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

HOLLYWOOD PARK TO HOST 1997 BREEDERS' CUP
Hollywood Park will host the 1997 Breeders' Cup Championship Day, it was announced Wednesday by James E. Bassett III, president of Breeders' Cup Ltd. Thoroughbred racing's $10 million day will be held Saturday, Nov. 8, 1997 at the Inglewood, Calif., racetrack. 'We are very pleased to bring the Breeders' Cup Championship back to Hollywood Park, site of the inaugural running in 1984,' said Bassett. 'We are also especially gratified that the California Horse Racing Board has agreed to adjust its traditional fall racing dates to coincide with our host track selection.'

The 1997 running will mark the third time Hollywood has hosted the event. In addition to the inaugural championship in 1984, the track was also home to the 1987 Breeders' Cup.

BEST PAL RETIREMENT PARTY ON SATURDAY AT SANTA ANITA
Santa Anita Park, Arcadia, Calif., will host a retirement party for Best Pal, who retired earlier this month as North America's third leading money winner. The popular gelding will make a farewell appearance at the track on Santa Anita Derby Day following Saturday's second race. Best Pal will be joined in a winner's circle ceremony by his owners, John and Betty Mabee, as well as his former trainers and jockeys. Best Pal will then be moved to the Mabee's Golden Eagle Farm in Ramona, Calif., where he was foaled and raised. A trust fund will be established for Best Pal's lifetime care and maintenance by the Mabees. The gelding retired sound and healthy.

Best Pal, winner of the 1992 Big Cap, posted 18 wins from 47 starts with earnings of $5,668,245. Only Alysheba ($6,679,242) and John Henry ($6,597,947) won more money.

THE JOCKEY CLUB PUTS CUSTOMER SERVICES ON INTERNET
The Registration Department of The Jockey Club and Performance Horse Registry have extended their Customer Services to the internet's World Wide Web. Owners and breeders can now complete Name Claiming Forms and have access to a bulletin board for answers to questions about the Thoroughbred registration process. The site is located at www.jockeyclub.com. Also available on the site is a complete copy of the 'Rules and Requirements of the American Stud Book' and The Jockey Club publication 'How to Identify a Thoroughbred.'

Roger Shook, vice president of registration services at The Jockey Club sees the internet presence as a natural development from the remote-access services The Jockey Club previously offered, such as the Remote Name Claiming, Live Foal and Report of Mares Bred programs available on disk to breeders. 'Our remote programs have been a help to breeders for some time, but their use has been limited to those with the expertise and equipment to feel comfortable with technology, ' said Shook. 'The internet and a new computer awareness are bringing electronic communications within the grasp of everyone. Anything we can do to encourage use of the medium is a plus for everyone. And the great advantage is that the internet is on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.'

According to Shook, the site will become increasingly interactive. 'Apart from the name claiming application, at present our web site is more of a reference library for our Rules and any Jockey Club publications. It's also an in-box for e-mail where breeders can type their inquiry, attaching the relevant pedigree. We do the necessary research and send back the answer the following day. Eventually breeders should be able to complete virtually all Registration procedures electronically.'

In addition, the 'PHR Post' a regular bulletin of the registry, will be available on the site. It reports on news of PHR horses and registry developments and publishes a stallion roster.

CALIFORNIA RACING BOARD SEEKS EQUITY WITH OTHER STATES
The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) announced its sponsorship of Senate Bill 2000, introduced by Senator Ken Maddy on Feb. 23, which would establish a fee parity for the industry. The bill would create a fair and equitable tax law for the sport by establishing a state license fee rate that would never be higher than the average rate of the eight other major racing states. The bill has strong bi- partisan support.

'The California horse racing industry currently pays the highest effective tax rate of any business in the state and more than any other state in the country,' said CHRB Chairman Ralph Scurfield. 'Other states have recognized the vital importance of horse racing to their economies and they are taking steps to bolster their own horse racing interests. We can no longer sit back and allow other states to lure jobs and revenue away from California. The horse racing industry in California is responsible for more than 30,000 jobs and contributes nearly $3 billion each year in direct and indirect benefits to the agriculture, entertainment and tourism sectors of California's economy. By bringing California's license fees in line with the other major racing states, we will be providing greater incentives for horse owners to race their horses in our state and taking steps to preserve and enhance this vital industry.'

AQUEDUCT HOSTS TWO NATIONAL TV SHOWS
Aqueduct Racetrack played host to two national television shows last week. The cast and crew of the CBS drama 'Central Park West' arrived at the South Ozone Park, N.Y., racetrack on Thursday to film a scene which featured Rachel Welch, co-star Ron Liebman and approximately 100 extras. In the scene Welch watches from an owner's box as her horse wins. In the heat of the moment, Liebman makes a pass at Welch who responds by slapping the actor in the face, over and over again as the take was filmed from a variety of camera angles.

Welch provided some behind-the-scenes drama when she unexpectedly tripped and fell over some electrical cable near her box seat. Limping, she requested a masseuse, but jockey masseuse Howie Meneke recommended the star see a doctor.

In the afternoon the cameras filmed in the NYRA's board room, which had been transformed the day before into an attorney's office for a scene featuring Liebman and Lauren Hutton. This episode of 'Central Park West,' is expected to air in May, when the series returns to CBS after a winter hiatus.

On Saturday, Aqueduct hosted a crew from the 'George and Alana Show, ' a talk show starring George Hamilton and his ex-wife, Alana Stewart which aired Feb. 27. The couple visited Aqueduct with Anne Toscano, a New Yorker who hosted the celebrities at her home for the weekend at 'a typical New Yorker's' home. A regular at the racetrack (her son is an assistant trainer and grandson is jockey Paul Toscano), Toscano took the tanned Hamilton and Alana to the track where Hamilton promptly cashed a $100 win ticket on Fighting Daddy which paid $240.

KEENELAND CHANGES DATES FOR JULY AND NOVEMBER SALES
Officials with the Keeneland Association announced Tuesday they have changed the dates for the company's July and November sales. The July Select Yearling Sales has been rescheduled one week earlier and will be held July 15 and 16. The November Breeding Stock Sale will be held Nov. 10-19, one week later than usual. Roger Beasley, Keeneland's director of sales explained there is a need for additional time between the two sales to 'process the large number of entries and complete the cataloguing process for September and November. Hotel space is available in Lexington for the new dates, so we're confident our buyers and consigners won't be inconvenienced by our changes.'

The dates of Keeneland's three other sales, the September Yearling Sale, the April Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale and the Churchill Downs-Keeneland Horses in Training Sale, remain unchanged.

HOLLYWOOD PARK AND EMERALD DOWNS HIRE NEW ANNOUNCERS
Hollywood Park has hired Luke Kruytbosch as its announcer for the Inglewood, Calif., racetrack's spring-summer meet which begins April 26. The 34-year-old Kruytbosch, a native of Moscow, Idaho, has been calling the races at Turf Paradise for the past three years and served as a guest announcer at Hollywood last fall.

'A positive reaction by our fans was the key to our selection of Luke as announcer for this meet,' said Hollywood Park General Manager Eual Wyatt Jr. 'He is a very talented race caller who we believe has a very bright future.'

Robert Geller has been hired to call the races at Emerald Downs for the Auburn, Wash., track's inaugural season beginning June 20. The 36-year-old native of Birmingham, England is currently the English race caller at Hong Kong's Happy Valley and Sha Tin racecourses. Geller began his career in 1984 at Wangaratta Turf Club in Victoria, Australia.

'We're ecstatic to bring Robert to our team,' said Emerald Downs President Ron Crockett. 'He's undoubtedly one of the best in the world and his unique style will be very popular with our fans.'

RACING ON THE AIR (all times Eastern) March 1 'Racehorse Digest' 1:30-2:00 a.m., ESPN
March 2 'Racehorse Digest' 6:00-6:30 a.m., ESPN
March 2 Santa Anita Handicap and San Rafael Stakes, Santa Anita 6:30-7:00 p.m., Prime Sports
March 5 'Racehorse Digest' 4:00-4:30 p.m., ESPN
March 7 'Racehorse Digest' 12:30-1:00 a.m., ESPN
March 7 'Racehorse Digest' 5:00-5:30 a.m., ESPN

RACING TO HISTORY
March 1, 1952: Swaps, Horse of the Year in 1956, was foaled at Ellsworth Farm in Ontario, Calif.

March 1, 1969: Tuesdee Testa, 27, became the first female jockey to win a race at a major American Thoroughbred track when she won the third race at Santa Anita Park aboard Buz On.

March 1, 1987: Jockey Don MacBeth died of cancer at the age of 37.

March 1, 1991: Pat Day, 37, became the sixth rider in history whose mounts earned $100 million when he rode Wild Sierra to a second-place finish in the first race at Oaklawn Park.

March 2, 1940: Beaten by a nose in both the 1937 and 1938 Santa Anita Handicaps, Seabiscuit finally won the Big 'Cap in his final race. He retired the then-leading money-winning horse in the world.

March 2, 1966: Kelso, Horse of the Year 1960-64, ran his last race, finishing fourth at Hialeah Park. March 3, 1966: Ogden Phipps's Buckpasser won the Flamingo Stakes by a nose, under the guidance of Bill Shoemaker. The colt was such a prohibitive favorite among the field of nine that the race was declared a non-wagering contest and has since been dubbed 'The Chicken Flamingo.'

March 3, 1985: Bill Shoemaker became the first jockey in history to win $100 million in purses after he won the Santa Anita Handicap aboard Lord at War (ARG).

March 3, 1993: Russell Baze had his 4,000th career win, with Frank Musso, at Golden Gate Fields.

March 5, 1988: Carl Gambardella had his 5,000th career winner, aboard John's Goldenapple, at Suffolk Downs.

March 6, 1963: Jockey Gary Stevens was born in Caldwell, Id.

March 6, 1965: Jockey Earlie Fires rode his first winner, Carnation Kid, at Oaklawn Park. By year's end, Fires had amassed nearly $600,000 in purse earnings to earn the title of champion apprentice jockey.

March 6, 1988: Julie Krone became the winningest female jockey in racing history when she won the 1,205th race of her career riding a filly named Squawter in the ninth race at Aqueduct Racetrack.

March 8, 1939: Jockey Jean Cruguet was born in Agen, France.

March 8, 1987: Carrying 126 pounds, Zany Tactics set the world record for six furlongs, 1:06 4-5, at Turf Paradise. On Feb. 21, 1993, his time was equalled by Honor the Hero, also at Turf Paradise.

March 8, 1985: Chris McCarron rode his 4,000th career winner, Hawkley (GB), in the fifth race at Santa Anita Park.

March 9, 1977: Seattle Slew made his three-year-old debut, at Hialeah. He won a seven-furlong race in 1:20 3-5, breaking the track record.

March 10, 1808: Diomed, the winner of the inaugural Epsom Derby in 1780, died in Virginia at age 31. He had been imported to the U.S. 10 years earlier and subsquently became an influential sire.

March 10, 1993: At age 41, jockey Eddie Delahoussaye had his 5,000th career winner, aboard Ackler in the fifth race at Santa Anita Park. He was the 14th rider in North American Thoroughbred racing to reach that plateau.

WEEKEND STAKES
SATURDAY
Santa Anita Handicap, 4&up;, $1,000,000, 1 1-4 Miles, Grade I, Santa Anita
A contentious field of 12 is entered in this wide open race. Urgent Request (IRE) won this race last year and won the Grade II San Marcos Handicap at Santa Anita, Jan. 21 when the race came off the turf. In between, he was badly beaten five times. Afternoon Deelites is a force to reckoned with here. After a bad showing in the Kentucky Derby, he was rested for 7 1-2 months and won the Grade I Malibu Stakes off the layoff. He was second in the Grade I Strub Stakes, Feb. 4. Alphabet Soup won the Grade II San Antonio Feb. 3 and has taken three straight stakes races. Helmsman won the Strub and Grade II San Fernando Stakes in his last two starts. Dare and Go won the Strub and was third in this race last year. He was off for 10 months following a stress fracture, running second in an allowance race and third in the San Antonio. Just Java was 2-for-23 in France but won an allowance race at Santa Anita Jan. 28. Luthier Fever was second in the San Pasqual. The Key Rainbow (IRE) was fifth in the Strub and third in the San Fernando. Mr Purple was third in the Strub and fourth in the San Fernando. Cezind was third in the San Pasqual. Score Quick was fourth in the Strub and seventh in the San Fernando. Eclipse Award winning 3- year-old filly Serena's Song makes her third start as a 4-year-old, she won the Grade I Santa Monica and Santa Maria Handicaps. She will be facing colts for the first time as a 4-year-old. She defeated them last year in the Jim Beam Stakes and Haskell Invitational and was 16th in the Kentucky Derby. She is 0-for-2 at the 1 1-4-mile distance.

Gulfstream Park Handicap, 3&up;, $500,000, 1 1-4 Miles, Grade I, Gulfstream
L'Carriere was a surprising second to Cigar in the Breeders' Cup Classic, Oct. 28, his last start. He is scheduled to compete in the $4 million Dubai World Cup March 27. Wekiva Springs challenged Cigar in the Feb. 10 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park, finishing second. He has run second in three straight races with his last win coming Oct. 27 in an allowance race at Belmont Park. Mecke has won graded stakes on dirt and turf, winning nearly $1 million last year. His last start was a win on the turf in the 1 3-8-mile Super Bowl Handicap at Gulfstream; he has run his last four on the turf. His last dirt race was a win in the Grade I Super Derby, Sept. 30, at Louisiana Downs. Star Standard was sixth in the Donn but won an allowance race at Gulfstream Jan. 26. He has faced Cigar in his last four stakes starts. Bound by Honor was fourth in the Donn but finished 1995 with a win in the Grade III Tropical Park Handicap at Calder. Personal Merit has only run five times in the last two years and hasn't won since May 2 , 1995, in an allowance race at Suffolk Downs. Royal Mitch has won two straight allowance races. Longshots Silver Fox and Powerful Punch round out the field.

San Rafael Stakes, 3yo, $200,000, 1 Mile, Grade II, Santa Anita

Buena Vista Handicap, 4&up; (f&m;), $125,000, 1 Mile Turf, Grade II, Santa Anita

San Carlos Handicap, 4&up;, $150,000, 7 Furlongs, Grade II, Santa Anita

Best Turn Stakes, 3yo, $75,000, 6 Furlongs, Grade III, Aqueduct

Great West Stakes, 4&up;, $100,000, 1 Mile & 70 yards, Remington

Southwest Stakes, 3yo, $100,000, 1 Mile, Grade III, Oaklawn

SUNDAY
Arcadia Handicap, 4&up;, $150,000, 1 Mile Turf, Grade II, Santa Anita

Palm Beach Stakes, 3yo, $75,000, 1 1-8 Miles Turf, Grade III, Gulfstream

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