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

DUBAI WORLD CUP TO AIR ON ESPN, OTHER NEWS

The Dubai World Cup will be telecast on a same-day delayed basis by ESPN as part of its coverage of the March 29 Jim Beam Stakes from Turfway Park. Air time for the show is 6:00-7:00 p.m. (EST).

Arlington International Racecourse, Arlington Heights, Ill., will coordinate all marketing and simulcasting activities for the Dubai World Cup in North, South and Central America. Win, place, show, exacta and trifecta wagering will be offered on the Dubai World Cup and Dubai Duty Free. There will also be a daily double for two Dubai races and superfecta wagering on the Dubai World Cup.

The World Gold Council will sponsor the 'Dubai City of Gold Pick Six Competition.' One kilogram of pure, solid gold will be awarded to a person attending the races at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse who correctly selects the winners of six designated races on the Dubai World Cup card. A drawing will be held if more than one person is holding a winning ticket.

This will be the second running of the 1 1-4 mile Dubai World Cup, which last year was won by Cigar.

SPORT OF KINGS LURES 'KINGS' OLCZYK

Los Angeles Kings center Ed Olczyk became a Thoroughbred owner once again on Saturday when he and trainer Mike Mitchell teamed up to claim Pedernales for $20,000. Olczyk, a fan of the sport, wanted to buy a horse for a long time according to Mitchell, but 'We wanted to wait for the right moment and we found it Saturday.'

The 8-year-old gelding is 12-for-64 and has earned $239,142. 'I trained this horse before, so I'm familiar with him,' said Mitchell. 'I think we can win some races with him.'

Olczyk was a member of the 1994 Stanley Cup-winning New York Rangers. In July of 1994 he brought the Stanley Cup trophy to Belmont Park and was photographed with Kentucky Derby winner Go for Gin eating out of it.

CAESARS WORLD MAY SPONSOR CHURCHILL RACES

According to an article in the Feb. 19 Louisville Courier-Journal newspaper, Caesars World Inc., which is developing a riverboat casino operation in Southern Indiana, has approached Churchill Downs about sponsoring races at the historic Louisville, Ky., racetrack. The casino company has also offered to create joint marketing initiatives with other Louisville-based businesses.

'We're certainly willing to listen to anything that would be a good business deal,' said spokesman Karl Schmitt. However, in a Daily Racing Form report, Schmitt was quoted as saying 'The notion that a riverboat casino could do anything positive for Churchill Downs is folly.'

Analysts question whether Churchill and other Louisville tourist areas would benefit from a marketing alliance with Caesars, specifically noting the unlikelihood that the Harrison County casino would be a big enough draw that tourist attractions in the area would benefit much economically. Citing the fact that Mississippi is the only state outside of Nevada and New Jersey to attract many tourists and that other riverboats lure their patrons from 150 miles away or less, the analysts questions if the sponsorship wouldn't be more beneficial to Caesars. 'If the city has other major tourism attractions such as the Kentucky Derby, certainly the casino is going to benefit from that,' said Bill Eadington, an economics professor at the University of Nevada at Reno in the Courier-Journal story.

HOLLYWOOD PARK REPORTS PROFIT-LOSS

With a strong three months at its Hollywood Park-Casino, Hollywood Park Inc. reported a net profit of $2.8-million, or 15 cents per common share, for the fourth quarter. In previous quarters for the year, the gaming company reported a net loss of $270,000, or a penny a share. Overall the company reported a $6.2-million loss for 1996, or 33 cents per common share, primarily as a result of its $11.4-million write-off of Sunflower Racing Inc., operator of the Woodlands in Kansas City, Kansas, in the first quarter. In 1995, the Inglewood, California, company reported a $3.1-million loss, or 17 cents a share. If the company didn't have the Woodlands write down, Hollywood Park Inc.'s 1996 pre-tax profit would have been $11.9-million, or 54 cents a share, in 1996.

Revenues in the fourth quarter increased 5.5 percent to $38.7 million, with most of the gain coming from a 34 percent gain in its card-room operation, where revenues grew to $14.5 million in the quarter from $10.8 million in previous quarters. Revenues declined modestly at Hollywood Park itself, to $17.9 million from $18 million in the 1995 quarter, and at Turf Paradise, the Phoenix, Arizona, track where revenues slipped to $5.8 million from $5.9 million in 1995.

For the year, the company's revenues increased to $143.2 million from $130 million, with nearly all of the gain coming from the card-room enterprise. Hollywood Park Inc. officials said they expect the previously announced merger with casino operator Boomtown Inc. to be completed in April.

RACING TO HISTORY

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. 23, 1935: Seven-year-old Azucar, a former steeplechaser, won the inaugural Santa Anita Handicap at Santa Anita Park.

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, 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.

RACING ON THE AIR

Fountain of Youth Stakes, 3yo, $200,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Grade II, Gulfstream
Pulpit, whose two impressive victories at Gulfstream Park by a combined margin of 14 1-4 lengths, have elevated him to the top ranks of this year's Triple Crown contenders, worked four furlongs in :47 on Tuesday in preparation for his stakes debut, Saturday's 1-1-16-mile Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream. With regular rider Shane Sellers aboard, Pulpit galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.

Three other Fountain of Youth contenders worked on Tuesday. At Gulfstream, Hutcheson Stakes (G2) winner Frisk Me Now went five furlongs in 1:01-2-5, while Hutcheson runner-up Confide worked the same distance in :58 4-5. At Calder, Blazing Sword breezed five furlongs in 1:02. Also entered is George Steinbrenner's Acceptable, a strong second in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

The field in post-position order (with jockeys and weights) is: Pulpit (Sellers, 112); Acceptable (Bailey, 112); Arthur L. (Velazquez, 117); Frisk Me Now (King, 117); Blazing Sword (Santos, 117); Captain Bodgit (Douglas, 117); Wrightwood (Stevens, 114); Confide (no rider, 114); Hurry the Dance (no rider, 112); Jack Flash (Perret, 120).

San Marino Handicap, 4&up, $75,000, 1 1-4 Miles Turf, Santa Anita
Wings Bash, a winner in his only start at Santa Anita will be among the favorites in Saturday's San Marino. The 5-year-old has made only two starts in the U.S., finishing seventh in the Hollywood Derby and first in the Jan. 9 Pass the Glass Stakes. Corey Nakatani is slated to ride.

Probables for the San Marino include Beau Jingles, Patio de Naranjos, Manoir D'Anjou, Mountain Bike, Dreamer, and Don't Blame Rio.

Las Flores Handicap, 4&up (f&m), $125,000, 6 Furlongs, Grade III, Santa Anita
Track Gal, the 120-pound highweight, breezed five furlongs in 1:01 2-5 Tuesday morning. Other probables include Raw Gold, Advancing Star, Grab the Prize, Our Summer Bid and Avenue Shopper.

Davona Dale Stakes, $75,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Fair Grounds

Harrison E. Johnson Memorial Handicap, 4&up, $75,000, 1 3-16 Miles, Laurel

Rampart Handicap, 3&up (f&m), $200,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Grade II, Gulfstream

Busher Stakes, 3yo fillies, $60,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Grade III, Aqueduct

Risen Star Stakes, 3yo, $75,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Fair Grounds

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