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

VISA U.S.A. TO SPONSOR TRIPLE CROWN CHALLENGE
Visa U.S.A. has become the official sponsor of the Triple Crown Challenge, it was announced Thursday, August 17 at Saratoga Race Course, Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The announcement was made by Thomas Meeker, president of Triple Crown Productions, Dennis Swanson, president of ABC Sports and Carl Pacarella, president and CEO of Visa U.S.A. Visa's sponsorship will run through the year 2000.

With the announcement, Visa becomes the 'Official Credit Card of the Triple Crown Challenge' which will now be named the Visa Triple Crown Challenge. In addition, Visa will receive the rights to conduct national and regional consumer advertising and promotions using the Visa Triple Crown Challenge and ABC Sports logos. This will also include the use of logos of the three races which comprise the Triple Crown -- the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes. Visa will be the only credit card accepted to purchase tickets for the three races.

'We are delighted to welcome Visa U.S.A. as the title sponsor of the Triple Crown Challenge,' said Meeker. 'The Triple Crown Challenge represents the ultimate in Thoroughbred racing and Visa's commitment to quality and excellence will serve as enhancement to the event. We are also looking forward to working with Visa's marketing executives and making full use of their capabilities along with the award-winning team at ABC Sports.'

NEW VIRGINIA TRACK GETS $10 MILLION INVESTOR
An Ohio businessman will invest $10 million in Colonial Downs, Virginia's first parimutuel racetrack, it was announced Aug. 16 by the Stansley Management Corp. The investment is expected to jump- start construction on the track, which will be built on 345 acres in New Kent County, midway between Richmond and Williamsburg.

Jeffrey P. Jacobs, a prominent Ohio businessman whose family owns the Cleveland Indians, made the investment. Jacobs has invested $1 million in the project and has pledged an additional $9 million. Jacobs is the president of Jacobs Investments Inc., a commercial and residential real estate development firm. Pending the approval of the Virginia State Racing Commission, Jacobs will become at least a five percent shareholder in the Stansley Management Corp. A former Ohio Republican state representative, Jacobs is also president of Jacobs Entertainment Inc., which is currently building a $60 million casino in the Denver, Colorado area.

Construction on Colonial Downs Racetrack has been plagued by financial difficulties due to a lawsuit filed by one of the losing applicants for the state's only parimutuel license. The litigation, which has put a virtual freeze on nearly $40 million in investment bonds and has delayed construction by more than six months, is now in the Virginia State Court of Appeals.

CORDERO TO BE BACK IN THE SADDLE?
Angel Cordero Jr., who has not ridden in a race since a near-fatal accident in a Jan. 12, 1992 spill at Aqueduct, plans to return to riding on Sept. 3 at Monmouth Park, Oceanport, N.J. Cordero plans to mount a fall riding schedule to culminate in an appearance in the Oct. 28 Breeders' Cup Championship at Belmont Park. Cordero expects to ride in two or three races at Monmouth on Sept. 3 and has mapped out a tentative Belmont Park fall schedule which would include riding appearances on Super Saturday (Sept. 16 ), Breeders' Cup Preview Day (Oct. 7), New York Showcase Day (Oct. 14) and Breeders' Cup Day. Cordero plans to ride Rogues Walk, a filly he trains, in the New York Showcase Day and does not anticipate having trouble lining up mounts for the other days. He will turn over the string of horses he currently trains to his wife Marjorie. Cordero also hopes he will be invited to make special appearances at other racetracks, for a fee, and has tentatively lined up an appearance at Puerto Rico's El Commandante racetrack. Cordero expects to end his riding career on Dec. 3 in the Classico del Caribe in Santo Domingo.

IN-HOME WAGERING SYSTEM TO BE DISPLAYED IN KENTUCKY
Churchill Downs, ODS Technologies and TKR Cable of Greater Louisville will demonstrate in-home an interactive wagering system at the Churchill Downs Sports Spectrum, Thursday, Aug. 24 at 3 p.m. When in place the system will enable patrons to watch races on their home televisions and wager directly into Churchill Downs' pools via in-home technology designed by ODS. The system was successfully tested earlier this year in Maryland, although political issues have forced postponement of the system in that state.

BROOKSIDE FARM TO HOST GRAND PRIX EVENT
Allen and Madeleine Paulson will host the second annual Brookside Classic Horse Show on Tuesday, August 22 at their Brookside Farms West, Bonsall, Calif. The $50,000 winner's prize in the Grand Prix jumping event, which features an array of obstacles six feet in height, is expected to attract some of the West Coast's best riders, including Hap Hansen and Susan Hutchison. The show will benefit several local charities including Canine Companions for Independence, Children's Hospital and Health Center, Junior League of San Diego and Children's Museum of San Diego.

The theme of this year's show is 'The Pageantry of Patriotism.' In addition to the Grand Prix, there will be an exhibition of precision kite flying, the Navy's parachute team the 'Leap Frogs,' a 60-piece Scottish Pipe and Drum band, appearances by the United States Equestrian Team members and more than 100 Marines from Camp Pendleton and Tustin, as well as the Mounted Color Guard from Bartow. All military personnel, local police and firemen and their families will be admitted free to the event.

KENTUCKY ADDS UTAH TO EMBARGO LIST
Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ed Logsdon added Utah to the state's embargoed list after receiving a report that an incidence of vesicular stomatitis has been detected in east-central Utah. The addition of Utah to Kentucky's banned list brings the total to five states -- Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas -- from which no livestock, wild or exotic animals will be permitted into Kentucky if they have been in those states within 30 days prior to their arrival in the Bluegrass state.

Vesicular stomatitis is a viral disease which primarily affects cattle, horses and swine. Humans can also become infected when handling affected animals. The disease causes blister-like lesions to form in the mouth and on the dental pad, tongue, lips, nostrils, hooves and teats. While it rarely causes death, the lesions are extremely painful and can cause dramatic weight loss. In humans, the disease causes flu-like symptoms.

Kentucky imposed the strict embargo because, as a reportable disease, an outbreak in the state could have a devastating impact on the state's Thoroughbred auctions.

TELEVISED RACES
Aug. 19, Travers Stakes, Saratoga Racecourse, 4:30-6:00 p.m., ABC
Aug. 20, Gardenia Handicap, Ellis Park, 6:30-7:00 p.m., ESPN2
Breeders' Cup Handicapper Stakes, Penn National
John A. Morris Handicap, Saratoga Racecourse

RACING TO HISTORY
Aug. 17, 1977: Jockey Steve Cauthen rode Affirmed for the first time, winning the Sanford Stakes at Saratoga Racecourse by 2 3-4 lengths.

Aug. 18, 1961: Trainer Dale Baird saddled his first winner, New York, at Ellis Park.

Aug. 19, 1978: In the conclusion of their 10-race rivalry, Alydar scored his third 'success' against Affirmed in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga Racecourse, when his adversary was disqualified from first place.

Aug. 19, 1990: Jockey Earlie Fires became the eleventh rider in Thoroughbred racing history to win 5,000 victories when he guided Tex's Zing to victory in the ninth race at Arlington International Racecourse. He joined history-making jockeys Bill Shoemaker, Laffit Pincay Jr., Angel Cordero Jr., John Longden, Jorge Velasquez, Larry Snyder, Sandy Hawley, Dave Gall, Carl Gambardella and Chris McCarron.

Aug. 20, 1966: Ogden Phipps's Buckpasser, ridden by Braulio Baeza, became racing's first 3-year-old millionaire after he won the Travers Stakes at Saratoga.

Aug. 22, 1972: In preparation for his next start, the Aug. 26 Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga, Secretariat worked a half-mile in :46 2-5.

Aug. 23, 1956: Carl Gambardella had his first career winner, aboard Rollin Warm, at Hagerstown.

Aug. 23, 1974: Frank Whiteley-trained Ruffian won the Spinaway Stakes by 13 lengths at Saratoga Racecourse, ending her two-year- old season with a 5-for-5 record. Ruffian was subsequently voted champion juvenile filly of 1974.

Aug. 24, 1968: Carrying 134 pounds, Dr. Fager set the world record for a mile in the Washington Park Handicap at Arlington Park. The time for his 10-length victory was 1:32 1-5. The previous record was 1:32 3-5, set by 3-year-old Buckpasser on June 25, 1966 at Arlington Park.

Aug. 24, 1989: Jockey Larry Snyder won his 6,000th career race, aboard a filly named Speedski, in the first race at Louisiana Downs. Snyder was the sixth rider in history to accomplish that feat.

Aug. 25, 1987: Julie Krone won her 1,000th career victory, aboard Tiger Higgins in the second race at Monmouth Park.

Aug. 26, 1972: Secretariat won the Hopeful Stakes by five lengths at Saratoga Racecourse, for his second stakes win in as many tries.

WEEKEND STAKES

SATURDAY
Travers Stakes, 3yo, $750,000, 1 1-4 Miles, Grade I, Saratoga Seven three-year-olds, including the winner of two legs of the Triple Crown, meet in the 'Midsummer Derby.' Thunder Gulch won the Kentucky Derby, the Belmont Stakes and the Swaps Stakes and hasn't thrown in a bad race since a fourth in the Bluegrass Stakes, April 15. He came within 3-4-length of winning the Triple Crown. He'll get stiff competition from the improving Composer, who won an allowance race by 11 July 7 and then was a convincing five-length winner in the Grade II Jim Dandy at Saratoga, July 30. Pyramid Peak will get a lot of attention. He was a fast-closing second to Serena's Song in the Grade I Haskell Invitational. Citadeed was third in the Haskell and the Belmont Stakes. Others entered are: Malthus, second behind Composer in the Jim Dandy in his first U.S. start since arriving from Panama; Star Standard, a speed horse who showed a lot of heart with a fourth in the Preakness and a second in the Belmont; and Rank and File.

Anita Peabody H., 3&up; (f&m;), $75,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Arlington
King's Bishop Stakes, 3yo, $100,000, 7 Furlongs, Grade II, Saratoga
Longfellow H., 3&up;, $75,000, 1 1-8 Miles Turf, G. III, Monmouth
Niagara H., 3&up;, $150,000, 1 1-2 Miles Turf, Grade III, Woodbine
Pat O'Brien B.C. H., 3&up;, $100,000, 7 Furlongs, Grade III, Del Mar
Thistledown Bud. B.C., 3&up;, $175,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Thistledown
Twixt Handicap, 3yo fillies, $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Pimlico

SUNDAY
Del Mar Oaks, 3yo fillies, $250,000, 1 1-8 Miles Turf, G. I, Del Mar Stakes winners from east and west will meet on the turf. Bail Out Becky has been out of the money only once in an 11-race career and won the Grade III Nijana Stakes at Saratoga in her last start. Her six wins have come at Keeneland (twice), Belmont Park, Churchill Downs, Hollywood Park and Saratoga. Sleep Easy was unraced last year but has won three of her five 1995 starts. She took the Grade I Hollywood Oaks July 9 on dirt and will try turf for the first time. Jewel Princess has won five of nine and beat both Auriette (IRE) and Scratch Paper in the Grade III San Clemente Handicap. Auriette (IRE) had beaten her badly the race before, the Honeymoon Handicap. Scratch Paper has been running against tough opponents, and was third to a colt, Dazzling Falls, in the Alabama Derby. She won the Grade III AKsarben Oaks before her third in the San Clemente. Collecta (FR) is a minor stakes winner from France making her first U.S. start. She was fifth, beaten 4 1-2 lengths in the Group 1 Dubai Pule d'Essai des Pouliches. Others scheduled are: My Oooo Aah; Pleas Write; and Top Ruhl.

Breeders' S., 3yo, $250,000, 1 1-2 Miles Turf, Grade IC, Woodbine
Emerald Budweiser Mile, 3&up;, $75,000, 1 Mile, Yakima
Gardenia Stakes, 3&up; (f&m;), $200,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade III, Ellis
John A. Morris H., 3&up; (f&m;), $200,000, 1 1-4 Miles, G. I, Saratoga
Philip H. Iselin H., 3&up;, $300,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade I, Monmouth
Swynford S., 2yo, $75,000, 6 1-2 Furlongs, Grade IIIC, Woodbine

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