News and notes from around the Thoroughbred racing world, compiled by Thoroughbred Racing Communications, Inc. (TRC) (212.371.5911..)
VISA, U.S.A. TO SPONSOR TELEVISED RACES
VISA, U.S.A., sponsor of the VISA Triple Crown Challenge, has
expanded its presence in Thoroughbred racing by signing a multi-year
deal as a sponsor of ESPN's 'Racing Across America' series. 'We're
delighted to be joining the list of prominent sponsors,' said Jan
Soderstrom, senior vice president of advertising and marketing for
VISA, U.S.A. 'VISA is committed to its partnership with Thoroughbred
racing and our presenting sponsorship of 'Racing Across America' is a
perfect vehicle for reinforcing our involvement with the three
premier races that make up the Triple Crown.'
MCCARRON CLOSING IN ON PINCAY'S EARNINGS RECORD
Jockey Chris McCarron is closing in on Laffit Pincay Jr.'s all-time
Thoroughbred racing earnings record. Through Feb. 14, McCarron
trails Pincay by $71,912. Two wins on Wednesday's card at Santa
Anita boosted McCarron's career earnings to $190,178,932. Pincay's
record stands at $190,250,844. Each jockey has six mounts on
Thursday's card.
BILL FOR PROTECTION OF SLAUGHTER-BOUND HORSES PASSES SENATE
On Feb. 7, 16 months after the first measure to protect slaughter-
bound horses was introduced, the U.S. Senate passed Senate Bill 1541,
the Farm Bill, which included the 'Safe Commercial Transportation of
Horses for Slaughter Act of 1955.' The transportation Act,
introduced last September by Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) as S.
1283, was incorporated into S. 1541 as an amendment by Senator
Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), chairman of the Senate's Agricultural
Committee. Senator McConnell had previously introduced a similar
measure on the transportation of slaughter-bound horses on Oct. 6,
1994. The current bill is supported by the American Horse Council,
the American Association of Equine Practitioners, the American Horse
Protection Association and other groups concerned with the health and
welfare of the horse.
Under the provisions of S. 1541, horses being transported to slaughter facilities must be rested off the vehicle after 24 hours and be given access to food and water. All transportation vehicles will be required to have headroom of at least six-and-a-half feet, and interiors that are free of sharp edges that may wound the trailers' occupants. The vehicles must also be adequately ventilated; maintained in a sanitary condition; offer sufficient shelter from extremes of heat and cold; and be structured to allow for the segregation of horses by size and sex. Prior to being transported, horses must be deemed fit to travel by a veterinarian.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will be responsible for enforcing the Act, in conjunction with state and local authorities. The USDA currently is responsible for regulating the slaughter process, under the provisions of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act.
'This is an important first step in the legislative process to protect these horses,' observed James J. Hickey Jr., president of the American Horse Council. 'The legislation must be passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and signed by the President before it becomes law. We must also work for federal funding to ensure the Act is fully enforced.'
HALL OF FAME TRAINER SYL VEITCH DEAD
Syl Veitch, a Hall of Fame trainer and father of trainer John Veitch,
died Wednesday, Feb. 14 after a short illness. He was 85. Veitch
trained two Belmont Stakes winners, Phalanx in 1947 and Counterpoint
in 1951. He conditioned a number of champions, including Phalanx,
First Flight, Counterpoint and Career Boy, all owned by C.V. Whitney.
Veitch was also the trainer for the George D. Widener Stable. In
recognition of his achievements as a trainer, Veitch was elected into
the Racing Hall of Fame in 1971.
SIMULCAST EXPANSION DENIED IN FLORIDA
The Florida Division of Parimutuel Wagering denied a request from
the state's horse racing tracks to allow full-card simulcasting. The
tracks have been given 21 days to request an administrative hearing
on the decision. 'After a thorough review of everything we received,
our decision is to hold the cap at 20 percent,' said Debbie Miller,
division director, referring to the current state rule, which allows
two out-of-state simulcasts for every 10 live races. Miller's
decision came as a surprise to the tracks involved, as a report
issued by the Division on Jan. 24 indicated that the 90-day
experiment by Calder Race Course and Pompano Park Harness Track in
1995 had produced enough in state taxes, increased purse money and
profit for the tracks to continue with the experiment. Miller opted
to have incoming legislators decide the fate of full-card
simulcasting. Florida has not passed one piece of parimutuel
legislation written in the last four years.
TRF AUCTION RAISES NEARLY $300,000
A breeding season to Breeders' Cup Classic winner Wild Again, sold
for $38,000, topped the sixth annual Thoroughbred Retirement
Foundation Stallion Season and Art Auction Jan. 27. The event was
hosted by TRF Board Member Herb Moelis at his Candyland Farm in
Middletown, Del. The proceeds of the auction, which featured
breeding seasons to top stallions, as well as art, antiques and
racing memorabilia, netted nearly $300,000 for the TRF, the
University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center and the Freedom Hills
therapeutic riding center for children.
The auction included seasons to such stallions as Runaway Groom, Sea Hero, West By West and Opening Verse, among others. 'This is our most successful auction to date,' noted Moelis.
The TRF provides homes for retired Thoroughbreds and educational opportunities for inmates at the Wallkill Correctional Facility in Wallkill, N.Y. and troubled youths at the Charles H. Hickey Jr. School in Maryland.
MASSCAP BONUS MAY AWARD ADDITIONAL QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS
A new bonus structure for the June 1 Massachusetts Handicap could
award an additional $250,000 to a multiple graded stakes winner who
wins the race. The bonus structure is designed to attract winners of
Grade I and Grade II races in the last two years to compete in the
1996 Masscap, held at Suffolk Downs, E. Boston, Mass.
The bonus is structured to award up to $250,000, based on the number of 1995 and 1996 Grade I or Grade II victories the winner has. If the horse has three or more Grade I stakes in 1995 and 1996, the bonus will be $250,000; two Grade I stakes will be worth $200,000; one Grade I, $150,000; three or more Grade II's, $100,000; two Grade II's, $75,000; and one Grade II, $50,000.
'The idea is to attract the best possible field of horses no matter who is available,' said Suffolk Downs Vice President of Racing Lou Raffeto Jr. 'Obviously, we would like to attract Cigar and any of the top handicap horses, but it is in the long term best interest to establish a bonus that rewards excellence.'
RACING ON THE AIR (all times Eastern)
Feb. 16 'Racehorse Digest' 3:30-4:00 a.m., ESPN
Feb. 17 'Racehorse Digest' 6:00-6:30 a.m., ESPN
Feb. 17 '2-Day at the Races' 6:00-6:30 p.m., ESPN2
Feb. 21 'Racehorse Digest' 4:00-4:30 p.m., ESPN
Feb. 23 'Racehorse Digest' 3:00-3:30 a.m., ESPN
Feb. 24 'Racehorse Digest' 6:00-6:30 a.m., ESPN
Feb. 24 Fountain of Youth, Gulfstream, 4:30-5:30 p.m., ESPN
RACING TO HISTORY
Feb. 18, 1990: Jockey Kent Desormeaux had his first win in
California aboard Light the World in the fourth race at Santa Anita.
Feb. 19, 1916: Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Arcaro was born in Cincinnati, Ohio
Feb. 21, 1975: Triple Crown winner Affirmed was foaled at Harbor View Farm, Ocala, Fla.
Feb. 22, 1969: Barbara Jo Rubin became the first woman jockey to win a parimutuel race in America when she rode Cohesion to victory at Charles Town.
Feb. 24, 1947: Acting upon an earlier recommendation by The Jockey Club stewards, the Thoroughbred Racing Associations unanimously approved lip tattoos as a method of identifying Thoroughbred racehorses.
Feb. 24, 1979: Trainer J.C. Williams saddled eight winners in 12 attempts at Waterford Park. Williams also owned seven of those eight winners.
Feb. 26, 1973: With Secretariat having been named Horse of the Year for 1972 and champion two-year-old, it was announced by Claiborne Farm that the colt had been syndicated for a then-record $6,080,000 -- equivalent to 32 shares at $190,000 each.
Feb. 27, 1970: Jockey Kent Desormeaux was born in Maurice, La.
Feb. 27, 1982: Florida apprentice Mary Russ became the first female jockey to win a Grade I stakes in North America when she captured the Widener Handicap aboard Lord Darnley at Hialeah.
Feb. 28, 1957: John Longden became the first jockey in history to reach 5,000 victories.
WEEKEND STAKES
SATURDAY
Santa Maria Handicap, 4&up (f&m), $150,000, 1 1-16 miles, Grade I, Santa Anita
Serena's Song, 1995's champion three-year-old filly, will be the
high weight in Saturday's Santa Maria Handicap. Serena's Song,
assigned 124 pounds, will be making her second start of the season
following her victory in the Grade I Santa Monica Handicap Jan. 27.
The field in post position order (with jockeys) and weights is: Silverbulletlover (Blanc) 109; Real Connection (Douglas) 113; British Bauble (Solis) 112; Klassy Kim (Delahoussaye) 115; Twice the Vice (McCarron) 118; and Serena's Song (Stevens) 124.
Gulfstream Park Budweiser Breeders' Cup, 3&up, $150,000, 1 3-8 miles (Turf), Grade II, Gulfstream
Making his first start since finishing fifth in last November's
Japan Cup, Awad has been assigned the top weight of 122 pounds when
he faces 10 rivals in Saturday's turf event at Gulfstream Park. Awad
won the Grade II Pan American and two Grade I's, the Manhattan
Handicap and Arlington Million. Facing Awad will be Broadway Flyer,
who finished second in group stakes in Italy and England last year.
The son of turf champion Theatrical was runner-up in the Gran Premio
di Milan and John Gordon Stakes. Also going postward will be Flag
Down, winner of the W.L. McKnight Handicap last December and the Red
Smith at Aqueduct, and Humbel, winner of two group races in Ireland
last year. Completing the field is Celtic Arms, recently fourth in
the San Marcos Handicap; as well as Proceeded, Homing Pigeon,
Fabulous Frolic, Penn Fifty Three, Menzies, and Next Endeavor.
The field, in post position order (with jockeys and weights) is: Proceeded (Samyn) 110; Celtic Arms (FR) (Smith) 114; Broadway Flyer (Bailey) 117; Flag Down (Santos) 118; Homing Pigeon (Landry) 112; Fabulous Frolic (Boulanger) 112; Penn Fifty Three (Wilson) 113; Humbel (Day) 113; Menzies (Penna) 111; Awad (Maple) 122; and Next Endeavor (Velasquez) 115.
SUNDAY
Las Virgenes Stakes, 3yo fillies, $150,000, 1 mile, Grade I, Santa Anita
Cara Rafaela, runner-up to My Flag in last year's Breeders' Cup
Juvenile Fillies, will head the field in Sunday's Las Virgenes.
Fourth in her last start when she faced males in the El Camino Real
Derby on a sloppy track, Cara Rafaela finished just three lengths
behind the winner. The D. Wayne Lukas-trainee has three wins, four
seconds and earnings of $561,962 from 10 starts.
Expected to face Cara Rafaela are Antespend, Canta's Crusade, Hidden Lake, Raw Gold and Wish You. The draw for post positions will be held Friday.
Deputy Minister Handicap, 3&up, $50,000, 6 furlongs, Gulfstream Not Surprising, the 1995 sprint champion, will make his 1996 debut in Sunday's Deputy Minister. Not Surprising's last race was the Breeders' Cup Sprint, in which the Eclipse Award winner finished fourth over the muddy track. Probables taking on Not Surprising will be Lord Carson, recently second in the Hallandale Handicap on Jan. 3, and Friendly Lover, third in the Olympic Handicap.
OTHER RACES THIS WEEKEND
SATURDAY
Barbara Fritchie Handicap, 3&up (f&m), $200,000, 7 furlongs, Grade II, Laurel
Essex Handicap, 4&up, $75,000, 1 1-16 miles, Grade III, Oaklawn
SUNDAY
Rare Treat Handicap, 3&up (f&m), $75,000, 1 1-8 miles, Grade III, Aqueduct
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