News and notes from around the Thoroughbred racing world, compiled by Thoroughbred Racing Communications, Inc. (TRC) (212.371.5911..)
NYRA, HORSEMEN & FANS SHOW GENEROSITY ON 'A DAY FOR THE HORSES'
Donations totaling more than $85,000 were received by the
Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, which benefited from 'A
Day for the Horses,' an Oct. 7 fund-raiser at Belmont Park, Elmont,
N.Y. A Day for the Horses took place on Breeders' Cup Preview
Day, one of the track's premier days of racing. Racing fans, trainers,
owners, backstretch personnel and employees of the New York
Racing Association were asked to make donations to the
Foundation, which funds equine medical research. Proceeds from A
Day for the Horses will be used to fund research that focuses on
injury prevention among racehorses and treatment strategies for
horses sustaining injuries during racing or training.
The Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation recently approved a record total for funding for the 1995-1996 fiscal year, which began July 1. The board allocated $658,329 for 18 projects -- more than $50,000 above the previous record amount set for a single year's funding. Eight universities in eight states are involved in the research projects.
TURFWAY PARK POSTS STRONG MEET
Turfway Park, Florence, Ky., registered a 29.9 percent increase in
total handle during its recently concluded fall meet. The meet, which
ended Friday, Oct. 6, was highlighted by a 21 percent increase in
purses and a 3.9 percent increase in total on-track attendance. For
the 23-day meet, daily averages for total wagering were $3,082,672
versus $2,373,048 for 1994. Average on-track wagering was
$765,006, up from $633,313 last year. Out-of-state wagering on
Turfway's races soared 188.5 percent to almost $25 million
compared to 1994's $8.6 million.
LARRY THE LEGEND TO UNDERGO SURGERY THIS WEEKEND
Santa Anita Derby winner Larry the Legend will undergo surgery
Sunday to remove a bone chip from his left front knee, according to
Craig Lewis, the colt's owner-trainer. It is the same knee from which
bone chips were removed this past spring, forcing the colt to miss
the Triple Crown. The surgery will be performed by Dr. Wayne
McIlwraith at an equine hospital in Cypress, Calif.
'Dr. McIlwraith will remove the chip and then determine what else, if anything, needs to be done,' said Lewis. 'It is his opinion that there is a reasonable chance for a full recovery.' Lewis doesn't want to speculate if and when Larry the Legend will be able to return to training. 'We didn't even begin to discuss dates or anything like that,' said Lewis of his consultation with McIlwraith. 'In this game, you take it one step at a time.'
DUBAI WORLD CUP DRAWS 48 NOMINEES
The March 27 Dubai World Cup, the world's richest race with a
purse of $4 million, has drawn 48 nominees from 11 countries and
six continents, including 23 Grade I winners. The field of 14 will be
selected Jan. 8 by an international panel of handicappers and each
area will be limited to the amount of entrants. Leading the nominees
from North and South America, which will send three horses to the
race, is America's top-ranked Thoroughbred, Cigar, winner of 11
straight races, including six Grade I's. Other North American
hopefuls are the winners of two million-dollar races, Peaks and
Valleys, who took the Molson Export Million, and Tinners Way, who
captured the Pacific Classic for the second straight year. Turf
specialist Sandpit (BRZ), Dare and Go, French Deputy, L'Carriere,
Regal Discovery and River Rhythm are the other U.S. and Canadian
nominees. Europe, which will send three runners, is led by Freedom
Cry, second in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Group 1 winners
Carling, Bahri and Pennekamp. Halling, a Breeders' Cup Classic
contender of Godolphin Racing, heads a list of 18 nominees from
the United Arab Emirates.
60 NOMINATED TO JAPAN CUP
The 15th annual Japan Cup, to be held Nov. 26, at Tokyo
Racecourse, has attracted 60 nominations for the approximately
$3.91 million turf event. North America will send four contestants to
the 1 1-2-mile race, which was last won by an American in 1988
when Pay the Butler, ridden by Chris McCarron, was victorious.
U.S.-based Paradise Creek and Kotashaan were second in the last
two runnings. Heading the list of hopefuls are Awad, winner of the
Arlington Million, Northern Spur, Sandpit and 1994 Breeders' Cup
Turf winner Tikkanen. Invitations will be announced Oct. 30.
KENTUCKY DERBY MUSEUM EXHIBITS PHOTOS BY DELL HANCOCK
The Kentucky Derby Museum, Louisville, Ky., has opened an exhibit
of photographs by Dell Hancock entitled 'They Love the Game.' The
exhibit features some of the most prominent names in the sport of
racing. In addition, the Kentucky Derby trophy awarded to Hall of
Fame trainer Woody Stephens for winning the 100th Derby with
Cannonade will be on display along with other memorabilia donated
by the trainer.
Dell Hancock, a member of the Hancock family which owns Claiborne Farm, has been a free-lance photographer since 1976. Her work has been displayed at the Crossgate Gallery, Saratoga Springs, Aiken Hall of Fame and the Kentucky Horse Park. The exhibit at the Kentucky Derby Museum will run through Jan. 31, 1996.
'We are very happy that Dell chose the Kentucky Derby Museum to display her work,' said David Wagner, executive director of the museum. 'Her love and commitment to the sport of racing reveals itself in the beauty of her photos.'
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF RACING HOSTS THOROUGHBRED PHOTO CONTEST
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame, Saratoga
Springs, N.Y., will host 'Winning Colors,' a Thoroughbred racing-
themed photography contest. Entries will be judged by museum staff
members. Prizes, including a 35mm camera and a year's supply of
film, have been donated by Fuji and Image, a local camera store.
Photos must be at least five-by-seven inches, mounted and ready to
hang. All entries must be received no later than Oct. 20, 1995. (For
additional information or to received an entry form, call the museum
at (518) 584-0400.)
ISAAC MURPHY AWARD LEADERS
Northern California jockey Russell Baze continues to hold the lead in
the competition for the inaugural Isaac Murphy Award. The award,
named in honor of the legendary 19th Century African-American
jockey Isaac Murphy, will be presented to the North American jockey
who amasses the highest winning percentage for the year. The
award is sponsored by the National Turf Writers Association.
Through September, Baze has posted a winning percentage of .287
for the year. John Grabowski is second with a .255 percentage and
R.L. Johnson is third with .253.
RACING ON THE AIR
Oct. 12 'Racehorse Digest' 1:30-2:00 a.m., ESPN
Oct. 14 'Racehorse Digest' 6:00-6:30 a.m., ESPN
Oct. 14 '2Day at the Races' 6:00-6:30 p.m., ESPN2
Oct. 18 'Racehorse Digest' 3:30-4:00 p.m., ESPN
Oct. 19 'Racehorse Digest' 1:30-2:00 a.m., ESPN
Oct. 20 'Racehorse Digest' 1:00-1:30 p.m., ESPN
Oct. 22 Breeders' Cup Special 3:30-4:30 p.m., ESPN
Oct. 22 Remington Park Futurity 4:30-5:00 p.m.,ESPN
RACING TO HISTORY
Oct. 12, 1920: In the final race of his career, 3-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. 12, 1991: Morley Street (IRE) won the Breeders' Cup Steeplechase for the second consecutive year, becoming the third horse to win two Breeders' Cup Championship races.
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. 13, 1988: In the track's first riding fatality, jockey Mike Venezia, age 43, was killed at Belmont Park after he was thrown from his mount, Mr. Walter K., which had broken its leg and was later humanely destroyed. Track officials canceled the remainder of the day's races.
Oct. 14, 1952: Jockey Bill Hartack rode his first career winner, at Waterford Park.
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 victory aboard Dont Cross the Law at Belmont Park.
Oct. 18, 1956: Nashua, ridden by Eddie Arcaro, was paraded at Keeneland in his last appearance at a racetrack.
Oct. 18, 1973: The owners of Secretariat announced that his last race would be the Canadian International Championship Stakes at Woodbine Racecourse.
Oct. 18, 1978: Jockey Dave Gall became the first rider to win eight races during a single program. He rode 10 consecutive races for the day at Cahokia Downs, finishing second and fifth in his two losing efforts.
Oct. 18, 1992: With a victory in the Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland, Overbrook Farm's Mountain Cat became the wealthiest two-year-old in racing history, with earnings of $1,440,627 -- $1 million of which was a bonus for sweeping a four-race series in Kentucky. Mountain Cat subsequently added $20,000 to his earnings by a fifth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, for a seasonal record of $1,460,627.
Oct. 20, 1923: Zev, winner of the 1923 Kentucky Derby, defeated England's hero Papyrus, winner of the 1923 Epsom Derby, in a match race at Belmont Park.
Oct. 20, 1954: Bill Shoemaker rode his 2,000th winner, Florence House, at Tanforan.
Oct. 21, 1961: Eddie Arcaro won the Jockey Club Gold Cup for a record tenth time. His mount, Kelso, won the Gold Cup five straight years, 1960-64, setting the mark for most consecutive victories in a stakes race.
Oct. 22, 1945: El Lobo and Featherfoot became the first Thoroughbreds to be transported by airplane. They were flown from Los Angeles to San Mateo in a twin-engine Budd transport plane piloted by Maj. William Hoelle of the Flying Tiger Line, who landed the plane in the parking area at Bay Meadows. On October 27, El Lobo won the Burlingame Handicap at Bay Meadows, proving that horses could fly (and win).
Oct. 22, 1955: A rare triple dead-heat for first took place at Mexico's Caliente in the eighth race. Stormsorno, Chance Speed and Beaufair were the three winners.
Oct. 22, 1964: Jockey Bill Shoemaker won the 5,000th victory of his career aboard Slapstick at Aqueduct Race Track.
Oct. 22, 1973: Secretariat was flown to Woodbine Racecourse, where he would compete in his final career race, the Canadian International Championship Stakes.
WEEKEND STAKES
SATURDAY
BEST OF OHIO AT THISTLEDOWN
Five state-bred races worth a total of $475,000.
MARYLAND MILLION DAY AT LAUREL
The grand daddy of the state-bred racing days, being run for the
10th time, features nine races for Maryland-breds, worth $925,000.
NEW YORK SHOWCASE DAY AT BELMONT
The second day for New York-breds will have seven races totaling
$1 million. Hall of Fame jockey-turned-trainer Angel Cordero Jr.
plans to ride Rogues Walk, a filly he trains, in the $75,000 Iroquois
Stakes, part of New York Showcase Day, at Belmont Park on Oct.
14. Although he rode in two races in his native Puerto Rico Oct. 1,
this will be his first mount in New York since he was injured in a spill
Jan. 12, 1992. Cordero retired four months after he was injured.
Cordero will accept as many as five other mounts on Showcase
Day, but will have to give up his trainer's license temporarily to do
so.
Bay Meadows Derby, 3yo, $100,000, 1 1-8 Miles Turf, G. III, Bay Meadows
Harold C. Ramser Handicap, 3yo fillies, $100,000, 1 Mile Turf, Santa Anita
Illinois Breeders' Futurity, 2yo, $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Hawthorne
Konica Long Look H., 3&up; (f&m;), $100,000, 1 1-8 Miles, G. III, Meadowlands
Phoenix Stakes, 3&up;, $100,000, 6 Furlongs, Keeneland
Princess Elizabeth S., 2yo f, $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles, G. IC, Woodbine
Stampede Futurity, 2yo, $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Grade II, Stampede
SUNDAY
ROTHMANS LTD. INTERNATIONAL DAY AT WOODBINE
Highlander Handicap, 3&up;, $100,000, 6 Furlongs, Grade IC
E.P. Taylor S., 3&up; (f&m;), $300,000, 1 1-4 Miles Turf, Grade II
Bold Ruritana, who has been first, second or third 23 times in 29 starts, heads a field of 12. Competition will come from Timarida
(IRE), winner of the Group 2 Prix de l'Opera Oct. 1, Matiara, winner
of three of her last five, including the Group 1 Dubai Pule d'Essai
des Pouliches, Warning Shadows (IRE), who captured the Group 2
Sun Chariot Stakes Sept. 30; and Northern Emerald, victor in the
Grade I Flower Bowl Handicap at Belmont in her last start. Others in
the field are: Morgana, who won the Grade II Palomar Handicap
Sept. 9 at Del Mar; Danish (IRE), second in the Flower Bowl; Truly a
Dream (IRE); Hey Hazel; My Marchesa; Take Liberties (GB); and
Ballerina Queen.
Rothmans Ltd. Inter., 3&up;, $1,000,000, 1 1-2 Miles Turf, Grade I
Alywow, Canada's Horse of the year in 1994 and the only filly in the
race, is one of 15 probables. She will have to beat a talented group
of American and European horses, led by Mecke, a three-year-old
who has won on dirt and turf this year. His most recent race was a
come-from-behind win in the Grade I Super Derby at Louisiana
Downs and before that, he was a close second in the Grade I
Secretariat Stakes at Arlington on the turf. Charlie's Dewan is one of
Canada's top turf stars, winning the final leg of the Canadian Triple
Crown, the Breeders' Stakes, and has taken four straight. Poliglote
(GB) heads the European contingent. He was second in the Group 2
Prix Niel and finished a strong second to Celtic Swing (GB) in the
French Derby. Presenting (GB) was third to Lammtarra in the Epsom
Derby and has won three stakes races this year in England. Much-
travelled Talloires last raced Aug. 6 in Brazil, finishing second in
their biggest race, the Gran Premio Brasil. Volochine (IRE) has been
close in big races without winning any. Another Canadian, Jet
Freighter, won the Jockey Club Cup and has taken three stakes in
his last five races. Mt. Sassafras was third, third and second in the
Canadian Triple Crown followed by a third in the Molson Export
Million. Lassigny, winner of the $250,000 Sam Houston Handicap at
1 1-2 miles at the Dueling Grounds; Next Endeavor was an eight-
length winner in Belmont allowance race. Born Wild won the
Austrian Derby in Vienna and was 10th in the Jockey Club
Handicap. Hasten To Add is usually close, but seldom wins. Others
in field are Boyce and Commoner.
Fayette Stakes, 3&up;, $150,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade II, Keeneland
Garden City Stakes, 2yo, $75,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Belmont
Las Palmas H., 3&up; (f&m;), $125,000, 1 1-8 Miles Turf, G. II, Santa Anita
Staten Island Stakes, 2yo fillies, $75,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Belmont
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