News and notes from around the Thoroughbred racing world, compiled by Thoroughbred Racing Communications, Inc. (TRC) (212.371.5911..)
EX-BIG LEAGUERS CONNECT WITH SWING AND MISS
Rob Murphy used to bail out Tom Browning while Murphy was a reliever
with the Cincinnati Reds and Browning was a starting pitcher. Murphy
is now a full-time Thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder and
Browning is his partner in the aptly named Swing and Miss. The three-
year-old colt has made five starts with two wins and two seconds,
winning the Great Navigator Stakes by 3 1-2 lengths at Monmouth Park,
June 8. He'll face a field of eight others in Friday night's $100,
000, Grade III Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup at Atlantic City Racecourse.
The undefeated Dr. Bikhazi will give Swing and Miss his toughest
challenge. A good showing here and Swing and Miss may make his next
start in the big leagues of Thoroughbred racing, Saratoga.
JOCKEYS ACROSS AMERICA DAY VIII SET FOR JULY 6
Jockeys Across America Day VIII, the annual national fund-raiser for
the Don MacBeth Memorial Jockey Fund, will be held Saturday, July 6
at approximately 60 racetracks throughout the United States and
Canada. The MacBeth Fund, established by comedian Tim Conway and
jockey Chris McCarron and his wife Judy, provides assistance to
disabled jockeys and exercise riders.
'We hope to raise about $150,000' said Tony DeFranco, the fund administrator from the day. 'Since the MacBeth Fund was formed in 1987, we've raised almost $3 million and assisted 750 riders.'
On Jockeys Across America Day, fans as well as jockeys are asked to make donations at various fund-raising events at racetracks around the country. They will include poster signings, autograph sessions, cap and T-shirt sales, jockey foot races, fishing and golf tournaments and even bake sales. At Laurel Park in Maryland, the jockey colony will stage a race from the starting gate while straddling inflated 'bouncers'; at Los Alamitos in California, there will be a jockey challenge pitting Thoroughbred riders against Quarter Horse riders; and Sam Houston Park in Texas will hold a chili cookoff.
McCarron has also contacted riders at 80 Thoroughbred racetracks, asking for their support and is also encouraging fans to send in a tax-deductible $2 donation to the fund. 'We're also asking racetrack management and fans to do what they can to make this day a success,' said McCarron.
Contributions to the MacBeth Fund may be sent to: Don MacBeth Memorial Jockey Fund, 505 S. Beverly Dr. (#1019), Beverly Hills, Calif. 90212.
(Additional information about Jockeys Across America Day VIII may be obtained by calling Tony DeFranco at (818) 789-2419.)
STEVEN SEGAL MOVIE TO BE SHOT AT CHURCHILL
Think you've got what it takes to be an extra in a Steven Segal
action film? Head off to Churchill Downs on Saturday, June 29 and
you may get your lucky break. Film crews will be at the track
shooting establishing scenes for an upcoming movie starring Steven
Segal. Although filming will be held throughout the day, Segal will
not be on hand. He is expected to be on location at the historic
track when filming continues in September. Although no extras will
be needed for this preliminary filming, casting directors will be on
the grounds to scout for potential extras for the September shoot.
SANGSTER SECURES BRITAIN'S LARGEST STABLE SPONSOR AGREEMENT
After nearly two years of searching, British Thoroughbred owner
Robert Sangster has secured England's largest-ever stable sponsorship
deal. Beginning next month, all of Sangster's horses will carry
advertising for Grosvenor Casinos, a group with 32 gambling outlets.
The deal between Sangster and Grosvenor, worth 500,000 pounds ($755,
515) over three years, includes 65 Sangster-owned horses based in
Britain, all but three of which are in training with Peter Chapple-
Hyam at Manton in Wiltshire. The deal exceeds by 200,000 pounds (or
$302,206) the previous biggest sponsorship arrangement.
The advertising will debut on Diamond Day, which features the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
'A lot of our members are from the Middle East, so hopefully we shall be introducing many new faces to racing,' said David Boden, Grosvenor's managing director. 'We were not interested in a one-hit wonder and could eventually sponsor races or own a horse. But (meantime) our members can visit Manton and we'll be organizing racing days for them. They will also receive monthly details about the Sangster horses.'
THOROUGHBREDS ON U.S. OLYMPIC SHOW JUMPING SQUAD
Four horses and riders were selected as representatives of the
United States Equestrian Team's Show Jumping Squad for the 1996
Olympic Team. The team consists of U.S.E.T. veterans Anne Kursinski
aboard Eros, Michael Matz and Rhum IV, Leslie Burr-Howard on Extreme
and Peter Leone aboard Crown Royal Legato. Kursinski, Matz and Burr-
Howard are Olympic veterans, while Leone will be making his first
appearance as a member of the U.S.E.T. Olympic team.
Two of the horses are of Thoroughbred descent. Extreme is a nine- year-old Australian-bred Thoroughbred. Rhum IV is a part- Thoroughbred who is registered with the Performance Horse Registry, which recognizes the contributions of Thoroughbreds and part- Thoroughbreds in non-racing sports. Extreme and Crown Royal Legato are both European Warmbloods.
The members of the Three-Day Event team, which is typically dominated by Thoroughbreds, will be announced on July 3. The Three- Day squad will consist of four team members, an individual and one alternate.
FULL-CARD SIMULCASTING COMES TO OHIO
After Governor George Voinovich neither vetoed nor signed into law a
bill legalizing full-card simulcasting during the 10-day period it
sat on his desk, full-card simulcasting became legal in Ohio at 12:01
a.m. on Thursday, June 20. The bill, named the 'Ohio Horse Industry
Survival Bill' will go into effect on Thursday, Sept. 19.
CALUMET FARM OWNER SUES BEAR, STEARNS OVER TRADING LOSSES
Calumet Farm owner Henryk De Kwiatkowski has sued Bear, Stearns and
Company, accusing the investment firm of losing more than $300
million through unauthorized currency trading in his brokerage
account, according to a report by Bloomberg Business News. De
Kwiatkowski said that Bear Stearns and a managing director, Albert
Sabini, squandered a trust fund he had established for his children
and grandchildren. The firm is accused of disobeying De
Kwiatkowski's order that the trust fund be kept separate from a
speculative currency-trading account he opened.
HEAD OF LITTLE, BROWN PUBLISHING, A NYRA TRUSTEE, RESIGNS
Charles E. Hayward, president and chief executive of Little, Brown
and Company publishing, has resigned in a dispute over management
strategy. Time Inc., which owns the publishing house, recently
announced plans to sell the profitable professional division of the
company, which publishes medical and legal textbooks and reference
works. Although Hayward did not specifically cite the announced sale
of that division of the company as the reason for his resignation,
several sources said Hayward did not agree with the decision.
NERUD TO RECEIVE ORCHID AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
Retired Hall of Fame trainer John Nerud has been selected to receive
the Orchid Award of Excellence, awarded to the individual who had
made outstanding contributions to the Thoroughbred industry in
Florida and nationally. The Orchid Award is presented by the
University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and Gulfstream
Park. Nerud, 83, will receive the award at the Florida Derby Gala,
to be held Thursday, March 13, 1997 at the Indian Creek Country Club
near Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
CALIFORNIA BILL TO REDUCE LICENSE FEES PASSES SENATE
Legislation to reduce license fees on horse racing handle, drafted
by California Assemblyman Bill Hoge, unanimously passed the
California State Senate Committee on Governmental Organization, it
was announced June 25. Assembly Bill 3205 would cap all license fees
paid in California at 1.25 percent, resulting in more than a $70
million reduction in fees paid to the state. The legislation is an
effort to help protect and create jobs within the racing industry in
the state.
California currently has the highest license fee rate of any major racing state. These fees are paid in addition to all other taxes paid by those in the industry. The bill goes next to the Senate Appropriations Committee.
RACING ON THE AIR
June 27 'Racehorse Digest' 2:30-3:00 a.m. ESPNRACING TO HISTORY
June 27, 1932: Calumet Farm recorded its first victory in a Thoroughbred race with two-year-old Warren Jr., who won by a nose at Arlington Park to earn $850. June 27, 1986: Jockey Kent Desormeaux rode in his first race ever, finishing third aboard a $2,500 claimer named Ducknest Coal Mine, at odds of 35-1, in the second race at Evangeline Downs. June 28, 1977: Steve Cauthen, on his first day as a journeyman jockey, won with his first three mounts at Belmont Park. June 28, 1989: Arlington International Racecourse opened in Arlington Heights, Ill. It had been rebuilt after a fire destroyed the old facility, July 31, 1985. June 29, 1968: Jockey Eddie Delahoussaye won his first race, at Evangeline Downs, aboard Brown Shill. June 29, 1968: Gamely, Princessnesian and Desert Law -- all owned by William Haggin Perry and trained by Jim Maloney -- finished 1, 1A and 1B, respectively, in the Vanity Handicap at Hollywood Park. June 29, 1969: Jockey Ray Sibille won his first career race, at Evangeline Downs. June 29, 1983: Jockey Angel Cordero Jr. won his 5,000th career race, aboard Another Rodger, in the ninth race at Belmont Park. He was the fourth rider in history, behind John Longden, Bill Shoemaker and Laffit Pincay Jr., to hit that mark. June 30, 1973: Three weeks after he won the Triple Crown, Secretariat scored another victory, a nine-length win in the Arlington Invitational Stakes at Arlington Park, where he was sent off at the shortest odds in his career, 1-20. With no place or show wagering on the four-horse race, which was run with a three-horse field against Secretariat, the track had a minus win pool of $17,941. More than 40,000 spectators turned out for the event. June 30, 1978: Spectacular Bid won his first race, at Pimlico, by 3 1-4 lengths. June 30, 1990: Retired jockey Bill Shoemaker won his first race as a trainer, sending two-year-old filly Tempest Cloud to her maiden victory at Hollywood Park. June 30, 1991: One year after his first victory as a trainer, Bill Shoemaker recorded his first Grade I win, with Alcando in the Beverly Hills Handicap at Hollywood Park. July 1, 1966: Jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. won with his first mount in the United States, at Arlington Park, aboard two-year-old filly Teacher's Art, owned and bred by Fred W. Hooper. July 2, 1989: Jockey Steve Cauthen became the first rider in history to sweep the world's four major derbies after winning the Irish Derby with Old Vic. He had previously won the Kentucky Derby with Affirmed (1978), the Epsom Derby with Slip Anchor (1985) and Reference Point (1987) and the French Derby with Old Vic (1989). July 3, 1937: Del Mar Racetrack opened. July 3, 1977: Seattle Slew's nine-race winning streak came to an end in the Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park, when he finished fourth, beaten 16 lengths by J.O. Tobin. July 3, 1982: D. Wayne Lukas-trained Landaluce, ridden by Laffit Pincay Jr., won the first of her five consecutive victories at Hollywood Park. The daughter of Seattle Slew, owned by Barry Beal and Lloyd French, died of a viral infection in November of that year, but was posthumously voted champion two-year-old filly of 1982.
| WEEKEND STAKES |
| SATURDAY |
Hempstead Handicap, 3&up (f&m), $200,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Grade I,
Belmont
Serena's Song, under 125 pounds in the Hempstead, can draw $120,000
closer to the North American distaff money earnings record held by
Dance Smartly. Serena's Song is $625,488 away from Dance Smartly's
total of $3,263,836. She has won two straight races this year and
captured three other Grade I's at Belmont last year. Her main
competition could come from the top two finishers in the Shuvee
Handicap, Clear Mandate (116) and Smooth Charmer (112).
Bashford Manor Stakes, 2yo, $100,000, 6 Furlongs, Grade III, Churchill
Debutante Stakes, 2yo fillies, $100,000, 5 1-2 Furlongs, Grade III, Churchill
Housebuster Handicap, 3&up, $75,000, 6 Furlongs, Laurel
Lamplighter Handicap, 3yo, $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Grade III, Monmouth
Pucker Up Stakes, 3yo fillies, $150,000, 1 1-8 Miles Turf, Grade II, Arlington
Valkyr Handicap, 3&up (f&m), $100,000, 5 1-2 Furlongs, Hollywood
| SUNDAY |
Triple Bend Breeders' Cup Handicap, 3&up, $200,000, 7 Furlongs, Grade III, Hollywood
Top West coast sprinters clash in the Triple Bend. The marquee name
is the speedy Afternoon Deelites as he begins his road toward the
Breeders' Cup Sprint. He returns to California after an East coast
journey which saw him win the Commonwealth Breeders' Cup Handicap at
Keeneland and lose narrowly to Honour and Glory in the Metropolitan
Handicap at Belmont. The Exeter Man won the Sultry Song Handicap at
Hollywood on May 17 and may be living up to the promise he showed
early on in his career. Those two will have to beat hard-knocking
sprinters like Kingdom Found, Powis Castle and Score Quick.
Hollywood Gold Cup, 3&up, $1,000,000, 1 1-4 Miles, Grade I, Hollywood
The absence of Cigar should overshadow the best handicap field of
the year. Cigar's connections may win anyway as their second string
horse, Geri, might be the second-best horse in the country. He
appeared to be an emerging star after a sensational victory in the
Oaklawn Handicap for his sixth consecutive tally. The mud at Pimlico
then slowed Geri down in the May 11 Pimlico Special. Starting
highweight Tinners Way has been inconsistent in the past, but at age
six he may be mature enough to repeat his seasonal debut, a win in
the Grade I Californian Stakes last out at Hollywood. Santa Anita
Handicap winner Mr Purple tries to move one step closer towards a $2
million dollar bonus for a sweep of the MGM Grand Classic Crown.
Helmsman scored in the Strub Stakes at Santa Anita and looks to
return to the winner's circle for the first time since. Siphon (BRZ),
a Grade I winner in Brazil, wired the field in the Mervyn LeRoy
Handicap and may be in a position to do the same to the Gold Cup
field. Others entered are Dare and Go, Luthier Fever, Nonproductiveasset and Helmsman.
Arlington Classic, 3yo, $200,000, 1 1-8 Miles Turf, Grade II, Arlington
The Arlington Classic is the first race in the Mid-America Triple
Turf Series. The others are the American Derby (July 21) and the
Secretariat Stakes (Aug. 25). More Royal should be the favorite after
looking good winning the Jersey Derby at Garden State. Broadway Beau
upset the field at the Crown Royal American Turf Stakes at 17-1.
Unruled won the Jefferson Cup Stakes at Churchill Downs over fellow
Classic starters Broadway Beau and Trail City. Also scheduled to run
are Gotcha and Winter Quarters.
Affirmed Handicap, 3yo, $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Grade III, Hollywood
Firecracker Breeders' Cup, 3&up, $175,000, 1 Mile Turf, Grade III, Churchill
Sands Point Handicap, 3yo fillies, $75,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Belmont
The Running Horse (http://www.isd1.com/alauck)