More than a century ago, one of the most popular horse racing tracks in America called Nebraska home. Ak-Sar-Ben in Omaha drew race fans from across the Midwest, flourishing in the state’s largest city. That is until the 1990s, when the track vanished. But how did Ak-Sar-Ben go from being the place to be to shuttering its gates for good? Nebraska Public Media’s Bill Kelly finds out, and explains how now, nearly 30 years later, Nebraska voters have Once Again put the state in the horse racing business.
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“Once Again” is a new history podcast from Nebraska Public Media where the past meets the present. Senior Producer Bill Kelly is on a mission: digging through archives, dusting off documents and uncovering compelling stories that matter – once again. Devoted history hunters and those who are casually curious about history will all find that each episode of “Once Again” revisits a fascinating chapter from recent Nebraska and Great Plains history and draws stunning parallels from the past to the present. The new Nebraska Public Media podcast features rich sound effects, music that is specific to the history of each episode and voice actors who make the stories come alive and create a picture for the podcast listener, much like a throwback to radio theater. The “Once Again” history podcast is a production of Nebraska Public Media News.
Nebraska Public Media has been dedicated to connecting Nebraskans through news, sports, education, and entertainment since 1954. Providing global news and compelling stories from PBS and NPR, Nebraska Public Media also produces award-winning original content.