News and notes from around the Thoroughbred racing world, compiled by Thoroughbred Racing Communications, Inc. (TRC) (212.371.5911..)
BELMONT TV RATINGS SOAR
The television ratings for ABC Sports' coverage of the June 7 Belmont Stakes were up 83 percent from last year. The 90-minute telecast received a 5.3 rating, which equates to more than 5 million viewers, compared to a 2.9 last year. Sixteen percent of televisions in use watched Touch Gold deny Silver Charm his Triple Crown bid.
'Anything that improves by 80 percent shows how special that event is,' said ABC media relations director Mark Mandel. 'The whole country seemed to be locked into what was happening that day at Belmont Park.'
BELMONT HANDLE AND ATTENDANCE WAY UP
The commingled handle on Belmont Stakes Day, June 7, was an all-time New York record $46,719,629.72, surpassing the previous record handle of $40,909,598 set on Breeders Cup Day in 1995. The total handle, including non-commingled wagering, was $51,275,236.18. A record $21,811,482.76 was wagered on the Belmont Stakes alone.
The attendance of 70,682 was the third largest in the history of Belmont Park and the largest since Seattle Slew captured the 1977 Triple Crown in front of 71,026.
HOLLYWOOD PARK ASKS FOR BONUS FOR SWAPS STAKES
In an attempt to lure Silver Charm, Touch Gold and Free House, the management of Hollywood Park, in Inglewood, Calif., has asked the Thoroughbred Owners of California for permission to pay the winner of the $500,000 Swaps Stakes $700,000 if they had previously won a Grade I race. The Grade II Swaps, to be run at 1 1-8 miles on July 13, could be moved back a week or two, according to Hollywood's racing secretary Martin Panza. Monmouth Park officials are also in the hunt for the three-year-old stars for their $1 million Haskell Invitational, to be run Aug. 3. Representatives from Monmouth are at Hollywood Park, trying to convince the California-based trainers to come east.
'HOLLYWOOD PARK LIVE!' ON KCAL-TV
Racing fans can get the inside scoop on what goes on behind the scenes at Hollywood Park every Sunday when KCAL-TV airs 'Hollywood Park Live!' The hour-long, feature-oriented show, includes two live races, one tape-delayed race and magazine-style profiles on the people and horses at the Inglewood, Calif., racetrack. The weekly show airs from 4:00-5:00 p.m. every Sunday and is hosted by KCAL's Emmy Award-winning sportscaster Tom Murray, racing broadcaster Caton Bredar and former Miss America and 'Entertainment Tonight' reporter Leanza Cornett. The show airs through July 20.
LONE STAR PARK LEADS THE NATION IN FIELD SIZE
According to recent statistics from The Jockey Club Information Systems, Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie, Texas, leads the country in average field size for tracks currently conducting a live meet. The new Texas racetrack, which opened on April 17 this year, averages 10.3 runners per race, while Churchill Downs averages 9.2, Belmont Park 9.0 and Hollywood Park 8.6. Lone Star Vice President and General Manager Corey Johnsen credits the horsemen and the track's racing department for the large field size. 'One of the keys to our success has been the support of our horsemen,' Johnsen said. 'They have provided us with quality, competitive racing. Also, I'd like to recognize our racing department, headed by director of racing Larry Craft and director of track maintenance Ron Moore and his staff for providing us with a safe, consistent racing surface.' Through the first 33 days of operation, attendance at Lone Star has averaged 10,879 with daily on-track handle on live racing of $836,615.
RACING TO THE BREEDERS' CUP TV SCHEDULE
The 'Racing to the Breeders' Cup' television schedule will encompass 17 races on 10 telecasts, including 12 Grade I events. 'We're delighted with the outstanding quality of races in this year's series,' said D.G. Van Clief, Jr. president of Breeders' Cup Ltd. 'Breeders' Cup has always been in the forefront of supporting racing on national television. For the sixth consecutive year, we look forward to providing racing fans the opportunity to see many of the horses that will compete in the Breeders' Cup Championship.' The $1 million Hollywood Gold Cup on June 29 kicks off the series, which runs through Oct. 12.
POLICE CLOSE IN ON BOGUS BOOKMAKER
British police are studying video footage of the fake bookmaker who walked away from the June 7 Epsom Derby with $65,000 in wagers. Two local youngsters who were working for the bookmaker for the day have provided police with a description of the man calling himself John Batten and his assistant, Al. The pair offered generous odds on the Derby favorite, Entrepreneur, and could have fleeced the public of a huge amount of money had Entrepreneur won. John and Al left the grounds when the Derby was about to start. When American-owned Benny the Dip won the race at 11-1, a crowd of about 80 appeared to collect their winnings and cornered the two youngsters, who were turned over to police. Batten did business as 'Lucan,' a not-so-subtle reference to Lord Lucan, who disappeared in 1974 after being suspected of murder.
THIS DATE IN RACING HISTORY
June 13, 1874: English-bred Saxon became the first foreign bred horse to win the Belmont Stakes.
June 13, 1961: Ben A. Jones, who trained a record six Kentucky Derby winners, died.
June 13, 1992: Angel Cordero Jr. won his first race as a trainer, with Puchinito, in the fourth race at Belmont Park.
June 14, 1880: The first post parade of horses in any American race took place prior to the running of the Belmont Stakes. Horses had previously gone directly from paddock to post.
June 14, 1967: Jockey Craig Perret, age 16, won his first career race at Arlington Park. Despite starting well into the season, Perret finished the year third among the nation's apprentice riders with 114 races won and led all apprentices in earnings, with $610,003.
June 14, 1978: D. Wayne Lukas established his reputation as a trainer of two-year-old fillies when he sent Terlingua to victory in her first race ever, the Nursery Stakes at Hollywood Park. Owned by Texans Barry Beal and Lloyd French Jr., Terlingua subsequently won three additional consecutive races.
June 15, 1963: Five weeks prior to his 89th birthday, Hall of Fame trainer 'Sunny' Jim Fitzsimmons announced his retirement. 'Mr. Fitz,' as he was also known, trained such outstanding runners as Nashua, Bold Ruler, Johnstown and Triple Crown winners Gallant Fox and his son Omaha.
June 15, 1977: Future rivals Affirmed and Alydar met for the first time, in the Youthful Stakes at Belmont Park. Affirmed triumphed over Alydar, who finished fifth, and went on to win four of their six races together in 1977.
June 17, 1967: Buckpasser's 15-race winning streak ended when he finished third to stablemate Poker in the Bowling Green Handicap at Aqueduct, his only attempt at turf racing. Buckpasser carried 135 pounds while Poker was assigned 112.
June 19, 1867: The inaugural Belmont Stakes was run at Jerome Park in the Bronx and was won by a filly, Ruthless, who defeated colts to earn $1,850 for her victory.
June 18, 1936: Omaha, the 1935 Triple Crown winner owned by New York banker William Woodward, lost the 2 1-2-mile Ascot Gold Cup by a head to filly Quashed at Ascot, England. A crowd of 200,000 was said to be present for the race, for which Omaha was the 11-8 favorite. Omaha had shipped to England aboard the Aquitania on Jan. 8, 1936 and won the May 30 Queens Plate at Kempton Park, England.
June 19, 1942: Count Fleet won his first race, at Aqueduct Racetrack.
June 19, 1992: Charlie Whittingham became the second trainer in history, behind D. Wayne Lukas, to top $100 million in purse earnings when he sent Little by Little to a second-place finish in the sixth race at Hollywood Park.
June 20, 1908: With his final victory in the Tidal Stakes at Sheepshead Bay, Colin retired undefeated after 15 starts. No major American racehorse approached this record until 1988, when Personal Ensign retired with a perfect 13-for-13 career.
June 21, 1924: Exterminator, winner of the 1918 Kentucky Derby, concluded his seven-year racing career. Exterminator raced until he was nine, winning 50 of his 100 starts. He seldom carried less than 130 pounds in handicap races. Like other geldings Kelso, Forego and John Henry, Exterminator improved with age, enjoying his greatest success when he was seven.
June 21, 1947: Assault won the Brooklyn Handicap and dethroned Whirlaway as the then money-winning champion of the world. The victory boosted his earnings to $576,670.
RACING ON TELEVISION
June 14, 'Racehorse Digest,' 6:00-6:30 a.m., ESPN
June 18, 'Racehorse Digest,' 3:30-4:00 p.m., ESPN
June 19, 'Racehorse Digest,' 3:00-3:30 a.m., ESPN
June 19, 'Racehorse Digest,' 3:00-3:30 a.m., ESPN
| MAJOR WEEKEND STAKES |
| SATURDAY |
Brooklyn Handicap, 3&up, $300,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade II, Belmont
Lone Star Oaks, 3yo fillies, $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Lone Star
Matchmaker Handicap, 3&up (f&m), $100,000, 1 1-8 Miles Turf, Grade III, Monmouth
Princess Stakes, 3yo fillies, $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Grade II, Hollywood
Stephen Foster Stakes, 3&up, $150,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade II, Churchill
Wilmington Handicap, 3&up, $100,000, 6 Furlongs, Delaware
SUNDAY |
Affirmed Handicap, 3yo, $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Grade III, Hollywood
Dogwood Stakes, 3yo fillies, $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Churchill
Hill Prince Stakes, 3yo, $100,000, 1 1-8 Miles Turf, Grade III, Belmont
Shoemaker Breeder's Cup Mile, 3&up, $400,000, 1 Mile Turf, Grade II, Hollywood
The Running Horse (http://www.isd1.com/)