Lincoln track report

LINCOLN, Neb. - Lincoln's State Fair Park opens for 34 days of racing Friday with the track's 1,005 stalls allotted and nearly filled for the early summer meet.

One of the biggest changes at the meet will be the strong presence of trainers David Anderson and Marv Johnson, both of whom have brought large strings here after being primarily based in Iowa or Minnesota the past two years.

The jockey colony also will see improved numbers this year. Steve Sullivan is new to the area. Mark Anderson has returned from Ohio and Luke Wethey, who rode at Fonner Park this spring, will stay on the circuit.

The first two weekends of the meet will begin with Friday evening racing, plus a special Memorial Day holiday card on May 27. Beginning on June 6 racing will be presented on a Thursday-through-Sunday basis for the balance of the meet, which runs through July 14. Post times are 6 p.m. Central on weekdays and 2 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.

State Fair Park has returned to a regular scratch time with also-eligibles being carried for the first time in recent years. The track discarded the scratch off the program style of entries after multiple scratches and small fields last year.

A total of 77 hoses were entered for Friday's eight-race card. Delux Fantasy heads a field of seven in the featured $6,800 allowance race for nonwinners-of-four races lifetime.

* Divisional champions were named for the recently concluded Fonner Park meet with the 3-year-old divisions both resulting in ties.

Three-year-old filly honors were shared by Cube's Cub and Flaming Night. The 3-year-old colts division was split between Strawberry Kid and Tonight Rainbow. Older filly or mare went to Lady J and older horse honors went to Rub, winner of the Pepsi Sprint and third in the Bosselman-Gus Fonner Handicap.

The mare Con Air Won was named claimer of the meet and Medium Rare was the champion sprinter. Miner's Prize took horse of the year honors with his victory in the Bosselman-Gus Fonner Handicap.