Chris Kotulak of TVG shared his memories of Ak-Sar-Ben Racetrack in the May issue of MWT. Now, many of Chris’ friends and readers share their memories.

 By Chris Kotulak

I’ve always said you should never take away from horseplayers something they are comfortable with at the racetrack. But what happens when you take away the actual racetrack that thousands of horseplayers and horsemen are comfortable with?

Well, grass and weeds on the track begin to grow and spread, then apartments and businesses begin to spread; and then after withering into a morbid monument, one day an iconic grandstand is gone. At least survivors of a shipwreck don’t have to be reminded for years of an abandoned lost love before their vessel of pride and joy sinks and finally disappears from sight.

A very bitter defeat…

My goodness that was dark. I’m sorry. That story I wrote last month on historic Ak-Sar-Ben didn’t have an ounce of grim in it, and this story will have no more.

When the emails started arriving into my inbox with unfamiliar addresses, I guess I can’t say I was surprised, but what did wow me was the number of responses I received after my Midwest Blest story was published in the May issue of Midwest Thoroughbred. I knew there were folks out there who have a chunk of their lives dedicated to the former heartthrob of Omaha. Heck, that’s what got my story started.

But, what a thrill it is to have so many express their thanks, and then contribute their own personal memories. I don’t profess to be the “official historian” of Aks, and I wasn’t trying to encapsulate all of its newsmakers or headlines. I was simply trying to share my personal joy. (Matter of fact, I purposefully left out a mention of some. For example, Gate Dancer is among my top ten favorite racehorses, I just thought I’d give some other Ak heroes their due.)

Another name I omitted (because I had never met him) was jockey L.J. Durousseau. I got an email from a former Ak fan who now resides in Austin, Texas, and he shared a lengthy story about the legendary jockey. “L.J.” led the rider standings for three straight years before “J.L.” Lively took the reins from him in 1971. By the way, I also received an email from John Lively’s wife Pat and my promised story of them will be forthcoming.

The e-mailer from Austin wasn’t the only one to recall that the cagey Cajun, Durousseau, was also notoriously “naughty.” Seems L.J. created quite a name for himself with several accusations still whirling around his name. I never saw L.J. Durousseau in his summertime play land, nor did I ever play in the playground known as the Junior Jockey Club. The JJC was an institution at Ak, or at least a convenient dropping-off point for parents to leave their kids during racing hours. Thanks to a prime position between the paddock and the outer rail, if the kids didn’t have an interest in racing based on a family member, they invariably gained interest from being just an arms-length from the horses and jockeys. The Junior Jockey Club (the JJC) was considered convenient day care; I consider it Marketing 101.

L.J., the JJC and JVB (trainer Jack Van Berg) were common references in many email responses - and horses were too. Ogataul got several mentions, no doubt due to his 23 wins in 83 starts. This Marv Johnson-trained Nebraska-bred won nine stakes and many of his 20 lifetime seconds came in the same stakes race he had won another year.

And who could forget the eight-minute sweat for the photo finish in the 1982 Ak Speed Handicap. When the photo sign came down it revealed a dead-heat for win with the national sprinting star Dave's Friend, who had previously set track records at: Aqu, Lrl, Pim, Key & LaD.

Vale of Tears was also a popular Aks runner long ago. After breaking the six furlong track record twice, he set the track (and equaled the world record) at 1:07.2 in 1968. It was amazing how an Aks track record and Vale of Tears simply became synonymous. A former jock’s agent nicknamed Hee Haw (Don Alvey) found his way into my email inbox and spread some cheer; as did California-based, Omaha-born thoroughbred owners Roger and Cindy Newman. I know you’d recognize their racing silks; they are crimson & cream with a big N on the back. Go Big Red!

I received emails from former and current journalists too. For decades of summers, Con Furay migrated from his wife, family and Webster University in St Louis, Mo. just to pick longshot winners in the Omaha World Herald newspaper. Con and fellow Omaha turf scribe Mike Patterson seemed to enjoy finding my Aks story online. Long before the term online, the three of us all treasured sharing the press box with Don Lee, a witty, writing wizard for the Omaha World Herald. Don’s understanding and description of racing proved he was a master of the sports page and his polyester and checkered jackets stated he was no slave to fashion.

I ran out of writing room last month, but wanted to mention a few Ak-Sar-Ben traditions. The post-race concerts at the track were always fun and the dancing could likely get you sweaty. The sweat assuredly poured from ESPN announcers Chris Lincoln and Tom Dawson. No dancing for them, just standing in 100-degree temps and full sun. “It’s so hot you could pop popcorn on the grandstand apron,” was the classic line Lincoln would use for his Cornhusker Handicap broadcast. The corn was at least roasting on Cornhusker Handicap weekends when Butch Lindley, along with thousands of ears of sweet corn, would roast together over the charcoal in an annual labor of love.

Joe Anania became a defacto curator of much of our memories of Ak-Sar-Ben, when he established his website, www.ak-sar-ben.com. Joe helped supply some photos for my Midwest Blest story and posted the story on his site. So did the Iowa Breeders Association (Iowans also helped preserve the graded Cornhusker Handicap race itself - thank you) and it’s also up on my blog at community.tvg.com.

And, finally, regarding memories and memorabilia of Ak-Sar-Ben Field, here’s a story (sans names) worth a mention. There was a pair of impish Omaha natives who grew up and lived in the Ak-Sar-Ben neighborhood and couldn’t stand the diminishing appearance of the Ak property. Knowing there would soon be nothing more than dust and rubble of a storied empire, they set out to retain some of the physical memories for themselves.

Armed with a buck saw and a third accomplice who served as a lookout for security guards, these former employees for the Jeff Benson stable (Jeff trained Bold Allied, Swaps Fire, Grassy Meadows, Masterpiece In Oil, Magnum G.I., Little Eldon, etc...) crept under the rail in the still of the night with designs of making off with the finish line maker pole. Do you remember that bittersweet beacon? It was red, white and big!

Just about the time they got their saw stuck, the scout alerted them that security was on the track and heading right for them. Now, these two rapscallions grew up a block apart, graduated from Central High School together and one was even the other’s best man; but when it was time to split, it was also splitsville for the pair.

The great Ak-Sar-Ben match race was between Who Doctor Who and Explosive Girl, but when that blue Ak security truck was bearing down on the would-be bandits, these two friends were suddenly involved in the Aks race of their lives – matched against each other. The best man may have out-raced the groom to the 63rd Street fence, but he stayed there to help him up and over as the two fled to safety into the darkness across the street.

Yes, that attempt for Ak immortality certainly blew the turn. But the story of the blood, sweat and tears that was shed that night along with the decades of stories of blood, sweat and tears shed by all of the horses, horsemen and race fans, is surely worth a thousand dollars an ounce.

Being able to share Ak-Sar-Ben memories is priceless. 

Contact me by email:  ckotulak@tvg.com

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