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

VISA TRIPLE CROWN CHALLENGE OFFERS MILLIONS IN PRIZES

Pimlico Racecourse and Belmont Park announced that the purses for the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, the final two legs of the Visa Triple Crown Challenge, will be increased from $500,000 to $1 million per race. The purse for the first leg of the series, the Kentucky Derby, was raised to $1 million for the 1996 running. On top of the $3 million in purses, Visa offers an additional bonus of $5 million for any horse to sweep the Triple Crown.

KEENELAND PLANS REMODELING, EXPANSION

The Keeneland Association announced Wednesday approval of a $30-35 million series of building projects over the next three to five years that will include building a new sales pavilion and converting the existing sales center into a simulcasting center. 'This announcement underscores our confidence in the health of the Thoroughbred industry,' said Keeneland president Bill Greely. 'This is a major commitment that will have a tremendous impact on our entire operation, with a net effect of upgrading the experience that our customers have here at Keeneland, whether they come to buy, to watch live racing or attend our simulcasts.'

Included in the projects are a new 73,000-square-foot sales pavilion. The new sales pavilion will be built adjacent to an area where new barns have been constructed on the Keeneland grounds. Also included in the projects are refurbishing of the west end of the grandstand and renovation and re-landscaping the grounds and open spaces near the grandstand.

JOCKEY CLUB LAWYER WARNS ABOUT INTERNET GAMBLING

John Keitt, the legal representative of The Jockey Club, warned the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities, gathered in Paris after the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe about the dangers of unchecked Internet gambling. Keitt said that there is a building tension between racing, a highly regulated activity, and the Internet, by its nature secretive and without national boundaries. "An unregulated Internet gambling environment threatens to undermine the ability of racetracks and racing authorities to realize their legitimate return on the races they host," said Keitt. "An Internet gambler can easily disguise his identity. Encryption and electronic money makes transactions indecipherable and untraceable."

An offshore company can offer wagering with a lower takeout, drawing revenue away from tracks without any return. Questions of jurisdiction are yet to be settled in American courts while national legislation would not affect overseas companies and policing would be nearly impossible. Individual states have conflicting laws and differing views on what should, or shouldn't be, legal.

Keitt offered some reason for optimism by pointing out that a forum of more than 30 companies have established a code of self-conduct that addresses consumer protection, from the resolution of disputes to restricting the access of minors and even of compulsive gamblers.

Oct. 10, 1974: With female riders still a novelty, Lincoln Downs staged a $5,000 match race between jockeys Denise Boudrot and Mike Lapensee. The race, dubbed the "contest of the sexes," was won by Boudrot. In a rematch one week later, in which the riders switched their mounts from their previous encounter, Boudrot again prevailed.

Oct. 12, 1920: In the final race of his career, three-year-old Man o' War defeated 1919 Triple Crown winner Sir Barton in a match race, the Kenilworth Park Gold Cup, at Kenilworth Park. Sent off at odds of 1-20, Man o' War won by seven lengths in his 14th consecutive victory.

Oct. 12, 1966: Damascus, owned by Edith W. Bancroft, broke his maiden at Aqueduct Racetrack, winning by eight lengths.

Oct. 13, 1927: Arlington Park opened. The track, built by H. D. Brown, had a steeplechase course and a polo field and was adjacent to tennis courts, a golf course and a one-mile training track.

Oct. 13, 1956: At age four, 1955 Horse of the Year Nashua won his last race, the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes at Belmont Park.

Oct. 13, 1984: At age nine, odds-on favorite John Henry won his last race, the Ballantine's Scotch Classic at The Meadowlands, to earn the richest purse of his career, $740,000, which included a $500,000 bonus for winning both the Turf Classic, run at Belmont Park on Sept. 22, and the Meadowlands' race. John Henry retired as America's then-richest horse with earnings of $6,597,947.

Oct. 14, 1952: Jockey Bill Hartack rode his first career winner, at Waterford Park.

Oct. 14, 1953: After a 21-year hiatus as a professional jockey, Earl Sande, 54, won his first race in a comeback, with Miss Weesie, at Jamaica. Sande's comeback began on Oct. 5 and ended with his win at Jamaica, where he received an ovation from a crowd of 18,184.

Oct. 14, 1968: Sandy Hawley won his first race aboard a two-year-old gelding named Fly Alone, riding at Woodbine Racecourse.

Oct. 14, 1972: After finishing first in the Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park, Secretariat was disqualified and placed second, after bearing in on Stop the Music, who was declared the official winner.

Oct. 15, 1977: In the fifth of their 10 meetings, Alydar won his second victory over Affirmed in the Champagne Stakes at Belmont Park.

Oct. 17, 1970: Nijinsky II ended his career finishing second in the Champion Stakes at Newmarket. In 13 races he won 11 times and finished second twice.

Oct. 17, 1986: Kent Desormeaux made his Maryland debut, in the fourth race, at Laurel Racecourse, Laurel, Md., aboard Shonda's Shickels. He finished second, but was disqualified for interference and placed fourth.

Oct. 17, 1991: Hall of Fame jockey Angel Cordero Jr. rode his 7,000th career winner aboard Dont Cross the Law [sic] at Belmont Park.

Oct. 11, Racehorse Digest, 5:30-6:00 a.m., ESPN
Oct. 11, Racing to the Breeders' Cup, 4:00-5:30 p.m., ESPN
Alcibiades Stakes, Keeneland
Goodwood Handicap, Santa Anita
Oct. 12, Racing to the Breeders' Cup, 4:30-5:30 p.m., ESPN
Spinster Stakes, Keeneland
Oct. 12, 2Day at the Races, 6:30-7:00 p.m., ESPN2
Oct. 15, Racehorse Digest, 3:30-4:00 p.m., ESPN
Oct. 16, Racehorse Digest, 3:30-4:00 a.m., ESPN

Walmac Alcibiades Stakes, 2yo fillies, $400,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Grade II, Keeneland
The two-year-old filly division's top duo meet when Countess Diana and Beautiful Pleasure, both Grade I winners, get together at Keeneland. Countess Diana has won three of four career starts, with her only loss coming when she lost a shoe during the Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs. Beautiful Pleasure has won both of her races, winning the Grade I Matron Stakes on Sept. 21 at Belmont. She is a full sister to Mecke, a Grade I winner on dirt and turf.

Ancient Title Breeders' Cup Handicap, 3&up, $75,000, 6 Furlongs, Grade III, Santa Anita
Lakota Brave, an eight-year-old with just 17 lifetime starts, looks to repeat in the Ancient Title and earn a second trip to the Breeders' Cup Sprint, where he was fifth last year. He is expected to meet Crafty Friend, third in the $1 million Pacific Classic, and 1995 Santa Anita Derby winner Larry the Legend, who has dropped six straight since that win while battling injuries and illness.

Bay Meadows B.C. Derby, 3yo, $100,000, 1 1-8 Miles Turf, Grade III, Bay Meadows

Chenery Stakes, 2yo, $100,000g, 1 Mile, Colonial Downs Gallant Bloom Handicap, 3&up (f&m), $75,000, 6 1-2 Furlongs, Grade III, Belmont

Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap, 3&up, $200,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade II, Santa Anita

Grey Breeders' Cup Stakes, 2yo, $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Grade III, Woodbine

Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap, 3&up, $300,000, 1 1-4 Miles, Grade III, Hawthorne

Bunty Lawless Stakes, 3&up, $75,000, 1 Mile Turf, Woodbine

Hawthorne Derby, 3yo, $200,000g, 1 1-8 Miles Turf, Grade III, Hawthorne

New York Showcase Day, seven races for New York-breds, worth a total of $1 million, at Belmont Park

Oak Tree Turf Championship Stakes, 3&up, $300,000, 1 1-4 Miles Turf, Grade I, Santa Anita

Three Chimneys Spinster Stakes, 3&up (f&m), $500,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade I, Keeneland

Tippett Stakes, 2yo fillies, $100,000, 1 Miles, Colonial Downs