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

BILL TO END GAMBLING TAX DEDUCTIONS INTRODUCED

Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, has introduced a bill that would end the tax deduction allowing gambling losses to offset winnings. Reed said $2.78 billion in gambling losses were deducted in 1994 and said 55 percent were claimed by individuals with 1994 adjusted gross incomes of at least $75,000. Jay Hickey, president of the American Horse Council, said passage of the legislation would lead to bettors playing lower paying wagers, such as win, place and show, in order to avoid the higher payoffs, and withholding taxes, that wagers such as a Pick-Six regularly return. This will have the effect of reducing the government's intake of withheld money, which it keeps, interest-free, until the bettor files their tax return. Hickey added the bill will be opposed by the horse and casino industries, which are also included in the legislation. Presently, anyone who cashes a ticket in which the odds are in excess of 300-1 has the transaction automatically reported to the Internal Revenue Service.

I.R.S. WINS RULING ON DEVIL HIS DUE'S OWNERSHIP

A Federal judge in Syracuse, N.Y., has decided that Devil His Due was the sole property of Robert LiButti, convicted in 1977 of filing false tax returns. In 1995, Judge Thomas McAvoy had ruled that the horse, winner of $3,920,405, belonged to Libutti's daughter Edith but his decision was vacated by the United States Circuit Court of Appeals, which sent the case back to McAvoy. The I.R.S. said it can renew efforts to collect on the horse's value. The eight-year-old horse has a stud fee of $20,000; his first crop of foals was born this year.

SUFFOLK DOWNS PURCHASED

Sterling Suffolk Limited Partnership, headed by James B. Moseley, purchased Suffolk Downs, in East Boston, Mass., from Belle Isle Limited Partnerships for $40 million, $30 million in cash and a $10 million second mortgage note, it was announced Monday, June 7. Belle Isle had owned the track since 1986 and did not race in 1990 and 1991. Sterling Suffolk leased the track in 1992 and has conducted racing ever since.

NYRA'S OWNERS SEMINAR REACHES WALL STREET

The New York Racing Association (NYRA), looking to attract some of Wall Street's money, is advertising in the 'Wall Street Journal.' The ads, for a new owner's seminar on Saturday, July 12, at Belmont Park, appeared in the 'Journal' on Monday. 'In addition to new fans, we need people who can afford to buy horses,' said Terry Meyocks, President and COO of NYRA. 'If we can get new owners involved, it will pay off in the long run for everybody.' Hall of Fame trainer John Nerud will be the featured speaker while trainer Richard De Stasio, Meyocks and NYRA chairman Kenny Noe will also answer questions. The entire seminar will be taped and made available to those who could not attend.

BUSINESS IS BOOMING AT PRAIRIE MEADOWS

Prairie Meadows, in Altoona, Iowa, averaged $717,972 in daily wagering for its Thoroughbred meet that ended July 5, more than double the previous mark of $287,376, set last year. A five-fold increase in daily purses, fueled by slot machine profits, helped Prairie Meadows attract better quality horses and larger fields, which helped increased the track's simulcasting network to 180 outlets. Simulcasting of Prairie Meadows races accounted for 86 percent of handle.

BLUSHING K.D. TO HASKELL?

Blushing K.D., one of the top three-year-old fillies in the country, is being considered for the $1 million Buick Haskell Invitational, Aug. 3, at Monmouth Park, in Oceanport, N.J. The filly, who has won six-of eight starts this year, easily won the Monmouth Breeders' Cup Oaks in her last start, July 5. 'She loves it here at Monmouth,' trainer Sam David said. 'She was ready to go back to the track the day after [the Oaks]. When she heard the bugler, her head picked up and she wanted to go.' David said his decision will be affected by the strength of the field, which is expected to bring together Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Silver Charm and Touch Gold, the winner of the Belmont Stakes. Silver Charm's owners, Bob and Beverly Lewis, were the last to win the Haskell with a filly when their champion Serena's Song triumphed in 1995.

TIN CUP STABLE TAKES A WHACK AT OWNERSHIP

Professional golfer Jim O'Hern has golfed with some of racing's best-known names, such as jockeys Eddie Arcaro and Bill Shoemaker. But despite wanting to own a Thoroughbred, he never has. His wife Rita, however, became an owner first. She is a partner in the Purse Strings Stable, a group of 17 Louisville, Ky., businesswomen who campaign stakes-winning filly Leo's Gypsy Dancer.

Jim, not allowed into the women-only Purse Strings Stable, brought together 11 of his golfing buddies and formed Tin Cup Stable, whose Ransomforme broke her maiden on June 28 at Churchill Downs. The group has flourished, with new partnerships constantly springing up amongst its members. Tin Cup just bought a filly who started training July 1 and has plans to purchase a new horse each year.

Hal Wiggins trains and buys the horses for both Tin Cup and Purse Strings. 'Hal has a talent for getting the most out of a moderately priced horse,' said Jim, who points out that Wiggins trained multiple-stakes winner Morris Code, a $23,000 purchase who earned $745,167. So far, Ransomforme is on the right track. The two-year-old filly cost $43,000 and has already returned $30,748 in just two starts.

RETAMA FINDS THOROUGHBREDS ADD TO MIX

After adding Thoroughbreds to its usual Quarter Horse meet, Retama Park, in San Antonio, Texas, posted a 19 percent gain in daily handle and a 47 percent rise in attendance (including 13 extra days) over last year's figures. 'The mixed meet was a pleasant surprise,' said chairman Joe Straus Jr. 'This year, a combination of earlier dates and the inclusion of four Thoroughbred races a day obviously pleased our customers.'

THE EYES HAVE IT

In a scene straight out of the latest James Bond flick, the Japan Racing Association (JRA) will begin testing new technology designed to guarantee the identity of horses racing in Japan through the use of a digital eye scan. The JRA hopes to begin testing the system later this year on the country's 10,000 Thoroughbreds.

The camera scans a digital image of the iris, as individual as a fingerprint, and codes its pattern and structure. This image can then matched to a 'live' eye for comparison. The system is virtually foolproof according to the manufacturer and cannot be altered or duplicated. The iris, which is more unique than fingerprints, is composed of a complex combination of corona, pits, filaments, crypts, striations, radial furrows and more. It is this structure and pattern that is imaged and encoded in the process.

The technology was patented by IriScan of Mt. Laurel, N.J., and is being developed for horses in Japan by Tokyo Oki Electric Industry Co. Ltd. According to Kelly Gates, marketing manager for IriScan, 'Horses won't be as cooperative as humans in terms of looking into the scanner so we are developing a flashlight-type camera for this purpose.'

VODAFONE EXTENDS DERBY SPONSORSHIP

Vodafone announced that it will extend its sponsorship of the Epsom Derby for at least another two years. The sponsorship deal, worth 2.35 million pounds, is the largest in British racing. There had been speculation that Vodafone had become disenchanted with the Derby following dwindling attendance, and was going to reject the option to extend its backing this year.

But the race, which was switched to a Saturday in 1995 from its traditional Wednesday, has made a steady recovery and this year attracted a television audience of more than 7 million viewers. Total prize money for this year's race topped the 1 million-pound mark for the first time.

THIS DATE IN RACING HISTORY

July 13, 1986: Jockey Kent Desormeaux rode his first winner, a three-year-old filly named Miss Tavern, in the fifth race at Evangeline Downs.

July 14, 1951: In his last race, Calumet Farm's six-year-old Citation won the Hollywood Gold Cup by four lengths, and became racing's first millionaire horse.

July 15, 1966: Dr. Fager won his first race by seven lengths at Aqueduct racetrack. He was sent off at odds of 10-1.

July 15, 1972: After finishing fourth in his racing debut on July 4, Secretariat won his first race, under jockey Paul Feliciano. The six-length victory occurred at Aqueduct.

July 15, 1987: Jack Van Berg became the first trainer to win 5,000 races when he sent Art's Chandelle to victory at Arlington Park.

July 17, 1975: Jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. notched his 3,000th career victory.

July 17, 1994: Former jockey Angel Cordero Jr. had his first stakes victory as a trainer when he sent Holy Mountain to win the Lexington Stakes at Belmont Park. Cordero was officiating on behalf of Holy Mountain's regular trainer, Bob Klesaris, who was serving a suspension.

July 18, 1942: Garden State Park officially opened. A crowd of 31,682 welcomed the return of racing to New Jersey after a 49-year absence.

July 18, 1989: The last Northern Dancer foal to be sold at public auction, later named Northern Park, was purchased by Zenya Yoshida for $2.8 million. The colt's dam was the stakes-winning mare Mrs. Penny.

July 18, 1993: Jockey Gary Stevens topped $100 million in purse earnings after winning the seventh race at Hollywood Park aboard Don't Presume (GB).

RACING ON TELEVISION

July 12, Racehorse Digest, 6:00-6:30 a.m., ESPN
July 12, 2Day at the Races, 6:30-7:00 p.m., ESPN2
July 14, 2Day at the Races, 12:00-12:30 a.m., ESPN2
July 16, Racehorse Digest, 3:30-4:00 p.m., ESPN
July 17, Racehorse Digest, 3:00-3:30 a.m., ESPN

Bel Air Handicap, 3&up, $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Grade II, Hollywood

Fort Worth Handicap, 3&up (f&m), $100,000, 1 1-8 Miles Turf, Lone Star

New York Handicap, 3&up (f&m), $200,000, 1 1-4 Miles Turf, Grade II, Belmont

Oceanport Handicap, 3&up, $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Grade III, Monmouth

Washington Park Handicap, 3&up, $150,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade II, Arlington

Swaps Stakes, 3yo, $500,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade II, Hollywood
Free House, second or third in all Triple Crown races, will meet Ilinois Derby winner Wild Rush and Hello (IRE), third in the Santa Anita Derby to Free House and Silver Charm, among others.

Bowling Green Handicap, 3&up, $150,000, 1 3-8 Miles Turf, Grade II, Belmont

Delaware Handicap, 3&up (f&m), $350,000, 1 1-4 Miles, Grade III, Delaware

Kent Stakes, 3yo, $150,000, 1 1-8 Miles Turf, Delaware

Long Branch Stakes, 3yo, $75,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Monmouth

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