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

VISA TRIPLE CROWN BONUS NOW $5 MILLION, GUARANTEED

Visa U.S.A. and Triple Crown Productions announced Wednesday that the bonus for winning the Visa Triple Crown Challenge would be worth $5 million. The bonus had been worth approximately $3.4 million, the difference between the winner's share of the three Triple Crown race purses combined and $5 million.

'We are excited to part of this special time in the sport's history and are pleased to demonstrate our continued commitment to Thoroughbred racing,' said Carl Pascarella, president and CEO of Visa U.S.A. 'Given the significance of the event, we wanted to ensure that there were no questions regarding the prize structure of the Visa Triple Crown Challenge so we raised the bonus to a straight $5 million.'

If Silver Charm becomes the 12th winner of the Triple Crown, owners Bob and Beverly Lewis would take home approximately $5.4 million (the bonus plus the winner's share of the Belmont purse), the largest single payday in racing history. The previous high was the $2.6 million (including a $2 million bonus) won by Spend a Buck for his Jersey Derby triumph in 1985. A Triple Crown sweep would give Silver Charm a career total of about $7 million, second only in North America to Cigar, who retired last year with $9,999,850.

THOROUGHBRED INDUSTRY ALLIANCE MOVING AHEAD

Several committees of the as-yet unnamed alliance of Thoroughbred organizations held a conference call May 29, to presented reports on progress towards Thoroughbred racing's first all-encompassing association. The TV-Marketing committee has been collecting existing market information and is initiating a new national study on attitudes of fans and non-fans towards Thoroughbred racing while the Interactive group is working with outside vendors to bring racing into the home. The alliance was announced March 27 and has the support of Breeders' Cup Ltd., The Jockey Club, Keeneland Association, the National Thoroughbred Association (NTA), Oak Tree Racing Association, the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) and Thoroughbred Racing Associations (TRA).

ALL-STAR RIDERS SCHEDULED TO COMPETE AT LONE STAR

Twelve jockeys, including seven Hall of Famers, have been invited to the $100,000 National All-Star Jockey Championship, June 27 at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas. Laffit Pincay Jr., a five-time riding champion and one of only two jockeys with 8,000 career victories, leads the parade of Hall of Fame riders. The other Hall inductees are: Gary Stevens, who will attempt to win the Triple Crown aboard Silver Charm; Chris McCarron, Jerry Bailey, Eddie Delahoussaye, Pat Day and Jorge Velasquez. Stars Mike Smith, Kent Desormeaux and Shane Sellers are also on the card, as are locals Ronald Ardoin and Marlon St. Julien. The group has won 16 Eclipse Awards as Champion Jockey and two (McCarron and Desormeaux) have also been named Champion Apprentice Jockey. The invitees have won 11 of the last 13 Eclipse Awards.

JOCKEYS TO WEAR ADS IN MASS CAP

Shane Sellers, who rides favored Skip Away in the May 31 Massachusetts Handicap at Suffolk Downs, will promote Breathe Right nasal strips with a patch on his right leg. Massachusetts Racing Commission officials determined there is nothing in state regulations that bar riders from wearing promotional materials. Since jockeys provide their own boots and pants, those will be the only places allowed for advertising. Chip Tuttle, director of marketing and communications for Suffolk Downs, said the track and the Massachusetts Racing Commission believe the move toward allowing jockeys to wear promotional material is a positive step toward the racing industry's goal of obtaining more sponsorship.

STEVENS ON 'UP CLOSE'

Jockey Gary Stevens, who will attempt to win the Triple Crown aboard Silver Charm in the Belmont Stakes, June 7, will appear June 4 on ESPN's 'Up Close,' hosted by Chris Myers. The show, which tapes in Los Angeles, will air from 6:00-6:30 p.m. (EDT).

CHURCHILL DOWNS RAISES PURSES

Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Ky., announced that all overnight purses have been increased 15 percent. This is in addition to an eight percent increase May 14. The raise boosts Churchill's lowest purses to $10,000 with the top allowance races now worth $48,000.

QUEEN TO ATTEND WOODBINE'S QUEEN'S PLATE

For the first time since 1973, the Queen of England will be at Woodbine to attend the race named in her honor. Queen Elizabeth II and his royal highness, the Duke of Edinburgh, will be at Woodbine on June 29 for the 138th running of the Queen's Plate, the oldest continuously run stakes in North America. The royal couple attended the race in 1959 and 1973. Queen Elizabeth will present the winning owner with the traditional 50 guineas and the Queen's Plate Trophy.

RACING TO HISTORY

May 31, 1969: Racing returned to Pennsylvania when Liberty Bell racetrack opened, near Philadelphia. The state had not had legal racing since 1802 and became the 30th state to adopt parimutuel wagering.

June 1, 1881: Pierre Lorillard's Iroquois became the first American-owned and -bred horse to win a European classic race when he won the Epsom Derby under one of England's greatest riders, Fred Archer. Iroquois won seven of nine starts as a three-year-old, including England's St. Leger Stakes.

June 1, 1973: In his final tuneup for the Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown, Secretariat went six furlongs in 1:11 3-5, doing the first three furlongs in 35 2-5 and five furlongs in 59.

June 1, 1978: In his first start ever on the turf, eventual 4-time champion grass horse John Henry won a $35,000, 1 1-16-mile claiming race by 14 lengths at Belmont Park. John Henry was voted champion turf horse for the years 1980-81 and 1983-84.

June 2, 1943: Trainer Hirsch Jacobs claimed two-year-old Stymie for $1,500. By the end of 1947, Stymie had become the world's leading money-winning Thoroughbred, with earnings of $816,060 and 22 stakes victories.

June 2, 1947: After a six-year layoff, 13-year-old Honey Cloud won the second race at Aqueduct. His jockey, Clarence Minner, had not ridden in 10 years.

June 3, 1943: To further the war effort, the Navy took over Tanforan racetrack in Northern California and used it as a training base.

June 4, 1913: At odds of 100-1, Aboyeur became the first and only horse to win the Epsom Derby by an on-course disqualification after Craganour, who won by a head, was disqualified for bumping. During the race, a suffragette had rushed onto the track and pulled down the King's horse, Anmer. The suffragette, Emily Davison, died of a fractured skull.

June 5, 1943: Count Fleet ended his racing career by winning the Belmont Stakes by 25 lengths. He was the sixth American Triple Crown winner.

June 5, 1969: Jockey Mary Bacon won her first race, at Finger Lakes. Among apprentices, she finished 23rd in the races won category that year, with 55 victories in 396 starts and purses of $91,642. Bacon was the first female to join the list of leading apprentices.

June 5, 1985: Steve Cauthen won the Epsom Derby aboard Slip Anchor and became the only American jockey to win both the English and Kentucky Derbies. Cauthen had previously ridden Affirmed to victory in the 1978 Kentucky Derby.

June 5, 1993: Julie Krone became the first female rider to win a Triple Crown race when she won the Belmont Stakes with Colonial Affair.

June 6, 1919: Man o' War won his first race ever, a 5-furlong contest over a straightaway at Belmont Park. He won by six lengths, running the distance in 59 seconds, and went off at odds of 3-5. In each of his 20 subsequent races, Man o' War was the odds-on favorite.

June 6, 1972: In preparation for his colt's July 4 racing debut, trainer Lucien Laurin put blinkers on two-year-old Secretariat for the first time. Secretariat responded by working a half-mile at Belmont Park in 47 3/5, the fastest work of his life up to that date.

June 6, 1987: Bet Twice became the first horse to receive a Triple Crown bonus after winning the Belmont Stakes over rival Alysheba. He earned $1 million in addition to the first-place money.

RACING ON TELEVISION

May 31, Racehorse Digest, 6:00-6:30 a.m., ESPN
June 4, Racehorse Digest, 3:30-4:00 p.m., ESPN
June 4, 'Up Close,' 6:00-6:30 p.m., ESPN
June 5, Racehorse Digest, 2:30-3:00 a.m., ESPN
June 5, Belmont Stakes Draw, 5:00-5:30 p.m., espn2
June 6, Silver Charm Special, 10:30-11:00 p.m., espn2
June 6, Triple Crown Challenge, 11:00-midnight, espn2
June 7, Racehorse Digest, 6:00-6:30 a.m., ESPN
June 7, Belmont Stakes Special, 3:30-4:30 p.m., ESPN
June 7, Belmont Stakes, 4:30-6:00 p.m., ABC
June 7, 2Day at the Belmont Stakes, 6:00-6:30 p.m., espn2

Massachusetts Handicap, 3&up, $300,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade III, Suffolk Downs
Last year's three-year-old champion, Skip Away, looks for his first win since defeating Cigar in the Oct. 5 Jockey Club Gold Cup. He will face Formal Gold, who defeated Skip Away in the Grade I Donn Handicap Feb. 8 and hasn't run since the Dubai World Cup, and Will's Way, winner of last year's Travers Stakes. Others entered are Geri, Prolanzier and Topsy Robsy.

Suffolk Downs Oaks, 3yo fillies, $75,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Suffolk Downs

Drumtop Handicap, 3&up (f&m), $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Suffolk Downs

Suffolk Downs Breeders' Cup Handicap, 3&up, $200,000, 6 Furlongs, Suffolk Downs

Acorn Stakes, 3yo fillies, $150,000, 1 Mile, Grade I, Belmont

Azalea Breeders' Cup Stakes, 3yo fillies, $200,000, 6 Furlongs, Grade III, Calder

Cinema Handicap, 3yo, $100,000, 1 1-8 Miles Turf, Grade III, Hollywood

Jefferson Cup, 3yo, $100,000, 1 1-8 Miles Turf, Churchill

Texas Turf Challenge, 3yo, $100,000, 1 Miles Turf, Lone Star

Californian Stakes, 3&up, $250,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade I, Hollywood

Gamely Handicap, 3&up (f&m), $200,000, 1 1-8 Miles Turf, Grade I, Hollywood

Sheepshead Bay Handicap, 3&up (f&m), $150,000, 1 3-8 Miles Turf, Grade II, Belmont

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