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

JOCKEYS GUILD TO FORM LABOR UNION
The Jockeys Guild will form a national labor union it was announced at a special membership meeting of the Guild held in Hollywood, Fla. Some 400 members overwhelmingly voted either in person or by proxy in support of the unionization. According to John Giovanni, the Guild's national manager, the Guild seeks to 'organize jockeys throughout the United States of America into a national labor organization for their mutual betterment, protection and advancement and to regulate and improve the working conditions, safety, compensation and health insurance available to all jockeys.'

'GAMBLIN ROSE' HAMBURGER TO APPEAR ON LETTERMAN SHOW
'Gamblin' Rose' Hamburger, the 105-year-old racing fan and handicapper for the 'New York Post' and 'Daily Racing Form,' is scheduled to appear on 'The Late Show with David Letterman' on Tuesday, March 26. Hamburger has been a racing fan for the past 86 years and saw 73 consecutive runnings of the Preakness Stakes before moving from Baltimore to New York.

DUBAI WORLD CUP UPDATE
Two local entrants for the $4 million Dubai World Cup, to be run March 27 at Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in Dubai, ran Sunday, March 10 at Nad Al Sheba. Cezanne (GB) finished second by five lengths in the Maktoum al Maktoum Challenge and Annus Mirabilis (FR) was fourth in the Keeneland Mile, beaten 12 lengths. Another Dubai entrant, Moonshell (IRE), did not take to the sand surface and is doubtful for the World Cup. She may be replaced by Tamayaz, who defeated Cezanne (GB). Local hero Halling crushed four opponents March 3 at Nad Al Sheba under 133 pounds. He is now four-for-four at the track.

Australia's 1995 Horse of the Year, Jeune (GB), owned by Sheikh Hamdan al Maktoum, has been withdrawn after a 16th-place finish in the March 11 Australian Cup at Flemington. The lone remaining Australian entrant, Danewin, ran the worst race of his 30-race career in a sixth-place finish in the AJC Chipping Norton Stakes March 2. He had his first work at Nad Al Sheba March 10, going out at 5:20 a.m. to experience running under the lights, which will be on for the 7 p. m. (local time) World Cup.

American hopeful Dare and Go, scratched from the March 2 Santa Anita Handicap due to an ankle injury, rolled over three rivals to win The Wicked North Handicap by 3 1-2 lengths at Santa Anita, March 6. Trainer Dick Mandella has named Alex Solis to ride Dare and Go in Dubai. According to his agent, Scotty McClellan, jockey Chris McCarron will ride one of the Dubai-based horses while English champion Frankie Dettori will be aboard Halling.

Favorite Cigar worked six furlongs in 1:16 at Gulfstream Park Wednesday in a work postponed from Monday due to an off track. Cigar is scheduled to ship to Dubai Saturday.

CORDERO TO SPEAK AT SPORTS CONFERENCE
Hall of Fame rider Angel Cordero Jr. will be one of four guest speakers on the topic of 'Spectatorship and Aggression in the Sports Arena' when the Long Island Institute of Psychoanalysis and Pyschotherapy hosts 'America At Play: An Interdisciplinary Conference on Psychoanalysis and Culture' at the Nassau County Medical Center in East Meadow, N.Y. Saturday, March 30.

Joining Cordero on the panel will be Michael Commons, a psychoanalyst at Harvard Medical School; Steve Jacobson, a sports columnist for Newsday; and John Fricke, an anchor man for NewSport.

Eddie Arcaro and 'other sports legends' will address the conference in pre-recorded videotaped remarks. The conference is designed to provide 'a pyschoanalytic look at today's athletes and spectators and the role of sports in cultural and personal change.'

Among the other prominent speakers is Dr. Gary Wadler, a sports medicine physician and recipient of the International Olympic Presidential Prize for research in drugs and sports.

RACING ON THE AIR (all times Eastern)
March 16 'Racehorse Digest' 5:00-5:30 a.m ESPN
March 16 'Racehorse Digest' 1:30-2:00 a.m. ESPN
March 16 Florida Derby, Gulfstream Park 4:30-6:00 p.m., ABC
March 17 San Felipe Stakes, Santa Anita 6:30-7:00 p.m., Prime Sports
March 17 Louisiana Derby, Fair Grounds 4:30-5:30 p.m., ESPN2
March 18 Louisiana Derby, Fair Grounds 12:00-1:00 a.m. ESPN

RACING TO HISTORY
March 14, 1973: In his final preparation for the March 17 Bay Shore Stakes, the first race of his three-year-old season, Secretariat worked three furlongs in a blistering :32 3-5.

March 14, 1976: Bill Shoemaker won his 7,000th career victory, aboard Charlie Whittingham-trained Royal Derby II, in the fifth race at Santa Anita Park.

March 14, 1987: Jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. became the first rider in the history of Santa Anita Park to win seven races in a single afternoon. In his only loss of the day, Pincay finished third aboard Bob Back in the eighth race.

March 17, 1973: In his three-year-old debut, Secretariat won the Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct by 4 1-2-lengths.

March 19, 1942: The Thoroughbred Racing Associations of the United States was formed, with John C. Clark as president.

March 19, 1949: Jockey Bill Shoemaker rode his first career race at Golden Gate Fields. He finished fifth, aboard Waxahachie, in an eight-horse field.

March 20, 1932: Phar Lap, legendary champion racehorse of Australia, won his only start in North America, the Agua Caliente Handicap at Agua Caliente Racecourse in Mexico. His time for the 1 1-4-mile race was 2:02 4-5, a track record. The six-year-old Phar Lap died one month later and the cause of his death remains a mystery. During his four years of racing in Australia, Phar Lap won 36 of 50 starts.

March 20, 1969: Less than two months after she became the first woman to ride in a parimutuel race in America, Diane Crump rode her first winner at Gulfstream Park.

March 23, 1927: Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox was foaled at Claiborne Farm, Paris, Ky. Gallant Fox is the only Triple Crown winner to sire a Triple Crown winner, Omaha, who won the three races in 1935.

March 24, 1932: Triple Crown winner Omaha was foaled at Claiborne Farm, Paris, Ky. Omaha is the only Triple Crown winner sired by a Triple Crown winner, Gallant Fox, victorious in the 19230 Triple Crown.

March 24, 1940: Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year Count Fleet was foaled at Stoner Creek Stud, Paris, Ky.

March 24, 1941: Upset, the only horse ever to defeat Man o' War, died at age 24.

WEEKEND STAKES
SATURDAY
FLORIDA DERBY DAY AT GULFSTREAM PARK
Florida Derby, 3yo, $500,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade I (VISA series race)
Cobra King, winner of five of seven career starts, is riding a three- race winning streak. He won his only 1996 start, the Grade III Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream, on Jan. 20. His main competition is expected to come from 1995 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Unbridled's Song, who has disappointed this year with two seconds at Gulfstream in two tries. Both of his conquerors are in the Florida Derby field, Built for Pleasure, the 143-1 winner of the Feb. 24 Grade II Fountain of Youth Stakes, and Appealing Skier, who took the Feb. 4 Grade II Hutcheson Stakes. Others include: Louis Quatorze, who has avoided stakes company this year, winning two Gulfstream allowance races; Skip Away, a 12-length winner in allowance company his last start; Editor's Note, a good second to Cobra King in the Holy Bull who didn't show much in a fifth-place finish in the Fountain of Youth; Ensign Ray, winner of the Lord Avie Stakes on the turf and an allowance winner on the dirt; and Tour's Big Red, ninth in the Lord Avie.

Swale Stakes, 3yo, $75,000, 7 Furlongs, Grade III, Gulfstream (VISA series race)
A field of six, including highly regarded Roar, are scheduled to start. Roar won his last start, a Gulfstream allowance race, by 8 1-2 lengths. He has been running against better and may be the one to watch. Canadian Two-Year-old champion Gomtuu has not found the winner's circle in three U.S. starts this year. His last start was a sixth-place finish, beaten only 2 1-2 lengths, in the Grade II Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream, Feb. 24. Others include allowance winners Another Miracle, Cliveden Hall, Dixie Connection and Heckofaralph.

Creme Fraiche Handicap, 3&up;, $75,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Grade III, Gulfstream

Buckram Oak Handicap, 3&up; (f&m;), $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Grade III, Gulfstream

Fort Lauderdale Handicap, 3&up;, $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Grade III, Gulfstream

Baldwin Stakes, 3yo, $100,000, 6 1-2 Furlongs Turf, Grade III, Santa Anita

Fair Grounds Oaks, 3yo fillies, $125,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Grade III, Fair Grounds

John Battaglia Memorial Stakes, 3yo, $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Turfway

Razorback Handicap, 4&up;, $150,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Grade II, Oaklawn

Silver Bullet Centennial Handicap, 4&up;, $75,000, 7 Furlongs, Remington

Toboggan Handicap, 3&up;, $75,000, 7 Furlongs, Grade III, Aqueduct

SUNDAY
San Felipe Stakes, 3yo, $250,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Grade II, Santa Anita (VISA series race)
Six are scheduled to run, led by Prince of Thieves, winner of the Santa Catalina Stakes, Feb. 4. He is two for three in his brief career. Budroyale has three wins and a second in four tries with three straight victories. He started his career in a $32,000 maiden claiming race and was a three-length winner of a Santa Anita allowance race Feb. 16. Odyle was fifth in the Santa Catalina but bounced back strongly with an eight-length win in his last start, finally breaking his maiden after five unsuccessful attempts. He was second in the Grade I Hollywood Futurity (beaten seven lengths). Ready to Order was third in the Grade III San Vicente to Afleetaffair and Honour and Glory in his first race of 1996. He took the California Breeders' Champion Stakes at Santa Anita last year, beating Cavonnier, and was second to Cavonnier in the Budweiser California Cup Juvenile Stakes and the California Stallion Stakes in his two previous races. Cavonnier was fifth in the Grade II San rafael Stakes to Honour and Glory on Marc 2 and won the Grade III El Camino Real Derby at Bay Meadows, Jan. 20. Ayrton S has been overmatched in his last two starts against stakes company.

Cicada Stakes, 3yo fillies, $75,000, 7 Furlongs, Grade III, Aqueduct

Louisiana Derby, 3yo, $350,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Grade III, Fair Grounds (VISA series race)

Wintergreen Stakes, 4&up; (f&m;), $50,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Turfway

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