TRC THOROUGHBRED NOTEBOOK

May 25, 1995

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

RACE-DAY LASIX TO NEW YORK IN SEPTEMBER

New York State Racing and Wagering Board Chairman Jerry Bilinski

announced today the unanimous Board approval to publish a draft rule

which will pave the way for race-day use of the diuretic furosemide,

commonly known as Lasix. The proposed rule is expected to be implemented

on Sept. 1, 1995, the beginning of the Belmont Park fall meet, more than

one month prior to the running of Breeders' Cup Day at Belmont. A 30-day

grace period will begin during August to allow horses to qualify for

opening day at Belmont.

The Board's action was taken during its regular monthly meeting and

followed discussions with a broad cross-section of the racing industry

where all participants indicated they favored the rule change. The new

rule amends New York State's Thoroughbred, Standardbred and Quarter Horse

equine drug regulations (Parts 4043, 4120 and 4236 of 9NYCRR), as well as

other provisions which relate to administrative details, such as

eligibility requirements, and a time schedule for being placed on the

bleeders' list. The rule also designates drug administration and

veterinary record-keeping requirements.

TRA ANNOUNCES NEW RACING SERIES ON ESPN2

Saturday, May 27, marks the debut of '2Day at the Races,' an 18-program

series of half-hour racing telecasts on ESPN2. Three races will be

presented during each telecast by Thoroughbred Racing Associations, on

either a live or tape-delay basis. Twelve of the 18 telecasts will be on

Saturday; five will be on Sunday and one on a Monday holiday, Labor Day.

Air times and the schedule of events (through July 29) for '2Day at the

Races,' are as follows: May 27 - Railbird Stakes (Hollywood), Dogwood

Stakes (Churchill), Roseben Handicap (Belmont), 5:30-6:00 p.m.; June 11 -

Californian Stakes (Hollywood), Lyphard Stakes (Penn National), Just A

Game II (Belmont), 6:30-7:00 p.m.; June 24 - Chicago Budweiser Breeders

Cup Handicap (Arlington), Coral Springs Handicap (Calder), Reeve Schley

Jr. Stakes (Monmouth), 5:30-6:00 p.m.; July 8 - Round Table Stakes

(Arlington), Coaching Club American Oaks (Belmont), Long Branch Breeders'

Cup Stakes (Monmouth), 5:30-6:00 p.m.; July 15 - Equipoise Mile Handicap

(Arlington), Criterium Stakes (Calder), Frank De Francis Memorial Dash

(Pimlico), 5:30-6:00 p.m.; July 29 - Johnny Morris Breeders' Cup Stakes

(Arlington), TBA (Del Mar), Sword Dancer Invitational Handicap (Saratoga),

5:30-6:00 p.m.

FANS TURN OUT FOR GUSSIE MAE IN HIS QUEST FOR A RACING RECORD

Fans follow great horses, right? Well, usually. Except the contrarians

who follow the 'career' of six-year-old Gussie Mae, whose greatness lies

in losing. Gussie Mae has lost 84 consecutive races; he holds the second-

worst record in Thoroughbred racing history. If he loses his next race --

which he will if his 'fans' have their way -- Gussie Mae will tie the

record set by Really a Tenor, who lost 85 races before breaking his

losing streak.

Gussie Mae's following is every bit as ardent as those long-suffering

Cubs fans, and with the same sad result. The difference is that Gussie's

fans want him to lose. Whenever the gelding runs, they sport 'Go Gussie

Go' pins and hold up banners encouraging him to give in before he hits

the wire. Local television crews are common-place at the racetrack

whenever Gussie competes, charting his every failure. Garden State Park,

in Cherry Hill, N.J., where the gelding has been doing a large share of

his losing, admits anyone named Gus into the track for free on days that

Gussie races.

Gussie Mae is owned by Kandace Affa, who purchased the gelding six

months ago. 'If he never wins a race, that's fine with me,' said Affa, a

true supporter.

Gussie's trainer Robert Marchiano often wonders what the future holds if

the gelding can overcome his fear of success. 'Are they still going to

come out to see him after he wins?' Marchiano asks. Gussie seems to be

improving lately. In his last start, the gelding finished third, beaten

a mere 12 1-2 lengths. 'His last few races, he's had horses behind him,'

explained Marchiano. That glimmer of hope has the trainer convinced

Gussie is learning, albeit slowly, that 'he's supposed to be in front.'

DRESSAGE AT SARATOGA

More than 40,000 spectators are expected to attend the sixth annual

'Dressage at Saratoga' event at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs,

N.Y. May 27-29. The event, which is a fund-raiser for the Saratoga

County Association for Retarded Citizens, will feature an internationally

recognized dressage competition with exhibitors from the United States,

Canada and Europe. In addition, there will be an all-breed horse expo,

an antique carriage driving competition, a pony show, and games and rides

for children. Admission to the event is $3. Children five and younger

are admitted free. There is a $2 parking fee.

ELECTRONIC CATALOGUE INTRODUCED AT KEENELAND SALES

The 'Electronic Catalogue,' which stores pedigree information on horses

to be sold at public auction on computer disks, made its debut Thursday,

May 25, at Keeneland. Produced by The Jockey Club Information Systems,

Inc., Electronic Catalogue will be available on either 3 1-2 or 5 1-4-

inch disks, enabling the buyer to do hours of research in minutes.

The Electronic Catalogue will enable buyers to search for horses which

fit individual specifications. Selection criteria can include any

combination of sex, sire, dam, grandsire, broodmare sire, date of birth,

dam's year of birth, consignor, color, 'horses to be seen' and 'horses

slated for a second look.' Breeding stock sales will also include mares'

pregnancy details.

'Pre-sales homework is one of the most important factors for anyone

going to a public auction,' said Carl Hamilton, TJCIS president. 'We're

giving more lead time for that homework and making it possible to do

hours of research in just minutes. It will be especially useful to

overseas buyers.'

The Keeneland July Select Yearling Sales, scheduled to include 243

yearlings, will be available on disk at a cost of $69. The much larger

September Yearling Sale, with more than 3,000 yearlings, will cost $99.

Requirements to operate the program are a 386 or better PC with 15

megabytes of hard drive space and Windows 3.1 or later. A demo disk

highlighting the program's features is available. To request a demo disk

or to place an order, call TJCIS at (800) 333-1778.

'ALMANAC' LOOKS BACK AT SECRETARIAT'S MARLBORO CUP WIN

The ESPN show 'Sports Almanac' will include a retrospective look at

Secretariat's 1973 Marlboro victory when it airs on ESPN2 later this

month and on ESPN in June. The segment will air on ESPN2 Tuesday, May 30

at 11:30 a.m. (EDT) and on ESPN on Monday, June 19 at 4 p.m. (EDT).

The segment was produced by Ken Sheil and will include interviews with

Penny Chenery, Secretariat's owner, and Heywood Hale Broun, the former

CBS Sports commentator who covered the race.

HORSE COUNCIL CONVENTION APPROACHING

The annual American Horse Council Convention will be held this year in

Ft. Worth, Texas, June 4-7 at the Worthington Hotel. The agenda for the

four-day event, which includes a tax seminar on closing day, includes

discussions of state and local issues (June 4); a horse management

seminar (June 5); and a racing roundtable (June 6). The roundtable will

feature panel discussions of racing in Texas and attracting new owners to

horse racing. A June 6 session titled 'Multiple Careers for a Diverse

Animal' will include a presentation on the Performance Horse Registry;

the day concludes with a panel on 'Young People and Horses: A Natural

Affinity.' For information on the convention, contact Kathie Luedeke at

(202) 296-4031.

BELMONT TO HOST 'FAN FAIR'

Belmont Park, Elmont, N.Y., will host Fan Fair -- five days of fan

education in the week prior to the June 10 Belmont Stakes. During the

weekend of June 3-4 and on June 7-9, patrons will hear from owners,

trainers, riders, handicappers, clockers, veterinarians, farriers, grooms,

track announcers and racing columnists as they explain their views of

Thoroughbred racing and a typical day in the life of a Thoroughbred

racehorse during daily 90-minute seminars that are scheduled to begin

just after the gates open at 11:00 a.m. Demonstration booths will be

situated near the paddock area throughout Fan Fair. The famous Budweiser

Clydesdales will also be on hand to welcome visitors to the track on

Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, June 7, 8 and 10.

PREAKNESS ATTENDANCE UP, TV RATINGS DOWN

Statewide attendance for the May 20 Preakness Stakes totaled a record

100,818. On-track attendance was 87,707, second-highest in Pimlico's

history; three other sites in Maryland attracted 13,111 patrons.

Television ratings for the Preakness were down 24 percent from last year.

This year's 90-minute Preakness telecast on ABC drew a 3.8 overnight

rating, down from last year's then record-low 5.0.

In a report in USA Today, Mark Mandel, ABC's director of publicity, said

the network is questioning the ratings, noting 'How can every other

barometer of measurement be up -- record attendance and betting handle --

and the ratings be down? You have to wonder of the ratings really

reflect what's going on.'

VIRGINIA RACING LICENSE UPHELD

The Richmond, Va., Circuit Court denied an appeal by the Virginia Jockey

Club and affirmed the Virginia Racing Commission's issuance of a license

to Stansley Racing Corporation to build a racetrack in the state. The

ruling, which was issued Tuesday, May 23, for Stansley, Inc. to build a

racetrack at Colonial Downs near Williamsburg. The Maryland Jockey Club

will manage the Thoroughbred operations for Stansley.

TELEVISED RACES

May 27 Railbird Stakes, Hollywood; Dogwood Stakes, Churchill; Roseben Handicap, Belmont, 5:30-6:00 p.m., ESPN2

May 30 'Sports Almanac' featuring Secretariat's Marlboro, 11:30 a.m. (EDT), ESPN2

June 3 Massachusetts Handicap, Suffolk Downs 4:00-5:00 p.m., ESPN

June 19 'Sports Almanac' featuring Secretariat's Marlboro, 4 p.m. (EDT), ESPN

RACING TO HISTORY

May 25, 1853: England's first triple crown winner, West Australian, won the second jewel of the trio, the Epsom Derby.

May 26, 1991: Jockey Steve Cauthen won his fourth European derby, the Derby Italiano, with Hailsham, trained by Clive Brittain. Cauthen has also won the Epsom Derby twice, the Irish Derby and the French Derby, in addition to his Kentucky Derby win with Affirmed.

May 27, 1873: A bay colt, Survivor, won the first Preakness Stakes by 10 lengths, the largest margin in the race's history.

May 27, 1979: Jockey Chris McCarron, 24, won his 2,000th career race, aboard Stembok, in the second race at Hollywood Park.

May 27, 1981: Bill Shoemaker became the first jockey in racing history to win 8,000 races when he rode War Allied to victory in the first race at Hollywood Park.

May 27, 1985: Under strong urging from jockey Laffit Pincay Jr., odds-on favorite Spend a Buck defeated Creme Fraiche by a neck to win the Jersey Derby and earn $2.6 million, the largest single purse in American racing history. Two million dollars of the purse came from a bonus to Spend a Buck for winning the Cherry Hill Mile, the Garden State Stakes, the Kentucky Derby and the Jersey Derby. Angel Cordero Jr., the regular rider of Spend a Buck, was committed to ride Track Barron in the Metropolitan Handicap in New York on the same day and was persuaded to give up his mount in the Jersey Derby. Track Barron finished third in the Metropolitan, earning $40,620.

May 29, 1897: Scottish Chieftain, owned by Marcus Daly, became the only Montana-bred to win the Belmont Stakes.

May 29, 1907: Colin began his undefeated career, breaking his maiden by two lengths at Belmont Park.

May 29, 1946: Two-year-old fillies Chakoora and Uleta became the first Thoroughbreds to complete a transcontinental flight. They were flown from New York to Inglewood, Calif., by the American Air Express Corporation, for a 2,446-mile trip that lasted 20 hours due to adverse weather conditions.

May 30, 1903: Flocarline became the first filly to win the Preakness Stakes.

May 30, 1941: Hollywood Park introduced the 'vibrationless camera, 'developed by Hollywood cameraman Lorenzo del Ricio. Eight patrol judges with the cameras, which were attached to their binoculars, were stationed at intervals around the track. Jockey Nunzio Pariso was the camera's first victim -- he was shown on film crowding a rival on the far turn.

May 30, 1969: Patricia Barton won her first career race, at Pikes Peak.

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, 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 10-year layoff, 13-year-old Honey Cloud won the second race at Aqueduct.

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 4, 1941: Three days before his race in the Belmont Stakes, which would complete his Triple Crown, Whirlaway worked 1 1-4 miles in 2:02 2-5.

WEEKEND STAKES
SATURDAY

Dogwood Stakes, 3yo fillies, $75,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Churchill

Jersey Derby, 3yo, $150,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Grade II, Garden State

Railbird Stakes, 3yo fillies, $100,000, 7 Furlongs, Grade II, Hollywood

Riggs Handicap, 3&up;, $75,0000, 1 1-2 Miles Turf, Pimlico

Roseben Handicap, 3&up;, $75,000, 6 Furlongs, Grade III, Belmont

Victoria Stakes, 2yo, $75,000, 5 Furlongs, Grade IIC, Woodbine

Yerba Buena H., 3&up; (f&m;), $125,000, 1 1-8 Miles Turf, Grade III, Golden Gate

SUNDAY

Peter Pan Stakes, 3yo, $150,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade II, Belmont

This Belmont Stakes prep race has attracted a full field, led by Suave

Prospect, who was 11th in the Kentucky Derby after a wide trip but was

second in the Blue Grass, Florida Derby and Fountain of Youth Stakes.

Another Derby horse is Citadeed, who was ninth in the Kentucky Derby

after pressing a vicious pace. He finished ahead of the othe three

horses pressing the pace in that race, Serena's Song, Talkin Man and Wild

Syn. A half-brother to 1993 three-year-old champion Prairie Bayou,

Flitch was second in the Arkansas Derby and fourth in the Florida Derby,

beaten seven lengths. Two foreign horses are in with a chance: Blu

Tusmani is the Italian two-year-old champion and won his only U.S. start

by a neck over Pat n Jac; Treasurer's only U.S. start was on the turf in

the Saranac Stakes, where he was third, beaten 13 3-4 lengths. Others in

the field are: Guadalcanal, third in the Lexington Stakes; Is Sveitkatas;

Screen Oscar, beat Is Sveikatas and Hunting Hard last out and was a four-

length winner the race before, both allowance races; Tymtodyn; and Wild

Escapade. Possibles include Ave's Flag, Candy Cone, Hunting Hard, and

Pat n Jac.

Hawthorne Handicap, 3&up; (f&m;), $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Grade II, Hollywood

Heresy Breeders' Cup Stakes, 3yo, $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Grade IIIC, Woodbine

MONDAY

Metropolitan Handicap, 3&up;, $500,000, 1 Mile, Grade I, Belmont

An outstanding field of stakes winners is probable for the Metropolitan

Mile. Silver Goblin, ranked second in the lastest TRC National Poll, has

only been out of the money once in 19 starts and his only 1995 loss was a

second-place finish to Cigar, America's top Thoroughbred. Devil His Due,

winner of more than $3.9 million, will try the race that he was third in

last year to Horse of the Year Holy Bull and eventual Breeders' Cup

Sprint champion Cherokee Run. Not Surprising won the 1 1-8-mile Seminole

Handicap and the seven-furlong Hialeah Sprint Championship in his last

two starts. Romarin won the Early Times Turf Classic in his last start

and his front-running style has proven difficult to catch at distances up

to nine furlongs. His only dirt start was a second-place finish in the

Grade II Arcadia Handicap. Lite the Fuse, Our Emblem and You and I,

first, second and third in the seven-furlong Carter Handicap, are all

scheduled to run. Cleante, Argentina's 1993 Horse of the Year and

champion miler dead-heated for the win with graded stakes winner

Tossofthecoin in the Bates Motel Stakes at one mile. Others expected

are: Northern Trend, making his 78th career start; Key Contender; and

Level Sands.

Hollywood Turf Handicap, 3&up;, $500,000, 1 1-4 Miles Turf, Grade II, Hollywood

Sandpit, who ran his worst U.S. race last start when he was fourth in

the Grade I San Juan Capistrano Handicap at 1 3-4 miles, trys to rebound

against French Derby winner Celtic Arms, who was second in an allowance

race in his last start. Vaudeville won the Grade I Secretariat Stakes

last August and has been close in every race since except for the

Breeders' Cup Turf, the only time he has been worse than second. Dirt

star Del Mar Dennis was a 5 1-2-length victor in the Grade II San

Bernardino Handicap at 1 1-8 miles, April 2. Savinio was second by a

neck in the Grade III Inglewood Handicap at 1 1/16 miles and beat River

Flyer and Romarin in the Grade II El Rincon Handicap previously. Earl of

Barking was seventh to Romarin in the Early Times Turf Classic at

Churchill Downs but was only beaten by 4 1-4 lengths. He captured the

Explosive Bid Stakes before that at 1 1-8 miles. Liyoun has yet to win

the U.S. after five starts but was third, beaten one length, to Red

Bishop in the Grade I San Juan Capistrano Handicap at 1 3-4 miles.

Wandesta is the lone filly in the race and she has won all three of her

1995 starts, including the Santa Barbara and Santa Ana Handicaps, both

Grade I races. Cocooning won an allowance race last out, beating Celtic

Arms, and has been close in allowance company. French stakes winner

Talloires has had problems against lesser.

Barksdale Handicap, 3&up;, $75,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Louisiana Downs

Kentucky Budweiser Breeders' Cup, 2yo, $100,000, 5 1-2 Furlongs, Churchill

Oakland Handicap, 3&up;, $100,000, 6 Furlongs, Golden Gate

Premier Cashlink-AKsarben Sprint Handicap, 3&up;, $100,000, 6 Furlongs, AKsarben

Red Bank Handicap, 3&up;, $75,000, 1 Mile Turf, Grade III, Monmouth