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

GARY STEVENS SELECTED FOR WOOLF AWARD
Gary Stevens has been selected as the 1996 George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award winner. The Wolf award, named in honor of Canadian-born jockey George Woolf, is presented annually by Santa Anita Park to a rider who demonstrates high standards of personal and professional conduct, on and off the racetrack.

The 32-year-old Stevens was selected in a nationwide vote of members of the Jockeys' Guild over fellow nominees Anthony Black, Robbie Davis, David Gall, Flavio Martines III and Craig Perret. Stevens, winner of this year's Kentucky Derby, Belmont and Travers Stakes aboard Thunder Gulch, has made more than 3,700 trips to the winner's circle in his 16-year career. Stevens will receive a miniature likeness of the life-size statue of George Woolf during the upcoming 1995-1996 Santa Anita meet.

Woolf, who was known as 'The Iceman' for his coolness in the saddle, died after falling head first from his mount, Please Me, during a race at Santa Anita Park on Jan. 3, 1946. He was 35.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF BREEDERS' CUP SITE FOR 1997 IS ON HOLD
On Friday, Dec. 1, officials of Breeders' Cup Ltd., based in Lexington, Ky., announced that they had decided to defer a decision regarding the site for the 1997 Breeders' Cup Championship Day. 'As a result of last-minute and unforeseen circumstances, some of our Executive Committee members were unable to attend today's meeting,' said James E. Bassett III, president of Breeders' Cup Ltd. 'We all feel that this decision is too important to be made without the benefit of a full discussion and have thus postponed it until our next meeting,' which is scheduled for late February.

Two tracks, Hollywood Park and Santa Anita Park, both in the Los Angeles area, are under consideration. Hollywood hosted the Breeders' Cup in 1984 and 1987; Santa Anita held the 1986 and 1993 Breeders' Cups. The 1997 Breeders' Cup Championship is slated for Nov. 8. Next year's Breeders' Cup will be held Nov. 2 at Woodbine Racecourse in suburban Toronto, Canada.

TENTATIVE DATES FOR ECLIPSE AWARD ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE SET
The Thoroughbred Racing Associations (TRA) has released a tentative schedule for the announcement of the Eclipse Awards for 1995. The racing awards will be announced Thursday, Jan. 11 via teleconference; the Horse of the Year will be announced Friday, Feb. 9 at the Eclipse Awards Dinner at the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, Calif. The Eclipse Award of Merit and Eclipse Awards for media will be announced on the following dates: Radio-TV, Dec. 21; Photo, Dec.28; Award of Merit, Jan. 3; and Magazine-Newspaper, Jan. 4. Additional information about the awards or the Eclipse Award Dinner may be obtained by contacting Conrad Sobkowiak at the TRA office in Elkton, Md. The phone number is (410) 392-9200.

MOLSON AND ROTHMANS DROP WOODBINE SPONSORSHIPS
Woodbine Racecourse, in Rexdale, Ontario, announced Saturday that Molson Breweries and Rothmans Limited have withdrawn their sponsorships of two $1 million Grade I races, the Molson Export Million and the Rothmans Ltd. International, respectively. The track will continue to support the races with money drawn from the Thoroughbred marketing budget until new corporate sponsors can be found.

'It is our intention to carry on with these great Grade I races,' said George Hendrie, chairman of the board of the Ontario Jockey Club. 'It is more important, with the Breeders' Cup coming to Woodbine on Nov. 2, 1996, to maintain these races. They'll afford horsemen an opportunity to ship horses in early to prep for racing's Day of Champions.'

It is expected that the Molson Million will be renamed the Woodbine Million and the Rothmans Ltd. International will revert to its original name, the Canadian International.

SARATOGA CHANGES MEET DATES
The New York Racing Association has applied for a 34-day meet at Saratoga during the 1996 racing season. The meet would begin Friday, July 26 and run through Monday, Sept. 2, Labor Day. 'After consulting with a number of members of the upstate community, we have decided to push the beginning of the Saratoga meet back and to race through Labor Day,' said NYRA Chairman and President Kenny Noe Jr.

The dates will be made final on Dec. 13 when an announcement is expected on the date of the 1996 Travers Stakes.

TOBA NAMES PRESIDENT
The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association announced Wednesday the appointment of Drew Couto as the association's president, effective Feb. 7, 1996. He will be TOBA's first full-time, salaried president. 'I am very excited about this opportunity,' said Couto. 'The challenge in front of TOBA and myself is to contribute, meaningfully, toward the development of an industry-wide consensus on issues of true significance.'

Couto currently serves as Executive Director of the Thoroughbred Owners of California, which was formed last year to give owners in California a more effective voice in matters pertaining to owners' interests. Prior to that, Couto was a partner in a San Diego-based law firm.

SUNDAY SILENCE LEADING SIRE IN JAPAN
Sunday Silence, the 1989 Horse of the Year, is the leading sire in Japan this year. His progeny have earned more than $21.8 million through Nov. 26, based on converted earnings, yen to dollars. Following Sunday Silence is Canadian-bred Northern Taste, whose progeny earned $15.5 million. All of the top five stallions this year were bred in other countries.

Sunday Silence won the 1989 Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Breeders' Cup Classic. In August of 1990, Sunday Silence was retired due to a slight ligament tear of the left foreleg. He was subsequently sold to Japanese breeder Zenya Yoshida in September of 1990. Sunday Silence won nine of 14 lifetime starts and earned $4, 968,554.

REMINGTON HIRES NEW GENERAL MANAGER
Patrick Jaynes has been named chief operating officer of Remington Park, Oklahoma City, Okla., it was announced Dec. 4. Jaynes will be responsible for the day-to-day operations at the racetrack. He will replace David Vance, who had been the track's general manager since 1988, and whose contract has expired.

Remington officials also announced the appointment of John York to the position of executive vice president and director of racing operations.

RACING ON THE AIR
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
Dec. 13 'Racehorse Digest' 3:30-4:00 p.m., ESPN
Dec. 14 'Racehorse Digest' 3:00-3:30 a.m., ESPN
Dec. 15 'Racehorse Digest' 5:30-6:00 a.m., ESPN
Dec. 17 Hollywood Futurity, Hollywood, Prairie Bayou Stakes, Turfway, TBA, Calder 5:30-6:00 p.m., ESPN2
Dec. 20 'Racehorse Digest' 3:30-4:00 p.m., ESPN
Dec. 22 'Racehorse Digest' 1:30-2:00 a.m., ESPN

RACING TO HISTORY
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.

Dec. 13, 1986: Jockey Kent Desormeaux had his first career stakes win, aboard Godbey, in the Maryland City Handicap at Laurel Racecourse.

Dec. 15, 1973: Sandy Hawley became the first jockey in history to win 500 races in a single year when he rode Charlie Jr. to victory in the third race at Laurel Racecourse.

Dec. 17, 1993: Fire destroyed the 122-year-old grandstand of Fair Grounds, the nation's third-oldest racetrack.

Dec. 18, 1983: Hollywood Park held the first $1 million race for two- year-old Thoroughbreds, the Hollywood Futurity, which was won by Fali Time, ridden by Sandy Hawley.

WEEKEND STAKES
SATURDAY
Vernon O. Underwood Breeders' Cup Stakes, 3&up, $100,000, 6 furlongs, Grade III, Hollywood Will Wild Gold, the winner of four of his last five starts, including the $100,000 Cal Cup Sprint, add the Vernon O. Underwood Breeders' Cup to his list of accomplishments? The five-year-old breezed six furlongs in 1:15 4-5. Wild Gold will face Forest Gazelle, who set a track record for six furlongs in the Los Angeles Handicap (1:07 4-5), and Lucky Forever, who set a world record of 1:13 1-5 for 6 1-2 furlongs in the Rich Cream Handicap at Hollywood Park on May 20.

Also expected are High Stakes Player (a three-year-old colt making his stakes debut following wire-to-wire wins in his last two outings), Plenty Zloty, Powis Castle, Remarfable, Gundaghia, Cyrano Storme and Lit de Justice.

SUNDAY
Hollywood Turf Cup, 3&up, $500,000, 1 1-2 miles (Turf), Grade I, Hollywood. With the absence of Northern Spur due to a cough, the Hollywood Turf Cup field takes on a new dimension. Contesting the one-and-a-half mile turf event will be four-year-old newcomer Parme (Blushing Groom) making his debut in North America and representing his new owner, Evergreen Farm and California-based trainer, Jennie Sahadi. Recently purchased for $500,000, Parme, a Group II winner, arrived in the U.S. on Nov. 29 and cleared quarantine on Friday. Expected to challenge Parme is Tikkanen, winner of the 1994 Breeders' Cup Turf, who will retire after this race.

The probable field is: Parme (Corey Nakatani); Celtic Arms (no rider); Earl of Barking (G.F. Almeida); Hollywood Dream (John Reid); Kiri's Clown (Mike Luzzi); Party Season (Chris McCarron); Patio de Naranjos (Gary Stevens); Privity (Chris Antley); Rifapour (no rider); Royal Chariot (Alex Solis); Shrewd Idea (no rider); Suave Tern (no rider); Talloires (Kent Desormeaux); and Tikkanen (no rider).

OTHER RACES THIS WEEKEND

SATURDAY
Boca Raton Stakes, 2yo fillies, $100,000, 1 1-16 miles, Calder
Queens County Handicap, 3&up, $75,000, 1 3-16 miles, Grade III, Aqueduct
What a Pleasure Stakes, 2yo, $100,000, 1 1-16 miles, Grade III, Calder
William P. Kyne Handicap, 3&up, $100,000, 1 1-8 miles, Grade III, Bay Meadows

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