 22 points for Denver while rookie David Thompson pitched in 15. oenvcr dm 5 12 11 Tttommott 4 74 15.

9 44 22 5 94 to, Simpaon 13 9 Kt 35 1 5 7 7, Tarry fl 34 I 04 2, Beck 4 2 2 42 1) 31 115 KENTUCKY (119) 6 2 2 14, 6 44 16, Gilmore I 54 II, Damper 4 2 2 11, 13 84 34. Van greda Koltt 3 12 7, Neumann 7 04 0 04 0, 0 04 9 47 22 24 lit By Otitear 24 27 19 27 115 Kantucfey 14 31 23 19 II 119 Thrae pom! Neumann 2 oampiet Totai Foult Danvar Kantothy 11 A.