STEVENS BACK IN SADDLE

Jockey Gary Stevens is expected to start riding at Del Mar by Sept. 1, a month earlier than expectations, after recovering from a June 12 shoulder operation. He has begun exercising horses at Del Mar. Despite missing nearly three months of racing, Stevens is still seventh in the national earnings list.

SALUTE TO CIGAR KICKS OFF LABOR DAY WEEKEND AT SARATOGA

Horse of the Year Cigar will make a public appearance at Saratoga Racecourse, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., on Friday, Aug. 30 between races. The 'Saratoga Salute to Cigar' will not only include an appearance by the champion, as fans will receive a free copy of a full-color photograph of Cigar autographed by owner Allen Paulson, trainer Bill Mott and jockey Jerry Bailey.

'We're very pleased that the fans of Saratoga will be able to enjoy a public appearance by Cigar at this meeting,' said Kenny Noe Jr., president and chairman of the board of the New York Racing Association. 'Their admiration for him was demonstrated by the large number of Saratoga racing fans who showed up for Cigar's workout at 6:45 a.m. recently. It's great that upstate (New York) fans will get a chance to see him at a more convenient time.' The actual time for the 'Saratoga Salute to Cigar' has not been determined yet.

CHURCHILL TO PAY PURSES THROUGH FIFTH PLACE

Churchill Downs officials have announced that purse distribution will be made to the top five finishers in each race, including stakes races, with the exception of the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks. The new purse distribution system will be implemented during the fall meet scheduled to begin Oct. 27. The new purse distributions will be divided with 62 percent awarded to the winner, 20 percent to second, 10 percent to third, five percent to fourth and three percent to fifth.

PARTNERSHIP BUYS MAJOR STAKE IN RACETRACK FOR TAX LOOPHOLE

According to an article in the Aug. 20 Wall Street Journal, the California Jockey Club, a real estate investment trust which owns Bay Meadows Racetrack in San Mateo Calif., agreed to sell to Hudson Bay Partners Limited Partnership for $300 million, new limited partnership units that are convertible into 72 percent of California Jockey Club-Bay Meadows Operating Company stock. Included in the deal are tax breaks from the paired trading of the two operating companies, California Jockey Club and Bay Meadows Operating Company. Under the terms of the transaction, all assets of both companies will be transferred to the new partnerships, which will be comprised of 15 million units. The effective price paid by the partnerships for the stock will be $20 per share. The transaction has met with opposition from members of the dissident California Jockey Club Shareholders Committee, which is being sued by the California Jockey Club.

SANTA ANITA TO SELL TO REAL ESTATE FIRM?

Colony Capital Corporation, a Los Angeles-based real estate investment firm will invest up to $138.3 million in Santa Anita Companies, with the Southern California real estate and racetrack operating company planning to use the funds to expand its operations. According to a report in the Aug. 20 Wall Street Journal, Colony Investors II would get a 45 percent interest in Santa Anita.

'I think this is great news if you're involved in the Thoroughbred industry,' said Clifford C. Goodrich, president and CEO of Santa Anita Park. 'The key here is the access to capital, which frankly we have not had, to do things to this facility and to possibly look at other acquisitions. The Colony Investors II investment will consist of the acquisition of 980,043 newly issued shares of Santa Anita stock at a cost of about $13 per share. In addition to the stock purchase, which would total $12.7 million, Colony Investors II would invest $125.6 million in Santa Anita. The funds would allow Santa Anita to buy other tracks and to expand into other entertainment ventures, such as amusement park.

There is some disagreement, however, from stockholders. Mario J. Gabelli, reportedly the largest shareholder in Santa Anita Companies, has said he will 'vigorously fight' the agreement. According to the Journal, Gabelli believes the transaction means Santa Anita is becoming a real-estate developer. 'This deal stinks higher than the smell in the paddocks,' said Gabelli, who owns about 15 percent in Santa Anita Companies individually or through his affiliates. 'I am 100 percent against this deal.'

JOCKEYS TEAM UP FOR CHARITY PENNING COMPETITION

What do you get when you combine 15 of California's top jockeys, adorn them in western garb, put them astride a horse and have comedian Tim Conway on-hand? On Tuesday, Aug. 27, the Don MacBeth Memorial Jockey Fund will host its third annual Jockey-Fan Team Penning Competition at the Del Mar Racetrack Fairgrounds in Del Mar, Calif. The jockeys, including Chris McCarron, Kent Desormeaux, Corey Nakatani and Eddie Delahoussaye, among others, will be teamed up with paying fans to compete in the team penning event. A total of 12 teams will compete. Each team will be comprised of one jockey and two fans, each of whom ante up $300 for the privilege. As a team, the riders race against the clock to move cattle from one end of an arena into a pen at the other end.

The Jockey-Fan Team Penning Competition will benefit the MacBeth Fund. Since the Fun was co-founded in 1987 by Conway, McCarron and McCarron's wife, Judy, more than 700 injured riders in need have received assistance with physical therapy, renovation of homes to accommodate wheelchairs, converted vans and cars, health care, food, rent and basic living expenses.

The gates will open Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. with competition set to begin at 7:00. General admission is $5 per person. There is also a $50 per person package ticket which must be purchased in advance, which includes preferred ringside box seating, a collectible program and buffet dinner for 5:30-7:30 p.m. For tickets and information, please call (818) 789-2419.

EMERALD DOWNS UNVEILS EQUINE HOSPITAL

The Morris J. Alhadeff Equine Hospital at Emerald Downs will be dedicated on Friday, Aug. 23 at 11:00 a.m. (PDT) at the Auburn, Wash., racetrack. 'The dedication is to express our appreciation to those who helped fund the project,' said Dr. Tom Brandli, president of the local veterinarians' association. 'It is to let them see what a nice facility it really is.'

The $400,000 building will enable veterinarians to perform surgeries and offer emergency care on the racetrack grounds. Thirteen different veterinarians have access to the hospital, which is located in the stable area. The hospital has two padded induction-recovery rooms, surgical suites, a radiology room, a prep room for minor procedures, an isolation stall for horses with contagious ailments, a high-powered x-ray machine for imaging chest cavities and fine details, an ultrasound machine for soft tissue imaging, a video endoscope with video capabilities, and arthroscopic equipment.

FUND ESTABLISHED FOR INJURED OKLAHOMA RIDER

The Ron Childers Hospital Fund has been set up by BancFirst to aid the jockey critically injured in a spill at Blue Ribbon Downs in Sallisaw, Okla., Aug. 16. Remington Park, in Oklahoma City, will be collecting for the Fund this weekend while anyone who wishes to mail in contributions can do so by writing to: Ron Childers Hospital Fund, BancFirst, P.O. Box 1071, Seminole, OK 74868.

AMATEUR RIDERS TO COMPETE AT MONMOUTH PARK

Monmouth Park will host the Amateur Riders Club of the Americas on Friday, Aug. 23 in the first race at the Oceanport, N.J. racetrack. A total of 10 riders will compete in a one mile maiden claiming race on the turf. Among those competing are several assistant trainers, an artist, a three-day event rider, a 17-year-old student and a housewife.

RACING ON THE AIR

Aug. 22 'Racehorse Digest' 2:30-3:00 a.m. ESPN
Aug. 24 Travers Stakes, Saratoga (live), 3:30-6:00 p.m., ABC's Wide World of Sports
Aug. 24 Beverly D Stakes, Arlington, Travers Stakes (recap) Saratoga, 6:00-7:00 p.m., ESPN
Aug. 25 Arlington Million, Arlington, Iselin Handicap, Monmouth, 6:00-7:00 p.m. ESPN
Aug. 28 'Racehorse Digest' 3:30-4:00 p.m. ESPN
Aug. 29 'Racehorse Digest' 2:30-3:00 a.m. ESPN
Aug. 31 'Racehorse Digest' 6:00-6:30 a.m. ESPN

RACING TO HISTORY

Aug. 22, 1972: In preparation for his next start, the Aug. 26 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga, Secretariat worked a half-mile in :46 2-5.

Aug. 23, 1956: Carl Gambardella had his first career winner, aboard Rollin Warm, at Hagerstown.

Aug. 23, 1974: Frank Whiteley-trained Ruffian won the Spinaway Stakes by 13 lengths at Saratoga Racecourse, ending her two-year-old season with a 5-for-5 record. Ruffian was subsequently voted champion juvenile filly of 1974.

Aug. 24, 1968: Carrying 134 pounds, Dr. Fager set the world record for a mile in the Washington Park Handicap at Arlington Park. The time for his 10-length victory was 1:32 1-5. The previous record was 1:32 3-5, set by 3-year-old Buckpasser on June 25, 1966 at Arlington Park.

Aug. 24, 1989: Jockey Larry Snyder won his 6,000th career race, aboard a filly named Speedski, in the first race at Louisiana Downs. Snyder was the sixth rider in history to accomplish that feat.

Aug. 25, 1987: Julie Krone won her 1,000th career victory, aboard Tiger Higgins in the second race at Monmouth Park.

Aug. 26, 1972: Secretariat won the Hopeful Stakes by five lengths at Saratoga Racecourse, for his second stakes win in as many tries.

Aug. 28, 1988: After riding Precisionist in the Cabrillo Handicap at Del Mar Racetrack, 33-year-old Chris McCarron became the fifth and youngest jockey to surpass $100 million in career earnings.

Aug. 29, 1957: Jockey Jerry Bailey was born in Dallas, Texas.

Aug. 29, 1987: Charlie Whittingham became the first trainer to surpass 500 stakes wins when he sent Ferdinand to victory in the Cabrillo Handicap at Del Mar Racetrack.

Aug. 29, 1993: Laffit Pincay Jr., 46, became the second rider in North American racing history to ride 8,000 winners when he rode El Toreo to victory in the seventh race at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club. Bill Shoemaker was the first to hit 8,000, a feat he accomplished in 1981 at age 49.

Aug. 30, 1981: Bill Shoemaker became the first jockey to win a $1 million race when he rode John Henry to a nose victory over The Bart in the inaugural Arlington Million at Arlington Park.

Aug. 31, 1955: In an East versus West showdown, Nashua, ridden by Eddie Arcaro, went wire-to-wire to defeat Swaps, ridden by Bill Shoemaker in a match race at Washington Park. Nashua's victory avenged his second-place finish, behind Swaps, in the 1955 Kentucky Derby.

Aug. 31, 1985: Angel Cordero Jr., 42, became the third rider in history -- behind Bill Shoemaker and Laffit Pincay Jr. -- to have his mounts earn $100 million, while riding at Belmont Park.

Beverly D Stakes, 3&up (f&m), $500,000, 1 3-16 Miles Turf, Grade I, Arlington
The Beverly D is one of the premier distaff grass races in the world. Perfect Arc won the Grade I Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup last year and is eight for nine lifetime on turf. Matiara and Auriette (IRE) also won Grade I stakes in California this year. Alpride (IRE) was a Grade I stakes winner last year. Timarida (IRE) crossed the Atlantic last year to win the Grade II E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine. Olimpia Dukakis (ITY) is a Group 2 winner in Italy.

Travers Stakes, 3yo, $750,000, 1 1-4 Miles, Grade I, Saratoga
Known as the 'Mid-Summer's Derby,' the Travers usually greatly influences the Eclipse Award voting. Skip Away won the Grade I Haskell Handicap last out at Monmouth and is the divisional leader at the moment. Preakness winner Louis Quatorze won the Grade II Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga. Belmont Stakes winner Editor's Note trailed in the Jim Dandy but beat the top two in the Belmont Stakes. Dr. Caton is a well-bred, improving colt who couldn't hold off Skip Away in the Haskell. Will's Way is also improving but couldn't hold off Louis Quatorze in the Jim Dandy.

King's Bishop Stakes, 3yo, $100,000, 7 Furlongs, Grade II, Saratoga

Newbury Handicap, 3&up, $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Arlington

Osunitas Handicap, 3&up (f&m), $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Del Mar

Yearling Sales Stakes, 2yo, $100,000, 6 1-2 Furlongs, Northlands

Secretariat Stakes, 3yo, $500,000, 1 1-4 Miles Turf, Grade I, Arlington
Trail City won the Grade II Arlington Classic. Jaunaxto was awarded the Grade II American Derby when Trail City was disqualified. Old Chapel, Allied Forces and Thorn Tree have won grass stakes in America. Bahamian Knight won the Group 1 Italian Derby. His Excellence was third in the Group 1 Irish Derby. Regal Archive and the filly Khalisa are Group 3 winners in France. Dancing Fred, Dombey, Mystic Knight and Pro Trader haven't been able to keep up the better European horses.

Arlington Million, 3&up, $1,000,000, 1 1-4 Miles Turf, Grade I, Arlington
The Arlington Million always brings together a strong international field. Sandpit (BRZ) finished second last year and has Grade I victories this year in the Hollywood Turf Handicap and Caesars International. Awad won last year's Arlington Million but hasn't won since. Diplomatic Jet won the Grade I Early Times Manhattan Handicap at Belmont. Torch Rouge won the Grade II Arlington Handicap and is trying to become the first horse to complete the Arlington Handicap- Million double. Four horses will cross the Atlantic to test the American horses led by Valanour. Valanour (IRE) won the Group 1 Prix Ganay in France this year. Glory of Dancer was last year's two-year- old champion in Italy. Needle Gun (IRE) and Prince of Andros have won Group 2 stakes in Ireland.

Philip H. Iselin Handicap, 3&up, $300,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Grade I, Monmouth
The Iselin features the return of Serena's Song to Monmouth Park, where she won the Grade I Haskell Handicap last year. She is trying the boys again after finishing second in the Grade I Whitney Handicap at Saratoga. Geri won the Grade I Oaklawn Handicap impressively in April and looks to get back to his winning ways. Smart Strike won the Grade III Salvatore Mile Handicap at Monmouth. Eltish was third in the Arlington Citation Challenge.

Saratoga Cup Handicap, 3&up, $200,000, 1 1-4 Miles, Grade III, Saratoga
The Saratoga Cup features some of the horses from the Grade I Whitney Handicap, including late-running winner Mahogany Hall. Grade I winner Peaks and Valleys disappointed as the favorite in the Whitney while L'Carriere is the defending champion and another Whitney disappointment.

Hanshin Handicap, 3&up (f&m), $100,000, 1M (T), Arlington

Arlington Sprint Breeders' Cup Handicap, 3&up, $150,000, 6F, Arlington

Del Mar Debutante, 2yo fillies, $250,000, 7 Furlongs, Grade II, Del Mar

Speed to Spare Stakes, 3&up, $75,000, 1 3-8 Miles, Grade IIC, Northlands

The Running Horse (http://www.isd1.com/alauck)