News and notes from around the Thoroughbred racing world, compiled by Thoroughbred Racing Communications, Inc. (TRC).
N.Y. GOVERNOR, RACING'S LEADERS TO ADDRESS ROUND
TABLE CONFERENCE
New York Governor George E. Pataki will be the keynote speaker at
The Jockey Club Round Table on Matters Pertaining to Racing,
which convenes Sunday, Aug. 13 at the Gideon Putnam Hotel in
Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Also speaking at the day-long symposium
will be John Reardon, former president of MTV and currently the
president of Zing, Inc., developers of interactive television.
Reardon's presentation is titled, 'From Mtv to Itv: You'll Never Look
at Television the Same Way Again.' Masayuki Goto, general
manager of the Japan Racing Association's New York office, will
describe the progress of wagering and racing in Japan over the last
two decades. Richard LeBer, president and CEO of Equibase
Company, will speak on new information technologies and how they
will affect Thoroughbred racing. Robert E. Mulcahy III, president
and CEO of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, will
discuss the role of Thoroughbred Racing Communications Inc. in
serving the racing industry. Mulcahy is the chairman of the board of
TRC.
Ogden Mills Phipps, chairman of The Jockey Club, will open the session; his remarks will be followed by those of William S. Farish vice chairman of The Jockey Club, reporting on TJC's activities in the past year.
KEENELAND REQUESTS SUMMER DATES TO COINCIDE WITH
JULY SALE
Keeneland Race Course, in Lexington, Ky., has reduced its request
for 1996 summer dates. Keeneland had originally requested a 15-
day summer meet for next year. The new plan calls for a five-day
meet to coincide with the track's prestigious July Select Yearling
Sale.
Keeneland officials are asking the Kentucky Racing Commission for
a Wednesday through Sunday meet, July 17-21, with seven races
each day. The track would hold races in the afternoons while the
sale possibly held over three evening sessions. The Kentucky
Racing Commission must award 1996 dates by Sept. 1. Currently,
Keeneland conducts a short meet each spring and fall.
CAUSE OF ELLIS PARK FIRE STILL UNKNOWN
The fire which caused the death of 27 Thoroughbreds at Ellis Park is
still unknown. Kentucky fire and arson officials are still at the
Henderson, Ky., racetrack trying to determine the cause of the early
morning fire on July 31. Deputy State Fire Marshall Carl Richards
said that the fire did not break out around the tack room ventilating
fan, as had previously been suspected. Investigators do know the
fire started in the small tack room and engulfed the barn in flames
within minutes. Racing at Ellis was canceled on Tuesday, Aug. 1.
SARATOGA GOES TO THE DOGS -- FOR CHARITY
The annual Saratoga dog show to benefit the Thoroughbred
Retirement Foundation will be held at the Saratoga Springs, N.Y.,
racetrack Tuesday, Aug. 15 in the paddock area beginning at 12:45
p.m. The theme for this year's costume event is 'The World of
Sport.' Prizes will be given for the best uniform, owner look-alike
and there will be special prizes for canine with special talents and
'star quality.' Judges for this year's show are jockey Julie Krone, TV
analyst Charlsie Cantey, trainer Angel Cordero and sports writer
Jenny Kellner.
Racing personalities such as jockeys Jerry Bailey, Eddie Maple and Richard Migliore, trainers Jonathan Sheppard, Angel Penna Jr., John Kimmel and Tom Skiffington, as well as Saratoga doyenne Marylou Whitney, will enter their dogs in the competition. The entry fee is $15 per dog. Spectators are encouraged to make a donation to the TRF, which cares for retired Thoroughbred racehorses at the Foundation farm in Wallkill, N.Y. and the Charles Hickey Jr. School for wayward youths in Maryland. For additional information or to receive an entry form, please call Elinor Penna at (518) 581-8834.
JOCKEY SANDY HAWLEY INJURED
Hall of Fame rider Sandy Hawley, winner of more than 6,300 career
races, was injured after being thrown from his mount during the post
parade for the sixth race at Woodbine, Wednesday, Aug. 2. Hawley
suffered bladder damage, a cracked rib and internal bleeding after
Regent's Revue reared and fell on him. He is expected to be out of
action at least two months. Currently the leading rider at the
Rexdale, Ontario track, Hawley was taken to Etobicoke General
Hospital for x-rays. Hawley was twice named Canada's Athlete of
the Year and was the first jockey to win 500 races in a single
season.
TURF WRITERS WILL HONOR CROLL, HOVDEY AND THE LATE
MARK KAUFMAN
Trainer Warren A. 'Jimmy' Croll Jr., writer Jay Hovdey and the late
Mark Kaufman, a Thoroughbred racing publicist, will be honored
when the National Turf Writers Association (NTWA) hosts its 36th
annual awards dinner, Wednesday, Oct. 25 in New York.
Croll, the owner and trainer of Holy Bull, will receive the Mr. Fitz
Award, named for legendary trainer Sunny Jim Fitzsimmons, for
typifying the spirit of horse racing. Hovdey, a free-lance writer from
Laguna Nigel, Calif., who has won two Eclipse Awards and several
other industry writing awards, will receive the Walter Haight Award
for outstanding achievement in turf writing. The Joe Palmer Award
for meritorious service to horse racing will be bestowed
posthumously upon Kaufman, a Seattle-based racing publicist who
suffered a fatal heart Tuesday, May 2, in Louisville. Kaufman, 47,
was in Louisville at the time to assist the Churchill Downs media
relations department for the Kentucky Derby. The award will be
accepted by his widow, Molly Kaufman. Additional information
about the dinner may be obtained by contacting Jim Bolus at (502)
245-3809.
U.S. TAKES ON THE WORLD IN BRAZIL
A field of 20, including U.S. entrants Celtic Arms (FR) and Talloires,
will compete in the Grade I Gran Premio Brasil at the Gavea
Racecourse in Rio de Janeiro, Sunday, Aug. 6. The 2400-meter turf
event (about 1 1-2 miles), worth more than $1 million, has drawn
entries from the U.S. and France as well as Brazil, Chile and
Argentina. Celtic Arms (FR) was second in the Grade I Caesars
International Handicap, June 25 at Atlantic City Racecourse, and
has yet to win in his three American starts. The French-bred and
raced colt won the French Derby last year. Talloires also began his
career in France and has two wins and three seconds in seven U.S.
races. He has been competitive in allowance races but has had
trouble with stakes company. Leading the competition is Brazil's
Horse of the Year, Much Better, and Pia-Vovo, last year's champion
three-year-old colt.
OWNERS SEMINAR AT SARATOGA
A program designed to educate potential new Thoroughbred owners
will be held at Saratoga Racecourse, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Aug.
12. Conducted by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders
Association, the seminar will start at 8 a.m. in the Humphrey S.
Finney Pavilion on the Fasig-Tipton sales grounds.
TELEVISED RACES
August 4, 'Racehorse Digest,' 2:00-2:30 a.m., ESPN
August 5, 'Racehorse Digest,' 6:30-7:00 a.m., ESPN
August 5, Whitney Handicap, Saratoga Racecourse, 4:30-5:30 p.m., ESPN
August 6, '2Day at the Races,' 6:30-7:00 p.m., ESPN2
Arlington Handicap, Arlington; Sorority Stakes,
Monmouth;Pennsylvania Governor's Cup Handicap, Penn National
August 9, 'Racehorse Digest,' 3:30-4:00 p.m., ESPN
RACING TO HISTORY
Aug. 3, 1971: The yearling Secretariat was shod on his front feet for
the first time and transferred to the Meadow training center for
breaking.
Aug. 3, 1989: Jockey Jorge Velasquez notched his 6,000th career
victory aboard three-year-old filly Maddie Bumpo in the third race at
Arlington International Racecourse.
Aug. 4, 1973: In his first race against older horses, 1-10 favorite
Secretariat was defeated in the Whitney Stakes at Saratoga by Allen
Jerkens' four-year-old trainee Onion, who beat him by a length.
Secretariat was subsequently found to be suffering from a virus.
Aug. 5, 1988: Trainer Dale Baird won his 5,000th career race with
Stuffed Johnnie at Mountaineer Park, becoming the second trainer
in history, behind Jack Van Berg, to reach that mark.
Aug. 6, 1951: The National Museum of Racing opened in Congress
Park at Saratoga Springs, N.Y. More than 2,000 people attended
the opening ceremonies presided over by C.V. Whitney.
Aug. 7, 1988: Jockey Eddie Delahoussaye won his 4,000th race
aboard a two-year-old filly named Fawn and Hahn in the fourth race
at Del Mar.
Aug. 8, 1970: Jockey Bill Shoemaker won his 6,000th career victory
aboard Shining Count at Del Mar.
Aug. 8, 1987: Kent Desormeaux rode his 13th stakes winner as an
apprentice jockey, aboard King's Snow in the Primer Stakes at
Pimlico. He shattered the previous record of 10 held by Steve
Cauthen.
Aug. 10, 1982: Mary Russ became the first female rider to surpass
the $1 million mark in earnings when she finished third aboard
Bammer in the fourth race at Saratoga.
Aug. 11, 1972: In preparation for his stakes-racing debut, the Aug.
16 Sanford at Saratoga, Secretariat worked five furlongs in 59.
Aug. 13, 1919 Upset scored a win against Man o' War in the Sanford
Memorial Stakes at Saratoga. The defeat was Big Red's only loss in
21 starts.
Aug. 13, 1951: At odds of 2-1, Greentree Stable's Tom Fool won his
maiden race by four lengths at Saratoga.
WEEKEND STAKES
SATURDAY
Ramona H., 3&up (f&m), $300,000, 1 1/8 Miles Turf, G. I, Del Mar
Italian champion Alpride (IRE) made an impressive U.S. debut,
taking the Grade I Beverly Hills Handicap at Hollywood Park, July 2,
beating two of America's better turf mares, Possibly Perfect and
Wandesta (GB). Possibly Perfect had her five-race winning streak
snapped in the Beverly Hills, where she spotted Alpride (IRE) nine
pounds. The difference is now five pounds. Marina Park (GB) has
run in England, France, Ireland, Hong Kong and the U.S., but hasn't
won since capturing the Grade III Las Cienegas Breeders' Cup
Handicap at Santa Anita, April 8. Charlie Whittingham has won the
past four runnings of the Ramona, the last three times with
Flawlessly, and will send out Lady Affirmed, second in the Grade I
Gamely Handicap and fourth in the Grade I Beverly Hills Handicap,
both at this distance at Hollywood Park. Yearly Tour won a listed
stake last start and has been close with these, finishing second twice
to Wandesta (GB). Morgana won the listed Melvin Durslag
Handicap at Hollywood Park and was fourth to Possibly Perfect and
Lady Affirmed in the Grade I Gamely Handicap. Others entered are:
My Oooo Aah is always close but in vastly weaker company; Real
Connection was a distant fourth in Hollywood Park's Grade I Vanity
Handicap last start.
Whitney Handicap, 3&up, $350,000, 1 1/8 Miles, Grade I, Saratoga Seven-year-old Key Contender, winner of the Grade I Surburban Handicap at Belmont Park last out, heads a balanced field. His main competition will probably be Our Emblem, who has two seconds and two thirds in stakes races his last four starts but hasn't won since a March 10 allowance race at Gulfstream Park. Unaccounted For won his last start, an allowance race in the mud, by 9 1-2 lengths, but hadn't shown much before. Others entered are: Siberian Summer, who has made all eight of his 1995 starts on the turf; Itaka, winner of the listed Clarinet King Stakes; L'Carriere and Amathos, first and second in a recent allowance race at Saratoga; Silver Fox, fourth in the Surburban but always close in allowance company; and Federal Funds, making his 106th career start, was third in the Surburban.
Arlington Budweiser Breeders' Cup Handicap, 3&up (f&m), $150,000, 1 1/16 Miles Turf, Arlington Bull Page S., 2yo (c&g), $75,000, 6 Furlongs, Grade IIIC, Woodbine Cornhusker H., 3&up, $150,000, 1 1/8 Miles, Grade III, AKsarben Florida Stallion Stakes, Desert Vixen Division, 2yo fillies, $75,000, 6 Furlongs, Calder Florida Stallion Stakes, Dr. Fager Division, 2yo, $75,000, 6 Furlongs, Calder
SUNDAY
Eddie Read H., 3&up, $300,000, 1 1/8 Miles Turf, Grade I, Del Mar
A very competitive international field is scheduled to compete, led
by Earl of Barking (IRE), who has been fourth, first, seventh, first
and fifth, winning every other race. He may keep that streak alive
here as his 2 1-4-length win in the Grade I Hollywood Turf Handicap,
May 29, over Sandpit (BRZ) will probably be good enough to beat
this field. Seven times in the money in seven races in France,
Northern Spur (IRE) will be making his first U.S. start. He was
second to Carnegie (IRE) in the Group 2 Prix Niel last year and has
been idle since Oct. 1. Romarin (BRZ) was a wire-to-wire winner of
the Grade II Early Times Turf Classic, May 6, at Churchill Downs,
but failed badly on dirt after that and was second on turf to Silver
Wizard in the American Handicap. Urgent Request (IRE) earned
$550,000 for winning the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap and
$18,750 in his next three starts, all for a fourth-place finish in the
Caesars Palace Turf Championship, a race he was beaten nearly 13
lengths. He has been running on dirt against Cigar and on turf
against Sandpit (BRZ) so he may find this field a bit easier. Silver
Wizard has won three of his last five starts and scored a 1 1-2-
length win over Romarin (BRZ) in the Grade II American Handicap
at Hollywood Park, July 4, his last start. Fastness (IRE) came back
June 24 after being rested since Oct. 15 with a 2 3-4-length win in a
Hollywood Park allowance race. He was fifth in last year's Arlington
Million. Others expected are Elkhorn winner Marvin's Faith and
Eagle Eyed.
Sorority S., 2yo fillies, $200,000, 6 Furlongs, Grade III, Monmouth Two undefeated fillies collide, D. Wayne Lukas's Golden Attraction and Jimmy Croll's Careless Heiress. Golden Attraction is three for three, and is coming off her second stakes win, a 2 1-2-length score in Saratoga's Grade II Schuylerville Stakes. Careless Heiress has won both her career starts at Monmouth Park, a maiden win by 7 1-2 lengths followed up by a win in the Colleen Stakes.
A Phenomenon S., 3&up, $100,000, 6 Furlongs, Grade II, Saratoga Arlington H., 3&up, $200,000, 1 1/4 Miles Turf, Grade II, Arlington Spicy Living Sweepstakes, 3&up (f&m), $100,000, 1 1/8 Miles Turf, Rockingham Toronto Cup H., 3yo, $75,000, 1 1/8 Miles Turf, G. IIC, Woodbine