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

CIGAR CITED IN SPORTS ILLUSTRATED'S SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR VOTING
Although Cal Ripken Jr. was the unanimous choice for Sports Illustrated's annual Sportsman of the Year honors (Dec. 18, 1995 issue), Thoroughbred racing's Cigar was cited by the magazine as one of the 12 most important sports figures of 1995. Cigar is joined by tennis's Pete Sampras, basketball's Hakeem Olajuwon, football's Jerry Rice, track star Michael Johnson, golfer Tiger Woods, bicyclist Miguel Indurain, pitcher Greg Maddux, women's college basketball player Rebecca Lobo and football coach Eddie Robinson.

Cigar, the probable Horse of the Year, was selected not only because he capped his 1995 10-for-10 winning streak with a victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic, but because, for the 'sport of Thoroughbred racing, where there had been no superstars for too long, Cigar became a glamour boy with a blue-collar heart.'

STALLION SEASON AUCTION TO BENEFIT TRF
Breeders looking to spread a little holiday cheer this season can do so by participating in the annual stallion season and art auction to benefit the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, Jan. 27. To be held at Candyland Farm in Middletown, Del., stallion owners donate a breeding to their stallions which are then auctioned to the highest bidder. The proceeds benefit the non-profit TRF, which provides homes for retired Thoroughbred racehorses and educational opportunities for inmates at New York's Wallkill Correctional Facility and troubled youths at the Charles H. Hickey Jr. School in Maryland. The University of Pennsylvania's New Bolton Center, an equine hospital in Kennett Square, Penn., will also benefit from the auction.

'We are still accepting stallion seasons for the auction which we expect to be the biggest and best yet,' said Herb Moelis, who coordinates the event for the TRF. 'We already have commitments for seasons to Wild Again, Housebuster, Fit to Fight (and) Opening Verse, ' among others. Last year's auction raised nearly $190,000.

Stallion seasons donated before Jan. 2 will be included in the sales catalog. For bidders unable to attend the auction in person, TRF will accept phone bids Jan. 22-26. Callers can also bid live during the auction on Jan. 27. To participate, call Herb Moelis at (302) 378-7192.

HOLLYWOOD UNVEILS RENDERING OF PLANNED FOOTBALL STADIUM
Officials at Hollywood Park, Inglewood, Calif., unveiled a rendering of a proposed 65,000-seat, natural-grass football stadium, Dec. 8. The Inglewood Planning Commission last week approved Hollywood's overall plans to build a $250 million stadium adjacent to the racetrack, clearing the way for track officials to aggressively lobby the National Football League for either an existing or expansion team to represent the Los Angeles area. According to Hollywood Park Chairman R.D. Hubbard, the track 'is one-and-a-half to two-years ahead of any other site (seeking an NFL team) in the Los Angeles area. '

The Inglewood Planning Commission voted 3-0 in favor of the environmental impact study detailing how the stadium would affect the community in matters such as traffic, pollution and crime. According to Hubbard, the track is in a financial position to have a stadium completed by the 1998 season. 'We're owned, zoned and ready to build, ' he stated. 'We have what everybody else talks about getting. Hollywood Park does not owe a dime. We have $30 million in cash, a line of credit over $100 million and 380 acres of prime land in Los Angeles County, and it is free and clear of all debt.'

The Hollywood Park stadium would be expandable to a capacity of 82, 500 seats for playoff games and Super Bowls. It would include up to 15,000 prime 'club seats' and up to 200 luxury suites. In addition to housing an NFL franchise, the proposed Hollywood Park stadium might house a college team such as UCLA, which currently plays in the Rose Bowl.

ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER IS TOPS AT NEWMARKET SALE
Andrew Lloyd Webber, best-known as the composer of such Broadway hits as Sunset Boulevard, Evita and Phantom of the Opera, paid the highest price for a Thoroughbred during the 10-day Tattersalls December Sales when he purchased Crystal Spray, a nine-year-old mare, for 500,000 guineas (roughly $880,000). The mare, in foal to Saddler's Wells, was consigned by Robert Sangster's Swettenham Stud.

The Tattersalls sale, held in Newmarket, England, is Europe's largest Thoroughbred auction with 2,496 horses cataloged this year. The sale grossed 34.743 million guineas, an increase over last year.

GARY STEVENS TO UNDERGO SURGERY MONDAY
Jockey Gary Stevens, winner of this year's Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes, is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Monday, Dec. 18. Stevens, 32, has torn cartilage in the knee and a cyst that has developed on the cartilage has leaked fluid directly onto nerves around the knee area. 'The knee has nagged at me the last two or three years, and it's consistently gotten worse,' said Stevens, who had reconstructive surgery on his right knee in 1985. 'I've been able to ride with it, but it's time for me to get it taken care of.' Stevens is expected to miss about three weeks of riding.

MOTT NAMED 1995'S OUTSTANDING TRAINER BY UTTA
Bill Mott was named the Outstanding Thoroughbred Trainer of the Year by the United Thoroughbred Trainers of America. Mott trains probable Horse of the Year Cigar, who won all 10 of his races this year. The award is presented by the national trainers' association to recognize a 'trainer who has achieved an outstanding training feat with one or more horses.' Mott will be honored at the association's annual awards ceremony at the Arlington Hotel, Hot Springs, Ark., Jan. 31, 1996.

DELAWARE PARK HOSTS TOYS FOR TOTS DRIVE
Delaware Park will host a 'Toys for Tots' drive through Dec. 24 to benefit needy children in the Wilmington, Del., area. A donation stand in the first-floor clubhouse will be open daily from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. Only new, unwrapped toys will be accepted. All donations will go to the Toys for Tots Foundation and will be collected by the Delaware division of the U.S. Marine Corp Reserves.

CHURCHILL DOWNS DECLARES ANNUAL DIVIDEND
Directors of Churchill Downs, Inc., announced Dec. 14 a regular annual dividend of $.50 per share on the common stock payable Jan. 12, 1996 to stockholders of record of Dec. 29, 1995. The Directors also approved $1.6 million for capital improvements at Churchill Downs and its Indiana racetrack, Hoosier Park. In addition to general improvements at both facilities, plans call for the expansion of the Kentucky Derby Marquee Village along the first turn at Churchill Downs and the purchase of additional track equipment at Hoosier.

RACING ON THE AIR
Dec. 14 'Racehorse Digest' 3:00-3:30 a.m., ESPN
Dec. 15 'Racehorse Digest' 5:30-6:00 a.m., ESPN
Dec. 17 Hollywood Futurity, Hollywood, Prairie Bayou Stakes, Turfway, TBA, Calder 5:30-6:00 p.m., ESPN2
Dec. 20 'Racehorse Digest' 3:30-4:00 p.m., ESPN
Dec. 22 'Racehorse Digest' 1:30-2:00 a.m., ESPN

RACING TO HISTORY
Dec. 15, 1973: Sandy Hawley became the first jockey in history to win 500 races in a single year when he rode Charlie Jr. to victory in the third race at Laurel Racecourse.

Dec. 17, 1993: Fire destroyed the 122-year-old grandstand of Fair Grounds, the nation's third-oldest racetrack.

Dec. 18, 1983: Hollywood Park held the first $1 million race for two- year-old Thoroughbreds, the Hollywood Futurity, which was won by Fali Time, ridden by Sandy Hawley.

Dec. 20, 1987: D. Wayne Lukas-trained Tejano became the first juvenile millionaire when he won the Hollywood Futurity with Laffit Pincay Jr. aboard.

Dec. 22, 1991: Jockey Kent Desormeaux, at age 21, won his 2,000th race aboard Saron Lake, trained by Gary Jones, at Hollywood Park. He was the youngest jockey to reach that mark and did so faster than any other rider.

Dec. 23, 1944: James F. Byrnes, Director of War Mobilization and Reconversion, urged that all racing in the United States cease by January 3rd as a means of furthering the war effort.

Dec. 25, 1934: Santa Anita Park opened in Arcadia, Calif. A five- year-old mare, Las Palmas, won the inaugural race, the California- Bred Handicap, before a crowd of 30,777.

WEEKEND STAKES

SATURDAY
Hollywood Starlet Stakes, 2yo fillies, $250,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Grade I, Hollywood
D. Wayne Lukas' Cara Rafaela, second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, tries to rebound from a disappointing fourth, beaten 11 lengths, in the Nov. 4 Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs. She has been out of the money only twice in eight starts with two wins and four seconds. An intriguing challenger is the lightly raced Advancing Star, who has won both her starts easily while posting eye- opening times. Cosmic Fire broke her maiden by beating Cara Rafaela July 29 and won her last start but has not been able to win in stakes company. Chile Chatte broke her maiden on the third try with a 12- length win. She had been beaten by Advancing Star and Cosmic Fire in her two previous attempts. Wheatly Special won the California Cup Juvenile Fillies and was second in the Grade III Miesque Stakes on the turf in her last start.

W.L. McKnight Handicap, 3&up;, $150,000, 1 1-2 Miles Turf, Grade II, Calder
Mecke heads a full field of 17 (of which 12 will start). At home on both turf and dirt, three-year-old Mecke won the Grade I, 1 1-4-mile Super Derby on dirt, Sept. 30 at Louisiana Downs, and then was second in the Grade I $1 million Rothmans Ltd. International at Woodbine on turf at 1 1-2 miles. His 1995 earnings of $958,750 rank him ninth this year. Flag Down won the Grade II Red Smith Handicap at Aqueduct Nov. 18, and has been trying top company, although he seems to be a cut below the best. Alternating wins and losses, Next Endeavor was beaten and won at Belmont in the spring, then was defeated badly in the Grade III Seneca Handicap by Summer Ensign. He next won an allowance race at Belmont by eight lengths followed by a 10th in the Rothmans. Green Means Go won three straight at Belmont in the spring and was rested for four months before a sixth in the Grade I Hollywood Derby Nov. 26. Varadavour (IRE) won the Grade II Carleton F. Burke Handicap Nov. 13 and has been consistent all season. Summer Ensign won his last start, a 1 5-8-mile affair over the jumps, where he has a win and two thirds in his last three starts although Next Endeavor beat him by 14 lengths back on Sept. 8. Fabulous Frolic, a minor stakes winner; allowance winners Rocket City, Easy Miner and Arandu; Elite Jeblar; and Scannapieco round out the field.

Kenny Noe, Jr. Handicap, 3&up;, $100,000, 7 Furlongs, Calder
Ladies Handicap, 3&up; (f&m;), $100,000, 1 1-4 Miles, Grade II, Aqueduct

SUNDAY
Hollywood Futurity, 2yo, $500,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Grade I, Hollywood
Hennessy will be the overwhelming choice against a probable field of seven. The D. Wayne Lukas trainee has won four times with three seconds in eight starts but has dropped three straight, his last win being the Grade I Hopeful Stakes, Aug. 27 at Saratoga. He has been second in his last two races, the Grade I Breeders' Cup Juvenile and the Grade III Hollywood Prevue Breeders' Cup Stakes. John Kimmel, who has developed a reputation for his handling of two-year-olds, will run New York-based Tropicool, who won the Grade II Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct in his last start. Exetera was seventh in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and third in the Hollywood Prevue Breeders' Cup Stakes. He has only a maiden win in six starts. Ayrton S won two straight before a second on the turf in the Grade III Genrous Stakes at Hollywood, Nov. 25. Matty G was a bad fourth in the Hollywood Prevue Breeders' Cup Stakes and has only a maiden win. Odyle is still a maiden with seconds to Ayrton S in a maiden race and in the Grade II Norfolk Stakes at Santa Anita. In his last start, he was ninth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Scholarship has been third, second and second in his three maiden starts this year.

Charles H. Russell Handicap, 3&up; (f&m;), $75,000, 6 Furlongs, Bay Meadows

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