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

SINGSPIEL WINS IN DUBAI

Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum's Singspiel (IRE) won the second running of the $4 million Dubai World Cup, Thursday, April 3, at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in Dubai, defeating U.S. entrants Siphon (BRZ) and Sandpit (BRZ). American jockey Jerry Bailey, who won the race last year with Cigar, rode the winner. Singspiel (IRE) became the leading earner ever among European-based horses with $5,405,495 in earnings. However, he won nearly $5 million of it outside of Europe, winning the Japan Cup, the Canadian International and finishing second in the Breeders' Cup Turf, in addition to his Dubai victory. This was his first start of 1997, and he had been training in Dubai for 11 weeks to prepare for his first career start off turf.

Bailey solidified his grip as the world's best big-money rider with his win. Bailey has won four $3 million Breeders' Cup Classics (1991, 1993-95) and two $4 million Dubai World Cups. He has collected 10 percent of $20 million with about 12 minutes work.

LONE STAR OPENING WEEKEND IS SOLD OUT

All the reserved indoor and track apron seats for the April 17-20 opening weekend at Lone Star Park, near Dallas, Texas, have been sold. Callers waited as long as two hours to make their reservations as phone lines were jammed from the start. Opening day seats went immediately and the rest were snapped up within a few days. The track will make 500 reserved seats available each day and there will be 3,000 free seats around the paddock and other free seating around the simulcast pavilion and a family park area.

THREE CHIMNEYS TO CELEBRATE SLEW'S 20TH ANNIVERSARY

Seattle Slew, the only undefeated Triple Crown winner in Thoroughbred racing history, will be back in the limelight Tuesday, April 29, when Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Ky., hosts a Media Open House to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Slew's achievement. Karen and Mickey Taylor, who owned the colt during his racing career and are still part-owners of the stallion, will join in the celebration along with former jockey Angel Cordero Jr., who rode Slew in the last four races of his career.

'The horse is in tremendous health, will serve a full book of 60-plus mares this year, and is still ridden every day,' said Robert N. Clay, the owner of Three Chimneys. Because all Three Chimneys stallions are ridden daily, Cordero will get the opportunity to climb aboard his old friend that morning.

'I'm really excited about it and I'm taking my video camera with me,' Cordero said. 'I'm going to start jogging because I want to be fit when I get on him.'

Members of the media who would like to attend the Media Open House at Three Chimneys Farm should call Margaret Layton at (606) 873-7053.

FAIR GROUNDS HANDLE HITS ANOTHER RECORD

The Fair Groundsin New Orleans, La., posted a 26 percent increase in handle over 1996, which had been a record year. Average overall daily handle, including off-track betting and simulcast wagering from out of state, was also a record of $2,518,775, up from last year's average of $1,992,727. On-track handle was $20,237,627 for a daily average of $1,992,727, virtually identical to 1996's figures of $20,180,889 and $229,328, respectively.

TRAINER ERNIE POULOS PASSES AWAY

Ernie Poulos, trainer of 1991 Horse of the Year Black Tie Affair (IRE), died Sunday, March 30 at Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights, Ill., at age 71. Before becoming a trainer in 1968, Poulos was with the Clyde Beatty Circus, the Merchant Marine and played semipro football.

TALKIN' BASEBALL (AND THOROUGHBRED NAMES)

Since baseball and Thoroughbred racing have been two of the biggest crowd pleasers for a century or more, it's no surprise that dozens of horses have names drawn from the national pastime. There are horses named for historic stadiums (Fenway Park, Wrigley Field), great players (Dimaggio, Duke of Flatbush, Say Hey Kid, Splendid Splinter, The Babe), famous managers (Stengelese, Tommy Lasorda), fictional stars (Mighty Casey, Casey On Deck), and a host of baseball terminology (Baseball Shoes, Bushleaguer, Cooperstown, Subway Series, World Series).

Pitching wins ballgames, and pitching names seem to have more than their fair share of representation (Base On Balls, Curve Ball, Fast Ball, Hanging Curve, High and Tight, Pitch Out, Pitcher's Duel, Pitcher's Mound, Rosin Bag, Slider, Strike Out, Struck Out), but the hitters also get their shot (Base Hit, Bases Loaded, Batter Up, Foul Ball, Home Run, Safe At Home, Stolen Base, Three Bagger). Defense is given short shrift, though (Double Play, Nice Catch, Triple Play).

The Kentucky Derby is on everybody's mind right now, especially Yankees' owner George Steinbrenner. His Concerto won the Jim Beam Stakes, March 29, and stamped himself as one of the Derby favorites. Not to worry, George, post time for the May 3 Derby is at 5:32 (EDT). The Yankees' game at Kansas City doesn't start until 8:05.

POSSIBLE CHANGES TO DUBAI MEETING?

Dubai World Cup committee chairman Michael Osborne told England's Sporting Life newspaper that next year's Dubai World Cup meeting may be run over two days and may include three new races, including a turf race. The meet may also be moved to earlier in the year to avoid the rains which postponed this year's race for five days.

MID-ATLANTIC SERIES TO START IN APRIL

The 35-race Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Series (MATCH), with seven races in each of five divisions, will commence April 19 at Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, Md. The MATCH will offer a $500,000 bonus in each division and will be run at racetracks in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey. Horses will compete in three-year-old sprint, three-year-old distance, three-and-up sprint, three-and-up distance and filly and mare distance categories. The MATCH will be supported by a 15-member group of track and horsemen's groups.

NO SLOTS FOR HASTINGS PARK

Despite approval for 300 slot machines at racetracks in British Columbia, Hastings Park in Vancouver will not be allowed to add the machines due to the opposition of mayor Philip Owen. Local municipalities must approve the legislation. A total of 5,00 slot machines had been authorized, as well as four new casinos.

RACING TO HISTORY

April 7, 1973: In his second start as a three-year-old, Secretariat won the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct as the 1-10 favorite. His time of 1:33 2-5 for the mile equalled the track record for that distance.

April 7, 1979: Jockey Steve Cauthen made his first race in England a winning one, with Marquee Universal (IRE), at Salisbury.

April 8, 1971: New York City Off-Track Betting opened for business. Two branches were available to accept wagers: the Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan and an outlet in Queens. Total handle, including telephone betting, was $66,091.

April 8, 1991: Rider-turned-trainer Bill Shoemaker was paralyzed after an automobile accident.

April 9, 1962: Jockey Ron Turcotte rode his first winner, at Fort Erie Racetrack.

RACING ON THE AIR

April 5, Racehorse Digest, 6:00-6:30 a.m., ESPN
April 5, Santa Anita Derby, Santa Anita, 4:30-6:00 p.m., ABC
April 5, Oaklawn Handicap, Oaklawn, 6:00-7:00 p.m., ESPN
Flamingo Stakes, Hialeah
Dubai World Cup, Nad Al Sheba
April 9, Racehorse Digest, 3:00-3:30 p.m., ESPN
April 10, Racehorse Digest, 3:00-3:30 a.m., ESPN

Santa Anita Derby, 3yo, $750,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade I, Santa Anita
Silver Charm and the filly Sharp Cat head a strong field to determine the West Coast's leading Kentucky Derby hopeful. Silver Charm has three wins and two seconds in five lifetime starts. He was beaten by Free House in the Grade II San Felipe Stakes, March 16, and will meet Free House again. Sharp Cat has overwhelmed her female rivals in California and may be trainer D. Wayne Lukas's best hope for a third straight Kentucky Derby victory. Lukas won the Santa Anita and Kentucky Derbies in 1988 with another filly, Winning Colors. Other probables include: Bagshot; Carmen's Baby; Classic Credential; Hello (IRE); King Crimson; P.T. Indy; Steel Ruhlr; and last year's Hollywood Futurity winner, Swiss Yodeler.

El Rincon Handicap, 4&up, $125,000, 1 Mile Turf, Grade II, Santa Anita
Caesars Palace Turf Handicap winner Talloires makes his 1997 debut against Labeeb (GB), unbeaten in his three North American starts. Also expected to run are: Far Easter; Pinflorin (FR), who chased Atticus in North American record mile March 1; River Flyer; and The Barking Shark.

Ashland Stakes, 3yo fillies, $500,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Grade I, Keeneland
Glitter Woman, recently nominated to the Triple Crown, goes after her fourth straight victory. She won the Bonnie Miss Stakes, Davona Dale Stakes and Forward Gal Stakes at Gulfstream Park by a total of 26 lengths. Storm Song, last year's champion juvenile filly, was badly beaten by Glitter Woman twice this year and looks to recapture her 1996 form.

Flamingo Stakes, 3yo, $200,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade III, Hialeah
Frisk Me Now, who won the Grade II Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park and was third in the Grade I Florida Derby, will meet Unite's Big Red, who was first or second in four starts before a sixth-place finish in the Everglades Stakes, March 23.

Oaklawn Handicap, 4&up, $750,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade I, Oaklawn
Isitingood and Atticus, each of whom broke the North American record for a mile on turf this year, meet on the dirt. Isitingood followed up his record run with a track record at the Fair Grounds, running 1 1-8 miles in 1:48 2-5 in winning the New orleans Handicap, March 9, at the Fair Grounds. Tejano Run, winner of the Grade III Widener Handicap, March 22, and 1996 Belmont Stakes champ, Editor's Note, are also expected to run.

Potrero Grande Breeders' Cup Handicap, 4&up, $200,000, 6 1-2 Furlongs, Grade III, Santa Anita

Sportsman's Park Breeders' Cup Stakes, 3&up, $100,000, 1 Mile, Sportsman's Park

Westchester Handicap, 3&up, $100,000, 1 Mile, Grade III, Aqueduct

Bed o' Roses Breeders' Cup Handicap, 3&up (f&m) $150,000, 1 Mile, Grade III, Aqueduct

Fantasy Stakes, 3yo fillies, $250,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Grade II, Oaklawn

San Bernardino Handicap, 4&up, $150,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade II, Santa Anita

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