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

THIRTEEN SET FOR DUBAI WORLD CUP

A probable field of 13 has been set for the second Dubai World Cup, to be run Saturday, March 29, at Nad Al Sheba in Dubai. The final field will be determined after the post position draw, Tuesday, March 25. The U.S. will send three horses to the race, the Richard Mandella-trained pair of Siphon (BRZ) and Sandpit (BRZ) as well as Formal Gold, saddled by William Perry. Siphon (BRZ), Sandpit (BRZ) and Formal Gold finished first, second and sixth, respectively, in the Santa Anita Handicap. Siphon (BRZ) was established as the 11-4 race favorite by British bookmakers William Hill with Sandpit (BRZ) the second choice at 4-1.

Europe will be represented by last year's Arc de Triomphe winner Helissio (FR) and Eclipse Award winner Singspiel (IRE), winner of the Rothmans International at Woodbine, the Japan Cup and second in the Breeders' Cup Turf. Singspiel (IRE) will have the services of American jockey Jerry Bailey, who won last year's Dubai World Cup aboard Cigar. Once again, however, most of the field will be making their first starts on a dirt track. One horse who is used to the surface is the Japanese mare Hokuto Vega, who has won her last 10 races, all on dirt.

The other European runners will be Group 1 winners Bijou d'Inde (GB), Flemensfirth and Luso (GB); Australia will represented by multiple Group 1 winner Juggler (AUS); while three horses are from the United Arab Emirates: Key of Luck, Kammtarra and Even Top (IRE). Key of Luck, trained by ex-D. Wayne Lukas assistant Kiaran McLoughlin, won last year's Dubai Duty Free by 20 lengths and was second to Star Standard in last year's Grade I Pimlico Special in his lone U.S. start.

Although training had moved from a washed-out main track to the turf course after three days of rain, the weather has returned to Dubai's usual dry and sunny conditions.

LAFFIT PINCAY TO RIDE AT EMERALD DOWNS' OPENER

Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay Jr., the nation's leading active jockey with more than 8,500 victories, will be on hand when Emerald Downs, in Auburn, Wash., opens its second season, March 27. Also scheduled to appear are four-time Grammy Award nominee Ernestine Anderson, bands and an equestrian display.

HALL OF FAME NOMINEES ANNOUNCED

The National Museum of Racing announced the list of nominees for induction into Thoroughbred racing's Hall of Fame. Modern Male: Easy Goer; Exceller; Needles. Modern Female: Bold n' Determined; Bowl of Flowers; Lamb Chop. Jockey: Gary Stevens; Jacinto Vasquez; Jack Westrope. Trainer: Phil Johnson; Willard Proctor; Virgil 'Buddy' Raines. Horse of Yesteryear: Endurance by Right; Granville; Princequillo. The winners will be announced at Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby week. A formal induction will be held at the Museum in Saratoga Springs, Aug. 4.

INSURANCE CLAIM FILED ON CIGAR

After a team of experts declared Cigar to be infertile, at least for 1997, owners Allen Paulson and Coolmore and Ashford studs have filed an insurance claim on the two-time Horse of the Year. Cigar has failed to get any of the first 30 mares bred to him in foal. The insurance policy requires that Cigar must cover at least 20 mares twice and get 60 percent of them in foal to be considered fertile. Paulson's attorney, Richard Craigo, is trying to get the second-breeding requirement waived so that owners of mares booked to Cigar can be released from their contracts in order to make other arrangements.

TOBA AND NTA ON THE SAME PAGE

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association said it was pleased with changes in the national plan of the fledgling National Thoroughbred Association, most notably a reduction in the price of simulcasts. The NTA hopes to create a 'major league' of racing by purchasing and selling the simulcast rights to major weekend racing, purchasing television time for those races on the major broadcast networks and developing a national marketing plan.

'If they're happy with what we're doing, then we're happy,' NTA founder Fred Pope said. 'It's been very encouraging. You'd have to say most everybody seemed to have the same concerns so we didn't have to reach out and add elements to cater to one group.'

CANTERBURY DOWNS IN THE BLACK

Canterbury Downs, in Shakopee, Minn., reported its first-ever profit in 1996. The track, which opened in 1985, reported net income of $71,149, compared with a net loss of $889,100 in 1995. Randall Sampson, Canterbury's president and chief financial officer, attributed the profit to lowered operating expenses during the track's live meet, an increase in special events and a reduction in the state's parimutuel tax.

LEWIS TO BE KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT NATIONAL MARKETING WORKSHOP

Robert Lewis, who started a small Anheuser-Busch distributorship in Pomona, Calif., in 1956, and turned it into the state's second-largest beer distributor before turning his attention to Thoroughbred ownership in 1990, will be the keynote speaker at a luncheon Wednesday, April 2 during the AQHA-HTA-TRA National Marketing Workshop in Phoenix, Ariz. Sponsoring groups for the workshop are the American Quarter Horse Association, Harness Tracks of America and Thoroughbred Racing Associations. Lewis, a lifelong racing fan, will discuss some of his marketing philosophies and recount some of his experiences with, and observations on, the Thoroughbred industry.

Lewis and his wife, Beverly, residents of Newport Beach, Calif., have campaigned several stakes winners in the past six years, including the Eclipse Award-winning filly Serena's Song and 1994 Preakness winner Timber Country, whom they co-owned with W. T. Young and Gainesway Farm.

The workshop, which begins Monday evening March 31 and concludes Wednesday afternoon, April 2, is designed to provide insight into marketing trends and programs from various parts of the country. It will feature marketing executives from the racing industry as well as representatives from other spectator sports and sporting facilities, and is open to all members of the parimutuel industry.

GRAYSON-JOCKEY CLUB FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL FUNDING

The Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation announced it would donate $47,382 to help fund ongoing research at the University of Kentucky's Maxwell Gluck Equine Research Center of Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis. EPM is a neurological disease which can affect the brain, spinal cord or any combination of the areas of the central nervous system. Research at the Gluck Center is seeking ways to develop more effective, safer and cheaper means of treating EPM. The EPM project brings the number of research projects being funded by the Foundation to 16, at a cost of $615,000, involving 10 universities.

RACING TO HISTORY

March 23, 1927: Future Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox was foaled at Claiborne Farm, Paris, Ky.

March 24, 1932: Omaha, the only Triple Crown winner to be sired by another Triple Crown winner (Gallant Fox), was foaled at Claiborne Farm, Paris, Ky.

March 24, 1940: Future Triple Crown winner Count Fleet was foaled at Stoner Creek Stud, Paris, Ky.

March 24, 1941: Upset, the only horse ever to defeat Man o' War, died at age 24.

March 24, 1953: A program for nationwide televising of 10 of the richest races being run in New York and Delaware, was announced. NBC and ABC provided network coverage for the Saturday broadcasts, which were scheduled for April 18-June 20.

March 26, 1943: Future Triple Crown winner Assault was foaled at King Ranch, Kingsville, Texas.

March 26, 1966: Jockey Eddie Maple won his first career race, at Ascot Park in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

March 26, 1992: Henryk de Kwiatkowski purchased Calumet Farm for $17 million at auction. He paid an additional $210,000 for the Calumet name.

March 27, 1953: The ABC radio network announced it would broadcast a series of major East Coast races, beginning April 4 and continuing through Nov. 14.

RACING ON THE AIR

March 22, Racehorse Digest, 6:00-6:30 a.m., ESPN
March 22, 2Day at the Races, 10:00-10:30 p.m., ESPN2
March 26, Racehorse Digest, 4:00-4:30 p.m., ESPN
March 27, Racehorse Digest, 3:30-4:00 a.m., ESPN

Santa Ana Handicap, 4&up (f&m), $150,000, 1 1-8 Miles Turf, Grade II, Santa Anita
Windsharp, winner of two graded races against males last year, makes her 1997 debut. Possible competition includes Alpride (IRE), Donna Viola (GB), Real Connection and Sixieme Sens. Windsharp only ran once against her own sex in nine nine starts last year. Donna Viola (GB) will be making her first start since winning the Grade I Yellow Ribbon Stakes over Real Connection, Nov. 3, at Santa Anita, in her first race in North America. Sixieme Sens and Alpride (IRE) ran one-two, respectively, in the Grade II San Gorgonio Handicap, Jan. 19, at Santa Anita.

Widener Handicap, 3&up, $200,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade III, Hialeah
Mt. Sassafras, who defeated Skip Away in the Grade I Gulfstream Park Handicap, March 1, will meet Tejano Run, third in the same race.

Cicada Stakes, 3yo fillies, $75,000, 7 Furlongs, Grade III, Aqueduct

Rebel Stakes, 3yo, $125,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Grade III, Oaklawn

Pelleteri Breeders' Cup Handicap, 4&up, $150,000, 6 Furlongs, Fair Grounds

San Luis Rey Stakes, 4&up, $250,000, 1 1-2 Miles Turf, Grade II, Santa Anita

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