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

MORE THAN $390 MILLION WAGERED ON JAPAN CUP
A record crowd of 180,760 fans wagered a staggering $390 million on Sunday's 15th running of the Japan Cup. The handle eclipsed last year's handle of $58 million. Comparatively, a crowd of 144,110 fans wagered $7,245,612 on this year's Kentucky Derby, the second-largest attendance and handle in the Derby's history. The race, currently the world's richest with a purse of $3.2 million, was won by the German horse Lando, ending a three-year Japanese domination in the race.

BAILEY BREAKS EARNINGS RECORD
With a win aboard Duda in the $700,000 Matriarch Stakes, jockey Jerry Bailey broke the single-year earnings record for a jockey. Through Sunday, Bailey has posted earnings of $16,156,711, according to Equibase statistics. The previous single-year earnings record was set in 1994 by Mike Smith when he won $15,979,820.

'I realize the record won't last very long, but it's nice to savor the moment,' said Bailey. 'Maybe this will be the thing that helps me get the Eclipse Award.'

TOP MARES BOOK TO DERBY WINNER THUNDER GULCH
Thunder Gulch, winner of this year's Kentucky Derby, Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes, among others, will be bred to some outstanding broodmares in 1996. Among the American-based mares who are booked to stallion are 1986 Horse of the Year Lady's Secret; Gana Facil, the dam of 1990 Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled; and 1994 Broodmare of the Year Fall Aspen, whose offspring include Timber Country. Thunder Gulch is also booked to two European Champions, Lyric Fantasy and Lemon Souffle. Thunder Gulch will stand the 1996 breeding season at Ashford Stud, Versailles, Ky.

INDIANA RACING COMMISSION ALLOTS MORE 1996 THOROUGHBRED DATES
The Indiana Horse Racing Commission decreased the number of racing dates for Standardbreds and increased the number of dates for Thoroughbred racing at Hoosier Park, the state's only parimutuel racetrack. Despite the objections from Standardbred interests, the Commission approved a 24-day decrease in the number of harness racing dates and increased the Thoroughbred meet to 53 days, up from 42 in 1995. Purses at the track for both breeds will be increased next year.

KENTUCKY HORSE PARK AGLOW WITH SOUTHERN LIGHTS
The new and improved Southern Lights, a holiday lights show at the Kentucky Horse Park, has added the state's largest outdoor laser show to the event. Included in the festival are scenes which depict Kentucky's rich Thoroughbred tradition. Visitors to the Horse Park will see a new exhibit featuring Keeneland's starting gate, as well as a replica in lights of the Churchill Downs' grandstand, complete with Twin Spires, an animated field of Thoroughbreds racing for the finish line and a cheering crowd. The lights in the display are on a timed sequence to create a "moving" image. There will also be scenes with a mare and foal, jockeys on horseback with trumpets, a groom caring for a Thoroughbred, a jumping horse and polo players.

Visitors will also view traditional holiday scenes, such as a Southern belle greeting her holiday guests, an elves' workshop, a gingerbread house, toy soldiers, and a boulevard lined with silhouette candles and poinsettia blooms, and of course, jolly old St. Nick.

In addition to the more than one million lights which comprise the light show, visitors can also see displays of miniature trains, the famed Calumet Farm trophy collection and holiday crafts at the Park's Visitor Information Center. More than 120,000 people saw Southern Lights last year and even more are anticipated at this year's event.

Southern Lights opened Friday, Nov. 24 and runs nightly from 5:30 to 10:00 p.m. through Dec. 31. Tickets are $10 per personal vehicle and may be purchased at the gate or at any Fayette County National City Bank location.

COURT RULES CALDER CAN GET HEARING ON FULL-CARD SIMULCASTING
The Third District Court in Miami ruled Wednesday, Nov. 29, that the Florida Division of Parimutuel Wagering must grant Calder Race Course the administrative hearing it requested to resolve the on-going dispute concerning full-card simulcasting. When Calder first applied for full-card simulcasting in June, the state agency denied the request. Calder then applied for an administrative hearing from the state, which was also denied. In October, the state granted a 90-day simulcasting experiment, which is due to expire on Dec. 29. The court ruled the state could not deny Calder's request for an administrative hearing, even though it later allowed the track to simulcast. The court's written decision stated 'We reverse and remand instructing the Division to hold a formal administrative hearing in order to ensure the generation of a proper record, as well as responsible agency decision making and policy making.'

SUFFOLK DOWNS ADDS DAYS TO FALL MEET
Pending the approval of the Massachusetts State Racing Commission, Suffolk Downs, East Boston, Mass., will extend its fall meet by four days to bring the total number of racing days for 1995 to 159. The track will race on Sunday, Dec. 17, Monday, Dec. 18, Wednesday, Dec. 20 and Saturday, Dec. 23. The track had originally planned a break from December 16 to 27. The additional four days of racing will mean an extra $320,000 in purses.

MEADOWLANDS TOY DRIVE DEC. 1
The Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, N.J., will host the annual Marine Corps Reserve's Toys for Tots drive on Friday, Dec. 1. The drive, which aids underprivileged New Jersey children, has collected several thousands of dollars worth of toys over the year. Any fan who brings a new, unwrapped toy or makes a cash donation of $2 or more that night will receive free admission and a free program.

HOMEISTER HONORED BY MARCH OF DIMES
Jockey Rosemary Homeister Jr. was honored by the New Jersey March of Dimes as the organization's Horse Racing Jockey of the Year. Homeister was honored at the organization's annual Robert E. Harris March of Dimes Sports Award Banquet on Monday, Nov. 27.

RACING ON THE AIR
Dec. 1 'Racehorse Digest' 1:30-2:00 a.m., ESPN
Dec. 2 'Racehorse Digest' 6:00-6:30 a.m., ESPN
Dec. 2 My Charmer Handicap, Calder, On Trust Handicap, Hollywood,
Heavenly Cause Stakes, Laurel 5:50-6:00 p.m., ESPN2
Dec. 6 'Racehorse Digest' 5:00-5:30 p.m., ESPN
Dec. 8 'Racehorse Digest' 1:30-2:00 a.m., ESPN
Dec. 9 'Racehorse Digest' 6:00-6:30 a.m., ESPN
Dec. 10 Hollywood Turf Cup, Hollywood, TBA, Philadelphia Park,
Winning Colors Stakes, Turfway, 6:30-7:00 p.m., ESPN2

RACING TO HISTORY
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.

Dec. 7, 1957: A two-year-old colt named Silky Sullivan won the one- mile Golden Gate Futurity after making up 27 lengths, establishing a running style that became legendary. Horsemen still invoke the name of Silky Sullivan when referring to a horse that runs from far off the pace.

Dec. 7, 1991: Jockey Pat Day set the record for most number of stakes wins in a single season, 60, when he rode Blissful Union to victory in the Louisiana Champions Day Classic at Fair Grounds.

Dec. 10, 1977: In his second year of riding, Steve Cauthen became the first jockey to win $6 million in a single season when he rode a three-year-old filly, Little Happiness, to victory in the sixth race at Aqueduct. Cauthen was dubbed 'The Six Million Dollar Man,' and 'Stevie Wonder' by his admirers and was named 1977 Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated, the Associated Press and The Sporting News. He also received three Eclipse Awards, being voted an award of merit in addition to earning top honors as both a journeyman and apprentice jockey.

Dec. 11, 1983: John Henry became the first racehorse to surpass $4 million in career earnings when he won the Hollywood Turf Cup with jockey Chris McCarron at Hollywood Park.

WEEKEND STAKES

SATURDAY
My Charmer Handicap, 3&up (f&m), $100,000, 1 1-8 Miles (Turf), Calder
Alice Springs, who hasn't won since May 6, heads a field of 13. The five-year-old has been racing with the best, with four races of her five-race losing streak being the Grade I Caesars International (third), The Grade I Beverly D Stakes (second), the Grade II E.P. Taylor Stakes (fourth) and the Grade I Breeders' Cup Turf (seventh). She won three straight in Florida earlier this year, all at Hialeah Park. Trainer Christophe Clement will send out a pair of runners, Cox Orange and Danish (IRE). Cox Orange alos was successful in the spring in Florida, winning her last race April 2. Danish (IRE) had run second five straight times before a 10th in the E.P. Taylor. Rounding out the field are: Majestic Dy, winner of the Francis A. Genter Breeders' Cup Handicap; Mia's Hope; Irving's Girl; Putthepowdertoit; Romy; Tambien Me Voy, an allowance winner of her last start; Liberada; Tee Kay; Due Bill; and Narhen C.

SUNDAY
Bayakoa Handicap, 3&up (f&m), $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Grade II, Hollywood
Urbane, who has never been worse than third in eight career starts, will be a big favorite. The three-year-old won the Grade I Ashland Stakes at Keeneland, April 22, and then ran second in the Kentucky Oaks on May 5. She took time off due to an injury, coming back with an eight-length triumph in the Oct. 14 Maryland Million Oaks. She'll probably face Klassy Kim, winner of the California Cup Distaff, Twice the Vice, Pirate's Revenge and Ashtabula.

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