TRC THOROUGHBRED NOTEBOOK

November 16, 1995

News and notes from around the Thoroughbred racing world, compiled by Thoroughbred Racing Communications, Inc. (TRC) (212.371.5911..)

CIGAR MAY NOT RUN IN DUBAI CUP
It looks as though Cigar may bypass the $4 million March 27 Dubai World Cup and instead point toward a series of races in California with a bonus of $3 million to the horse who can sweep all three. Although no official announcement has been made, Santa Anita Park, Hollywood Park and Del Mar have reportedly joined forces and will offer the bonus to the winner of the Santa Anita Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup and Pacific Classic.

Cigar's owner, Allen Paulson, has opted to cancel plans to travel to the Dubai World Cup, to be run at the Nas Al Sheba racecourse, Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, and point his superstar for the three California races.

'If we win the three races it would be twice as much as we would make if we went to Dubai,' said Paulson, in an interview with Daily Racing Form. 'We couldn't run in both the Santa Anita Handicap and the Dubai race, so it looks as though we're going to keep him in the United States. In addition, it'll do more for racing in America. He's a very popular guy.'

Paulson and trainer Bill Mott will hold off making a decision on Cigar's 1996 plans until the race series in California becomes official.

KEENELAND POST STRONG SALES THROUGH FIRST FIVE DAYS
The first five days of Keeneland's 11-day 1995 Breeding Stock Sale has seen 1,329 horses sold for a total of $118,879,200. The average price was $89,450, up eight percent over last year's average for the same period. The prices have been buoyed by the sale of five broodmares that sold for more than $1 million each. The sale continues through Nov. 21.

CALIFORNIA RACETRACKS TO DISTRIBUTE $848,500 TO CHARITY
The California Horse Racing Board has approved the distribution of charity racing day proceeds by the Santa Anita Foundation, Oak Tree Charity Foundation and Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Santa Anita will donate $534,500 to 41 charities, including $250,000 to United Way and $100,000 to the Methodist Hospital Foundation. Oak Tree will distribute $116,000 to 36 charities, including $8,000 to the Winners Foundation and $8,000 to the California Thoroughbred Horsemen's Foundation. Del Mar will distribute $198,000 to 19 beneficiaries including $50,000 to United Way of San Diego, and $15,000 each to the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation and the University of California at Davis Equine Research Laboratory.

The proceeds were derived from special charity days set aside by each racing organization. All profits from the designated charity days are set aside to be allocated at the end of the year. Only operating expenses for those days are deducted by the racetracks involved.

CHURCHILL DOWNS ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNERS
The winners of the 13th Annual Red Smith Kentucky Derby Writing Contest have been announced. The awards are presented annually by Churchill Downs, Louisville, Ky., in memory of legendary syndicated sports columnist Red Smith for outstanding coverage of the Kentucky Derby. This year's winners are Blackie Sherrod of the 'Dallas Morning News,' Bob Fortus of 'The New Orleans Times-Picayune,' Chuck Culpepper, 'Lexington Herald-Leader,' and William Nack, 'Sports Illustrated.' Winners will receive an engraved julep cup during the 1996 Derby week. Their names will also be inscribed on a bronze plaque mounted in the Churchill Downs press box lounge.

The winner of the Nikon Twin Spires Photo Contest was also named. That prize was awarded to Ron Garrison, a photo journalist for the 'Lexington Herald-Leader' for his night-time shot of the Twin Spires. Garrison was presented with a Nikon 35Ti camera and a set of Twin Spires bookends. The Photo Contest was created in the spring of 1995 to commemorate the Centennial Celebration of the Churchill Downs Spires.

TOYS FOR TOTS DRIVE AT AQUEDUCT
The Marine Corps Reserve will conduct its annual Toys for Tots program at Aqueduct Racetrack, S. Ozone Park, N.Y., on Saturday. Nov. 18. Racing fans who donate a new, unwrapped toy or make cash contributions as they enter the track will receive free admission, courtesy of the New York Racing Association. The toys and funds collected will go to the region's children in need this holiday season. Donations will also be accepted throughout the day.

Also on tap Saturday, the First Marine Corps District Color Guard will present the colors during the National Anthem.

CALIFORNIA RACING MAKES LIST OF TOP 100 L.A. SPORTS HAPPENINGS
Four horse racing events made the list of the 100 greatest moments in Los Angeles sports history. The ranking was announced during a black-tie dinner at the Pauley Pavilion on the campus of the University of California Los Angeles on Sunday, Nov. 12. The racing events which made the list are as follows: John Longden's victorious ride on George Royal in the 1966 San Juan Capistrano Handicap at Santa Anita, which marked the end of his career as a jockey (ranked number 74); Azucar's Santa Anita Handicap win in 1935 was number 87; Seabiscuit's 1940 Big 'Cap triumph was number 94; and Bill Shoemaker's 1,000th career stakes win, scored at Hollywood Park in 1989, was 96. Both Longden and Shoemaker attended the dinner.

The selections of the 100 top moments in Los Angeles sports history were made by the Los Angeles Sports Council. Voting to rank the contenders was done by the Sports Council membership, area sportswriters and sportscasters and members of the Los Angeles Athletic Club, who gave the number one spot on the list to Kirk Gibson's winning home run for the Dodgers in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series against Oakland.

All 100 moments are included in a new book, 'Unforgettable! The 100 Greatest Moments in Los Angeles Sports History.' The event was televised live on Sunday and will be repeated on Prime Sports at 8:30 p.m. (PT) on Thanksgiving, Nov. 23.

JOCKEY JULIE KRONE SURPASSES 3,000-VICTORY MARK
Jockey Julie Krone, Thoroughbred racing's all-time leading female rider, rode her 3,000th winner Wednesday, Nov. 15 in the fourth race at Aqueduct Racetrack, S. Ozone Park, N.Y. Victory number 3,000 came aboard Dustin's Dreamer. It was one of three wins for the 32-year- old rider at Aqueduct yesterday. A native of Benton Harbor, Mich., Krone became the sport's leading female rider when she surpassed Patricia Cooksey with her 1,205th victory, March 6, 1988 at Aqueduct.

'To overcome all these injuries, to have my slump behind me and to have a lot of momentum going into Gulfstream, that makes all this special,' said Krone.

K-III REPORTS LOSS
K-III Communications, the New York media company whose holdings include the 'Daily Racing Form,' reported a $14.6 million loss for the third quarter. That is compared with a $5.6 million loss which was reported for the same quarter in 1994. K-III, which sold 15 million shares earlier this month in its inaugural public stock offering, attributed this year's loss partially to changes in accounting for advertising costs. K-III, which closed Tuesday at $11. 125 on the New York Stock Exchange, reported a six percent increase in sales to $265.6 million during the third quarter.

HISHI AMAZON LEADS LIST OF JAPANESE HORSES IN JAPAN CUP
Hishi Amazon, the world's leading female money-winner with more than $6 million in career earnings, leads the field of horses representing Japan in the Nov. 26 Japan Cup. The race is currently the world's richest event, with a purse of $3.9 million. Also representing Japan will be stakes winners Narita Brian and Matikane Tannhauser and stakes-placed horses Royce and Royce and Taiki Blizzard.

The list of foreign invitees to the races are: Sandpit, Awad, Turk Passer and Lassigny (representing North America); Sunshack, Hernando, Lando, Pure Grain and Carling (from Europe); and Danewin and Stony Bay (Oceania).

RETAMA AND TEXAS HORSEMEN AGREE ON SEVERAL KEY ISSUES
The Texas Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (THBPA) and Retama Park have agreed to a plan that will enable the Austin, Texas, racetrack to recoup the $1.1 million in overpaid Thoroughbred purses from its first Thoroughbred meet, held this past summer. The four-year plan calls for the track to use purse revenues generated from interstate simulcasting at the track.

Under the terms of the agreement, Retama will recover $276,000 of the $1,107,602.30 total overpayment before the start of the second Thoroughbred meet in early June 1996. In both 1997 and 1998, Retama will recover an additional $250,000 each year, and will complete the recovery in 1999.

In other news, the THBPA and Trinity Meadows Raceway, Inc. have signed a three-year agreement guaranteeing 70 live racing days annually with an overnight purse structure of $45,000 daily. The agreement will run from Jan. 1, 1996 through Dec. 31, 1998. The daily purses will be supported by parimutuel handle on both live and simulcast races. If the handle fails to support the agreed upon daily purse, the guarantee of live racing days will be reduced on a pro rata basis.

SANTA COMES TO CHURCHILL ONE MONTH EARLY
Santa and his elves will make a special visit to Churchill Downs, Louisville, Ky., on Saturday, Nov. 25. Activities planned for the day include performances by strolling carolers, choral groups and high school bands, which will be playing seasonal music. St. Nick and his elves will be on-hand to pose for souvenir photographs.

TROPICAL AT CALDER PURSES AT ALL-TIME HIGH
With on-track attendance up more than 10-percent and on-track handle, including full-card simulcasts, up nearly 30-percent, Tropical at Calder will be raising its average daily purses to a record $150,000. The current meet runs through Jan. 2.

REMINGTON PURSES UP
Remington Park, Oklahoma City, Okla., will raise purses 10 percent beginning Saturday. The across-the-board hike will be accompanied by an eight percent increase in purses for Oklahoma-bred races. 'It's always a good sign when you are able to increase purses,' said Mike Anifantis, the track's racing secretary. 'The trainers here have entered their horses this meeting through thick and thin. I'm glad we can give them this little pop before the meeting ends.' The increases are due to the continued strength of the track's satellite wagering network and heavy wagering that resulted during a recent Pick Six carryover.

RACING ON THE AIR
Nov. 16 'Racehorse Digest' 3:00-3:30 a.m., ESPN
Nov. 18 'Racehorse Digest' 6:00-6:30 a.m., ESPN
Nov. 18 Cardinal Handicap, Churchill, Hawthorne Gold Cup, Hawthorne, Makers' Mark Stakes, Hollywood, 6:00-6:30 p.m., ESPN2
Nov. 22 'Racehorse Digest' 3:30-4:00 p.m., ESPN
Nov. 23 'Racehorse Digest' 3:00-3:30 a.m., ESPN
Nov. 25 'Racehorse Digest' 6:00-6:30 a.m., ESPN
Nov. 26 Hollywood Derby, Matriarch, Citation Stakes, Hollywood Park, 5:30-6:30 p.m., ESPN

RACING TO HISTORY
Nov. 16, 1951: The Pimlico Special, then a winner-take-all $15,000 contest, became the first race to be televised nationally. The winner was C.T. Chenery's Bryan G.

Nov. 18, 1961: Jockey Eddie Arcaro rode his last career race. He retired with a then-record $30,039,543 in purses.

Nov. 18, 1972: Secretariat capped his two-year-old racing season with a 3 1-2-length victory in the Garden State Stakes at Garden State Park. The winner's share of the purse was $179,199, the most Secretariat ever won in a single race.

Nov. 19, 1956: Jockey Fernando Toro won his first career race at the Hipodromo, Santiago, Chile.

Nov. 21, 1971: Secretariat completed his preliminary training at Meadow training center.

Nov. 22, 1990: Jockey Pat Day marked his 5,000th career winner when he rode Screen Prospect to victory in the Falls City Handicap at Churchill Downs. Day was the twelfth rider in history to hit 5,000.

Nov. 24, 1906: Hall of Fame trainer H.A. 'Jimmy' Jones, was born in Parnell, Mo. Jones is best-known as the conditioner of such great racehorses as Citation, Iron Leige and Tim Tam.

Nov. 26, 1946: American Air Lines transported six horses from Shannon Airport, Eire, Ireland, to Newark, N.J., completing the first trans-Atlantic flight for Thoroughbreds. The plane arrived in the U. S. on Nov. 27.

Nov. 26, 1992: Sandy Hawley became the ninth North American rider to win 6,000 races. His record victory came aboard Summer Commander in the second race at Greenwood Racecourse.

Nov. 28, 1982: The brilliant Landaluce, who won her five lifetime starts by a total of 46 1-2 lengths, died of a viral infection. She was buried in the infield at Hollywood Park, where she had won her first two races. Trained by D. Wayne Lukas, Landaluce was later voted champion two-year-old filly of 1982 over another undefeated filly, Princess Rooney.

Nov. 30, 1989: Jockey Kent Desormeaux surpassed Chris McCarron's 15- year record for most number of victories in a single season when he rode his 547th winner for the year at Laurel Racecourse.

Dec. 1, 1962: Ten thousand fans attended a ceremony at Tropical Park in honor of Carry Back's retirement. By Saggy out of Joppy, Carry Back was known as 'the people's horse.' He retired after 55 starts and earnings of more than $1 million.

Dec. 1, 1982: In the first race to feature mother and daughter jockeys, Patti Barton rode against her daughter, Leah, at Latonia. Patti finished fifth aboard Tam's Angel while Leah was tenth on Diane's Ms. Lolly.

Dec. 2, 1936: The Fair Grounds, New Orleans, La., licensed its first female trainer, Miss Meryl Eckhardt of Flint, Mich.

WEEKEND STAKES

SATURDAY
Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap, 3&up, $250,000, 1 1-4 miles, Grade II, Hawthorne Multiple stakes winner Recoup the Cash, winner of more than $959,000 is the highweight in Saturday's Hawthorne Gold Cup. A total of 12 runners will face-off in the mile-and-a-quarter event, including Canadian Basqueian, winner of the Durham Cup Handicap at Woodbine. The field, in post position order (with jockeys and weights) is: Adhocracy (Melancon, 113); Running True (McMahon, 108); Lifes Game (Durante, 104); yourmissinthepoint (Guidry, 112); Basqueian (Silva, 114); Powerful Punch (Bourque, 117); Recoup the Cash (Albarado, 118); Gygiano (Albarado, 111); El Trenzador (ARG) (Gall, 110); Da Bull (Thompson, 111); Sky Carr (Chavez, 112); and Silver Fox (Smith, 113).

Red Smith Handicap, 3&up, $100,000, 1 3-8 miles (Turf), Grade II,
Aqueduct Humbel, a four-time stakes winner in Ireland, is expected in Saturday's Red Smith Handicap, New York's final turf race of the 1995 racing season. The chance for a soft turf course may alter Humbel's plans, as the three-year-old colt prefers firm footing. Highweight in the race was assigned to Boyce, winner of eight of 18 starts, five of which were turf victories. Sure to be one of the favorites is the versatile Diplomatic Jet. The field, in post position order (with jockeys and weights) is: Boyce (Krone, 117); Beware the Quest (Perez, 110); Proceeded (Samyn, 110) The Wild Irishman (Velasquez, 110); Diplomatic Jet (Maple, 114); Easy Miner (Davis, 110); Flag Down (Santos, 114); Usman (Beckner, 108); Party Season (Bailey, 116); Doctor Disaster (Pezua, 109); Silver Fox (Antley, 111); Humbel (Smith, 113); Maryland Moon (Luzzi, 110); and Same Old Wish (Cordova, 110).

SUNDAY
Hollywood Prevue Breeders' Cup Stakes, 2yo, $100,000, 7 furlongs, Grade III, Hollywood
Hennessy, runner-up in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile, will run in Sunday's Hollywood Prevue. Hennessy won two races this past summer at Hollywood, including the Grade II Hollywood Juvenile Championship. Hennessy's main opponent in the seven-furlong race will be graded stakes winner Cobra King, winner of the Oct. 25 Sunny Slope at Santa Anita. Expected to complete the field will be Exetera, whose last outing was in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, where he finished seventh, Jazzmanian Devil, who ran fourth to Cobra King in the Sunny Slope, Matty G, fifth in the Sunny Slope, and Zipped the Message, third in the Sunny Slope.

OTHER RACES THIS WEEKEND
SATURDAY
Cardinal Stakes, 3&up (f&m), $100,000, 1 1-8 miles (Turf), Grade III, Churchill
Carousel Stakes, 3&up (f&m), $75,000, 1 1-8 miles, Grade III, Laurel
Display Stakes, 2yo, $75,000, 1 1-16 miles, Grade IIIC, Woodbine
Mocassin Stakes, 2yo fillies, $100,000, 7 furlongs, Hollywood

SUNDAY
Hawthorne Juvenile Stakes, 2yo, $100,000, 1 1-16 miles, Hawthorne
Maple Leaf Stakes, 3&up (f&m), $100,000, 1 1-4 miles, Grade IIIC, Woodbine
Mrs. Revere Stakes, 3yo fillies, $100,000, 1 1-16 miles (Turf), Churchill


The Running Horse (http://www.webcom.com/~alauck/)