CIGAR COULD BECOME THE WORLD'S RICHEST RACEHORSE

If Champion Cigar finishes third or better in Saturday's Breeders' Cup Classic, he will become the world's richest racehorse. Cigar needs just $274,749 to eclipse Japan's Narita Brian, the current world leader with earnings of $9,794,563. Cigar's earnings going into the Classic total $9,519,815. The $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic pays $2,080,000 to the winner, $800,000 to the second-place finisher and $480,000 to the third-placed horse.

WHERE'S GEORGE?

George Steinbrenner III won't be able to attend Saturday's 13th running of the Breeders' Cup, even though he has a two-year-old colt named Acceptable running in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Since the Yankees won Game 4 of the World Series Wednesday night, thus assuring a Game 6 Saturday night in New York, trainer Nick Zito won't have 'The Boss' by his side.

Zito, however, has been wearing a Yankees jacket around the backstretch this week and made several bets on Game 4 with Canadian backstretch workers Tuesday.

'I probably won't be able to find any of them now,' he said.

CIGAR SMOKES CIGAR AFICIONADO AGAIN

The winter issue of Cigar Aficionado magazine, due on newsstands in late November, will include an 11-page feature on Cigar (the racehorse). It was written by John Lee of the New York Racing Association press office and illustrated with photographs by Barbara Livingston.

HORSE STAR CARDS RELEASES BREEDERS' CUP TRADING CARDS

Horse Star Cards has just released a set of Breeders' Cup trading cards, capturing some of the highlights of the series between 1984 and 1995. The collection features 108 cards, nine from each of the first 12 years. The nine cards include a yearly logo card, a card depicting the host racetrack and one card for each of the seven winners that year.

Full sets of the cards sell for $30; a deluxe limited edition in an embossed album with brass corners sells for $125. The cards are available in racetrack gift shops, sports card hobby shops or from the manufacturer. Royalties from the cards benefit the Jockeys' Guild Disabled Jockeys Fund.

NBC SPORTS BRINGS THE BREEDERS' CUP TO TV

NBC Sports will televise the Breeders' Cup Saturday, Oct. 26 (1:30 - 6 p.m. EDT) for a 13th consecutive year. Here are some facts and figures about the broadcast: It will be distributed to 201 NBC affiliates in the United States. An international feed will be available in 66 foreign countries and the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service; NBC research estimates that more than 17 million people will watch all or part of the telecast; NBC Sports will use a production-technical crew of 150 people, five miles of camera cable and three miles of audio cable. They will use 21 cameras, as well as one in a blimp. The on-air talent will include host Tom Hammond, racecaller Tom Durkin, and contributing analysts Mike Battaglia, Trevor Denman, Gregg McCarron, Bob Neumeier and John Veitch. The executive producer is Tom Roy, the producer is David Michaels and the director is Bucky Gunts.

All coverage leading up to the Breeders' Cup can be found at www.nbc. com on the sports page.

HISTORY IN MAKING AS WOODBINE HOSTS FIRST 'CUP' OUTSIDE THE U.S.

With thousands of North American racing fans on hand and the Thoroughbred racing industry and a worldwide television audience looking on, the Ontario Jockey Club (OJC) plans to put on a memorable show when it hosts the 13th running of the Breeders' Cup Saturday, Oct. 26 at Woodbine Racecourse in Toronto. While Woodbine is home to North America's oldest continuously run stakes race, The Queen's Plate, its selection as the site for the first Breeders' Cup to be held outside the United States gives the track a new page in its long history.

'Obviously, we're very proud to host this event,' said David Willmot, president and CEO of OJC. 'It's truly a world-class, international event and the city is pretty excited about it.'

Willmot believes hosting the Breeders' Cup will pay dividends beyond the attention the track receives on Cup Day. 'Through the years, members of the international racing community have come here to race and they've always been very impressed with our training and racing facilities,' he said. 'But they always came in dribs and drabs. The key to this event is that the international racing community at large will get a chance to see what quality facilities and racing we have and we will be able to attract horses and horsemen in the future.'

With the Breeders' Cup just days away, awareness of the event has increased dramatically in the metropolitan Toronto area. There are Breeders' Cup banners throughout the downtown area, surrounding the Skydome and all along the 'airport strip' of hotels.

OJC and Breeders' Cup Ltd. will issue approximately 800 media credentials, including a few hundred for NBC Sports, which will televise the seven Breeders' Cup races (1:30 - 6 p.m. EDT). The Breeders' Cup always attracts horses, horsemen and journalists from European countries; this year, the event will be covered by various journalists from all parts of Canada as well.

Woodbine has undergone several changes in preparation for the Breeders' Cup, according to Bruce Walker, OJC's director of publicity. Bleachers, with a seating capacity of approximately 7,600, have been erected on the ground level. A standing-room viewing area that runs the length of the grandstand has been constructed on the third floor of the grandstand for those without seats. A new winner's circle has been 'dug out' of the apron at the finish line. ('We did it for the Breeders' Cup and NBC sports, but we like it so much, we might leave it this way,' said Walker.) Tents, housing 45-50 mutuel machines, have been erected on the east side of the track. Two Jumbotron screens will be in place near the walking ring. Small tents, where specialty food items, beer and souvenirs will be sold, have been erected. The third and fourth levels of the building have been painted and re-decorated. The main press box has been refurbished and an auxiliary press box has been built. A large V.I.P. tent, that can hold 1,350 people, has been set up just outside the clubhouse gate; a smaller tent, holding 400, has been set up inside the clubhouse gate.

The excitement of hosting such an event has been dampened somewhat by nagging concerns about labor unrest in Toronto during Breeders' Cup weekend. (At one point in early June, Breeders' Cup Ltd. announced that the 1996 running would be relocated, but agreed to leave it in Toronto when Ontario officials and labor leaders assured the OJC and Breeders' Cup Ltd. that they would not be targeted. The date for the labor protest was chosen not because of the Breeders' Cup, but because it coincided with a meeting of the governing Progressive Conservative Party in downtown Toronto.)

'I can't guarantee that there won't be any disruption of services or slowdowns on Friday,' said Willmot, 'but my major concern is Saturday and we've had repeated assurances from labor (officials) that they respect our event and what it means to the community and will do nothing to interfere with it.'

If interest in the Breeders' Cup in Toronto can be measured by ticket and seating requests, the 13th running promises to be a successful one: Woodbine received and quickly filled 6,500 seats made available through a seating lottery.

And then there are the endless verbal requests that OJC officials hear each day. 'You know you're hosting a major event,' Walker jokes, 'when every call you get begins with 'You remember me...''

GIRL SCOUTS CAN EARN BADGE AT RACING MUSEUM

Girl Scouts working toward horse-related badges can get a real leg- up from the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. The Saratoga Springs, N.Y.-based museum is offering three different courses designed to familiarize the scouts with the care, anatomy, grooming and breeding of horses, as well as careers available in the horse industry. Each program lasts two hours and cost $2 per person. Three different badges are available upon completion of the courses. Horse Lover, a Junior program, offers an introduction to the care of horses, the equipment used, careers for horse lovers and an overview of the Thoroughbred industry. To earn the Horseback Rider badge, also a Junior program, scouts learn about famous Thoroughbred horses. For the Horse Sense badge, a Cadette and Senior program, scouts learn about the topics covered in the other two course as well as equine conformation, the history of horses and characteristics of different breeds.

DARKNESS NOT A PROBLEM IN CLASSIC

When Alysheba won the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs in 1988, he did so in almost total darkness. That won't be a problem for Cigar and the rest of the Classic field this year, no matter how overcast it is Saturday, because Woodbine Racetrack conducts both afternoon and evening racing and has lights.

'We have halogen lights and we'll probably turn them on early in the afternoon if it's cloudy,' said David Gorman, vice president of corporate development for the Ontario Jockey Club, which owns Woodbine.

OJC EXPECTS A BIG CROWD

Ontario Jockey Club officials are predicting a crowd of 40,000 people, but they believe it could go much higher if Mother Nature cooperates. 'The walk-up crowd could be huge if we have good weather, ' said OJC publicity director Bruce Walker. 'We have a $15 admission (with free parking) that allows patrons into an area with two Jumbotron screens and tents with specialty food items and souvenirs.'

MOTT'S MAKING (PERSONAL) PLANS

Trainer Bill Mott hasn't made any plans for Cigar after Saturday's Breeders' Cup Classic, but he's trying to firm up some personal travel plans of his own.

'My son Brady and I might go back to my hometown of Mobridge, S.D., for a visit on Mr. (Allen) Paulson's private jet, but we're trying to find a place where we can clear customs since the flight will originate in Canada.'

DONK COMMUTING TO WOODBINE

Trainer David Donk, who trains Breeders' Cup Juvenile favorite Ordway and Breeders' Cup Turf contender Awad, was at Woodbine earlier in the week but left Tuesday to attend to a family matter. 'My wife's pregnant and I had to go back so I wouldn't miss our Lamaze class.'

MEDIA SOVEREIGN AWARD NOMINATIONS DUE NOV. 1

Nominations for the 1996 media Sovereign Awards, Canada's version of the Eclipse Award, close Nov. 1. All entries in the four media categories must be received in The Jockey Club of Canada's office no later than the deadline. The four categories are Photography, Film- Video-Broadcast, Outstanding Newspaper Article and Outstanding Feature Story. All media nominations will be reviewed by a panel of judges with expertise in the category they are judging. The names of the three finalists in each category will be announced on Thursday, Nov. 14.

For additional information, contact Gary Loschke, executive director, The Jockey Club of Canada, at (416) 675-7756.

STATE REP RAISES $2,400 FOR HANDICAPPED CHILDREN

Pennsylvania Representative John A. Lawless will present a check for $2,400 to the Montgomery County Development Fund for Handicapped Children on Friday, Oct. 25 at the Turf Club Valley Forge, Bensalem, Pa., at 10:00 a.m. The check represents the winnings earned by Rep. Lawless at the newly opened Turf Club, the area's off-track betting facility. Rep. Lawless was given $1,000 with which to wager on behalf of the Development Fund last Friday at the Turf Club's opening reception and he was able increase the charity's bankroll to the $2, 400.

Bob Green, president of Philadelphia Park-Turf Club, guaranteed the charity $1,000, Rep. Lawless' initial wager, whether he won or lost.

RACING ON THE AIR

Oct. 24 'Racehorse Digest' 1:30-2:00 a.m. ESPN
Oct. 26 'Racehorse Digest' 6:00-6:30 a.m. ESPN
Oct. 26 Breeders' Cup XIII, Woodbine, 1:30-6:00 p.m. NBC
Oct. 30 'Racehorse Digest' 3:30-4:00 p.m. ESPN
Oct 31 'Racehorse Digest' 1:30-2:00 a.m. ESPN

RACING TO HISTORY

Oct. 24, 1877: Congress adjourned to see a race between Parole, Ten Broek and Tom Ochiltree, which was held at Pimlico.

Oct. 24, 1953: Tom Fool won the Pimlico Special Stakes by eight lengths, capping a perfect four-year-old campaign with 10 stakes wins in as many starts. The Special was his fourth consecutive race run as a non-betting exhibition. Tom Fool was voted Horse of the Year for 1953, acing out Native Dancer, who lost only one of his 10 stakes races that year, the Kentucky Derby.

Oct. 25, 1870: Pimlico, the nation's second-oldest Thoroughbred racetrack, began its inaugural meet.

Oct. 25, 1947: After winning the Gallant Fox Handicap at Jamaica, a former $1,500 claimer, Stymie, became the world's leading money- winning Thoroughbred, with earnings of $816,060. Stymie raced two additional years and retired in 1949, at age eight, with lifetime winnings of $918,485.

Oct. 26, 1949: Bill Shoemaker rode to his first stakes victory, the George Marshall Claiming Handicap at Bay Meadows, aboard a five-year- old horse named Al.

Oct. 26, 1990: Jockey Julie Krone rode her 2,000th career winner, aboard John Forbes-trained Rainbow Quartz, at The Meadowlands.

Oct. 27, 1870: Preakness won the Dinner Stakes at the newly opened Pimlico Racecourse. In 1873, the first Preakness Stakes, a race was named in his honor, was held at Pimlico.

Oct. 27, 1990: Bayakoa (ARG) became the second horse to win two consecutive Breeders' Cup Championship races. Both of her victories came in the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

Oct. 28, 1972: Secretariat won the Laurel Futurity by eight lengths, sent off at odds of 1-10, at Laurel.

Oct. 28, 1973: With jockey Eddie Maple substituting for Ron Turcotte, who was sidelined by a suspension, Secretariat concluded his racing career with a 6 1-2-length victory in the Canadian International Championship Stakes at Woodbine Racecourse. It was his second victory in as many tries on the turf.

Oct. 28, 1983: Jacinto Vasquez had his 4,000th career winner aboard Sunshine O'My Life, in the ninth race at Aqueduct.

Oct. 29, 1948: Calumet Farm's three-year-old Citation entered the Pimlico Invitational Special Stakes unopposed and won in a walkover, earning $10,000 for galloping the 1 3-16 mile course in 1:59 4-5. Another great Calumet runner, Whirlaway, also won the Special in a walkover in 1942.

Oct. 29, 1955: Charlie Whittingham and Bill Shoemaker scored their first stakes victory as a trainer-rider team with Mister Gus in the William P. Kyne Handicap at Bay Meadows.

Oct. 30, 1937: Sir Barton, the first American Triple Crown winner, died at age 21.

Oct. 31, 1944: The saddle cloth numbers of the first five race winners at Jamaica corresponded to the number of the race in which each horse started.

Oct. 31, 1964: Seven-year-old Kelso won his fifth consecutive Jockey Club Gold Cup, a record. In each of those races, Kelso was the odds- on favorite.

Oct. 31, 1987: Jockey Chris Antley became the first rider to win nine races in a single day. He rode four winners from six mounts at Aqueduct and five winners from eight tries during The Meadowlands' evening program.

Nov. 1, 1944: Racing returned to Hollywood Park after a three-year hiatus, which followed the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Nov. 1, 1938: Before a crowd of 40,000 spectators, Seabiscuit, under jockey George Woolf, defeated odds-on favorite War Admiral in the Pimlico Special, run as a winner-take-all match race with a purse of $15,000.

Nov. 1, 1947: Man o' War died at Faraway Farm, Lexington, Ky. He lay in state for three days before being ceremoniously buried on Nov. 4.

Nov. 2, 1968: John Nerud-trained Dr. Fager, carrying 139 pounds, won the last race of his career, the seven-furlong Vosburgh Handicap at Aqueduct, by six lengths. Dr. Fager was subsequently named champion handicap horse, champion sprinter, turf champion and Horse of the Year.

Nov. 2, 1985: Trainer D. Wayne Lukas won his first Breeders' Cup race, the Juvenile Fillies, with Twilight Ridge, whose entrymates Family Style and Arewehavingfunyet finished second and eighth, respectively.

Nov. 2, 1991: The Breeders' Cup Pick 7, a wager linking the seven Breeders' Cup races, was inaugurated. Wagering on the Pick 7 alone, excluding wagers made on the individual Breeders' Cup races, was $8, 526,985.

Nov. 3, 1923: Tanforan, in suburban San Francisco, opened for a 25- day, non-betting meet.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, 2yo fillies, $1,000,000, 1 1-16M, Grade I
This race will likely decide who will be named champion two-year-old filly for 1996. Storm Song rolled to victory in the Grade I Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park, with Sharp Cat failing to hold her off as she did previously in the Grade I Matron Stakes. City Band wired the field in the Grade I Oak Leaf Stakes, Oct. 5 at Santa Anita. Love That Jazz and Minister's Melody ran one-two in the Kentucky Cup Juvenile Fillies, Sept. 21 at Turfway. Barbed Wire is the local hope after her ten length romp in the Mazarine Stakes at Woodbine.

Breeders' Cup Sprint, 3&up, $1,000,000, 6F, Grade I
Langfuhr won the Grade I Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont with a powerful move midway through the turn. Appealing Skier took off and never looked back in the Grade II Kentucky Cup Sprint at Turfway, Sept. 21. Capote Belle tied the stakes record at Saratoga in her Grade I Test Stakes victory. Honour and Glory has been tough in all his races, including his win in the Grade I Metropolitan Handicap. Lord Carson has won three in a row, including a wire-to-wire victory in the Grade II Boojum Handicap at Belmont. Lit de Justice won the Grade III Bing Crosby Breeders' Cup Handicap at Del Mar. Iktamal comes from England with a strong record, including a victory in his last race, the Group I Haydock Park Sprint Cup.

Breeders' Cup Distaff, 3&up (f&m), $1,000,000, 1 1-8M, Grade I
Different (ARG) is undefeated in North American with victories including a powerful stretch drive to defeat Top Secret in the Grade I Spinster Stakes. Serena's Song has run consistently well against males and females this year. A victory would make her the richest North American-based filly or mare of all time. Jewel Princess beat Serena's Song in their last meeting, the Grade I Vanity Handicap at Hollywood. My Flag has three Grade I victories against three-year-old fillies and won last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. No juvenile winner has ever won another Breeders' Cup race.

Breeders' Cup Mile, 3&up, $1,000,000, 1M (T), Grade I
Mark of Esteem (IRE) could be named champion miler in Europe. The three-year-old colt has victories this year in two Group I British events, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and the 2,000 Guineas. Spinning World is another top three-year-old European colt. He has Group I victories in the Irish 2,000 Guineas and the Prix Jacques Le Marois in France. Da Hoss may be the best North American hopeful with multiple graded stakes victories on turf. Memories of Silver is undefeated on turf after setting a course record at Keeneland in winning the Grade I Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup. Same Old Wish nosed out Da Hoss at Belmont in the Grade III Kelso Handicap. Smooth Runner won the Grade III Poker Handicap at Belmont. Helmsman and the filly Chaposa Springs are Grade I winners on dirt this year.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile, 2yo (c&g), $1,000,000, 1 1-16M, Grade I
Ordway won the Grade I Champagne Stakes at Belmont. Boston Harbor won a $1 million bonus for sweeping four stakes in Kentucky. Cash Deposit is the local hopeful after a six length tally in the Grey Stakes at Woodbine. Gold Tribute held on for third in the Champagne Stakes. His Honor and Michelle'sallhands have been running well against Florida-breds.

Breeders' Cup Turf, 3&up, $2,000,000, 1 1-2M (T), Grade I
Singspiel (IRE) came from Europe to win the Grade I Canadian International at Woodbine after being beaten by his stablemate, Swain, in the Group I Coronation Cup in England. Diplomatic Jet has three Grade I victories over the Belmont Park turf. Talloires won the Grade II Caesars Palace Turf Championship. Pilsudski (IRE) ran second in the Group I Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Chief Bearhart won the Breeders' Stakes at Woodbine. Shantou edged Dushyantor in the Group I English St. Leger Stakes. Awad won last year's Group I Arlington Million but hasn't won since.

Breeders' Cup Classic, 3&up, $3,000,000, 1 1-4M, Grade I
Cigar will try and make history as he can become the first horse to win consecutive runnings of the Breeders' Cup Classic. The Classic will make history as the richest race ever run in North America and Cigar also can become the world's richest racehorse with a third or better finish in the Classic. Last year's Horse of the Year has won 17 of his last 19 races, including a record-tying 16 in a row. Yanks Music tries a race against males after three consecutive Grade I victories over females. Dare and Go blew by Cigar in the stretch of the Grade I Pacific Classic to end Cigar's streak and trainer Dick Mandella is out to prove that race was no fluke. Belmont Stakes winner Editor's Note closed powerfully the Louisiana Super Derby at 1 1-4 miles and will look to do the same in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Preakness winner Louis Quatorze has enough speed to be dangerous. Wills Way looked good in winning the Grade I Travers Stakes over Louis Quatorze and Editor's Note. Atticus, stablemate of Dare and Go, wired the field in the Grade III Kentucky Cup Classic. Dramatic Gold won the Grade I Meadowlands Cup. Tamayaz won on the sand in Dubai and the grass in England. Taiki Blizzard has been running with the best Japanese horses.

E.P. Taylor Stakes, 3&up (f&m), $300,000, 1 1-4M (T), Grade II, Woodbine
The E.P. Taylor features a clash between top-class international turf distaffers. Carling (FR) won last year's Group I French Oaks and has been competing this year against Europe's top males. Powder Bowl won the Grade II Matchmaker Stakes at Atlantic City and was second last time out in the Grade I Flower Bowl Handicap at Belmont. Electric Society (IRE) won the Grade II Diana Handicap at Saratoga and finished third in the Flower Bowl Handicap. Ampulla won two listed stakes at Saratoga. Bold Ruritana was a double champion in Canada last year. Sangria is a Group III stakes winner in France. Flame Valley and Wandering Star both won listed stakes races in England.

Astarita Stakes, 2yo fillies, $100,000, 7F, Grade II, Aqueduct

Cowdin Stakes, 2yo, $100,000, 7F, Grade II, Aqueduct

Laurel Dash, 3&up, $100,000, 6F (T), Grade III, Laurel

Louis R. Rowan Handicap, 3&up (f&m), $100,000, 1M (T), Santa Anita

Ack Ack Stakes, 3&up, $100,000, 7 1-2F, Churchill

All Along Stakes, 3&up (f&m), $100,000, 1 1-8M (T), Grade II, Laurel

Morvich Handicap, 3&up, $100,000, 6 1-2F (T), Santa Anita

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