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

WORLD CHAMPION CIGAR TO RETURN HOME SUNDAY
Dubai World Cup winner Cigar will be back on U.S. soil Sunday, March 31. He is expected to arrive in New York at JFK International Airport at approximately 3:30 p.m. Cigar will then be vanned to Belmont Park's quarantine facility and, per U.S. Department of Agriculture requirements, he will remain there until a blood sample from him has been tested and cleared. The champion is expected to be in his own stall at Belmont Park on Tuesday, April 2.

U.S. WAGERING ON DUBAI WORLD CUP EXCEEDS $1.6 MILLION
American racing fans wagered $1,658,847 on the inaugural Dubai World Cup. Despite the early post time, 10:00 a.m. Eastern, fans still showed their support for the 1995 Horse of the Year. In California, 1, 000 loyal fans trekked to Santa Anita Park for the 7:00 a.m. post. In Florida, 1,208 fans watched Cigar's triumph, while nearly 2,000 Texans watched the race from the tracks offering the simulcast. At Suffolk Downs in E. Boston, Mass., 4,642 patrons were in attendance where the track held a special live morning race program following the World Cup simulcast in that state.

HALL OF FAME NOMINEES ANNOUNCED
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame announced the 15 nominees to the Hall of Fame. Three candidates in five divisions were nominated. The nominees in the jockey category are Don Brumfield, Gary Stevens and Jacinto Vasquez. Exceller, Riva Ridge and Sunday Silence were nominated in the Modern Male horse category. The nominees in the Modern Female horse division are Bold 'N Determined, Bowl of Flowers and Go for Wand. Trainers James P. Conway, Willard Proctor and Robert L. Wheeler were selected for consideration. In the Horses of Yesteryear category Borrow, Granville and Sun Beau were nominated.

Voting will be conducted by a panel of 100 racing authorities. Results of the balloting will be announced during Kentucky Derby week, May 1-4. The winners in each category will be inducted into the Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the Saratoga Springs, N.Y. museum on August 5.

LESTER PIGGOTT TO RIDE AGAIN
Lester Piggott will ride in 1996 it was recently announced. Piggott, age 60, has agreed to ride for Newmarket, England-based trainer David Loder on a limited basis, even though the English jockey announced his retirement last September. Piggott rode one of Loder's colts in a work Tuesday morning. Piggott was Britain's 11-time champion jockey.

HORSE STAR CARDS INTRODUCES 10-CARD CIGAR SET
Horse Star Cards, Inc. of Buckner, Ky., has unveiled its latest set of trading cards, which features 1995 Horse of the Year Cigar. The 10 trading cards include descriptions of Cigar's 10 victories in 1995, written by turf writer Jim Bolus. The cards are sponsored by 'Daily Racing Form' and serve as an update to the '100 Years of Racing' Trading Card Collection. The Cigar cards are available in retail outlets, racetrack gift shops and sports card hobby shops for $2. Horse Star Cards and 'Daily Racing Form' produced a similar 10-card set for the 1994 Horse of the Year Holy Bull.

SCREEN STARS LINE UP TO FOR TURF STARS
The pre-race hype for Turfway Park's Jim Beam Stakes for three-year- olds this Saturday includes a luncheon on Friday, March 29 that will feature Cheryl Ladd, John Forsythe, Linda Evans, Catherine Oxenberg, Chuck Norris, Kenny Rogers, David Caruso, Harry Hamlin, Larry King and Connie Stevens. The celebrities are also slated to attend the President's Cup Dinner that evening. The luncheon will be held at the Cincinnatian Hotel in Cincinnati; the dinner, at the Florence, Ky. , track's Homestretch Room.

MAGAZINE SPONSORS 'WIN A RACEHORSE' CONTEST
'The World of Hibernia' magazine, a quarterly aimed at people of Irish descent, will celebrate its one-year anniversary by awarding an Irish racehorse to a lucky contestant in the magazine's 'Win a Racehorse Promotion.' The winner will own the racehorse for two years and receive all purse money earned by the horse. Training expenses and stable fees will be paid by the magazine. The horse is currently in training in Ireland with Jim Bolger, one of Ireland's top trainers. The prize also includes a four-day trip to Ireland on Aer Lingus to watch the horse in its first race. To enter, simply send your name, address and a daytime telephone number to: 'The World of Hibernia' Win a Racehorse Promotion, 305 Madison Avenue, Suite 411, New York, N.Y. 10165. Entrants must be 18 or older. No purchase is necessary. Entries must be received by Dec. 31, 1996. The drawing will be held on or about Jan. 10, 1997.

SALE OF DEBARTOLO MALLS TO HAVE NO IMPACT ON THE RACETRACKS
The recent sale of the DeBartolo Realty Corp. to Simon Property Group for a reported $3 billion does not include the three DeBartolo- owned racetracks, according to a report by Bloomberg Business News. The three racetracks, Thistledown in Randall, OH., Remington Park, Oklahoma City, Okla., and Louisiana Downs, Bossier City, La., will not be affected by the sale as they are a privately-held entity, separate from the publicly-traded DeBartolo Realty. The acquisition of DeBartolo by Simon will create a new organization, Simon DeBartolo Group. The company's portfolio will include 111 regional shopping malls, 66 shopping centers and six specialty retail centers, making it North America's largest real estate company with seven percent of the U.S. shopping center market.

KING RANCH TO HOST EVENT IN HONOR OF ASSAULT
The King Ranch will host a commemorative gala honoring Assault's 50th anniversary of his Triple Crown victory on Kentucky Derby Day May 4 at the Henrietta Memorial Center in Kingsville, Texas. The event will feature the opening of a new historical exhibit saluting Assault's championship campaign. A traditional Kentucky Derby Day theme will prevail. The event will offer mock parimutuel wagering on this year's Derby to be shown via television, live jazz music, casino- type gaming, a ladies' Derby hat contest and door prizes. In addition, Assault's jockey, Warren Mehrtens will speak to guests. Kentucky Derby attire is optional. Attendance at the event will be limited to 400. Tickets are $30 per person or $50 per couple. Proceeds from the event will benefit the downtown Kingsville Restoration and Beautification Project.

The King Ranch, a National Historic Landmark, was founded in 1853 by Richard King and is recognized as the birthplace of the American ranching industry. It is one of the largest privately-held agricultural properties in the U.S. with interests in agribusiness and energy.

GRAYSON-JOCKEY CLUB ESTABLISHES MEMORIAL FUND FOR LATE VETERINARIAN
The Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation has established a memorial fund in honor of Dr. DeWitt Owen, a distinguished veterinarian who served as chairman of the Foundation's Veterinary Advisory Committee until his death from cancer in early February.

'After Dr. Owen's death, the Foundation received numerous donations in his memory,' said Edward L. Bowen, president of the Foundation. 'I believe many of Dr. Owen's friends and associates will be pleased to have an avenue of periodic reinstatement and remembrance of the respect he garnered in the veterinary profession and horse industry. '

The DeWitt Owen Memorial Fund will be available for contributions at any time and its proceeds will be used annually to supplement the Foundation's funding of research projects. Contributions may be made to the DeWitt Owen Memorial Fund, c-o Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, 821 Corporate Dr., Lexington, KY 40503.

RACING ON THE AIR (all times Eastern)
March 29 'Racehorse Digest' (Dubai World Cup repeat) 3:30-4:00 a.m., ESPN
March 30 'Racehorse Digest' 6:00-6:30 a.m., ESPN
March 30 Jim Beam Stakes, Turfway, 6:00-7:00 p.m., ESPN
March 30 San Bernardino H'cap, Santa Anita, 6:30-7:00 p.m., Prime Sports
March 31 '2-Day at the Races' 6:30-7:00 p.m., ESPN2
April 3 'Racehorse Digest' 4:30-5:00 p.m., ESPN
April 4 'Racehorse Digest' 2:30-3:00 a.m., ESPN
April 4 'Racehorse Digest' 1:00-1:30 p.m., ESPN

RACING TO HISTORY
March 29, 1917: The great Man o' War was foaled at Nursery Stud, Lexington, Ky.

March 29, 1969: Diane Crump became the first female jockey to win a stakes race when she took the Spring Fiesta Cup at the Fair Grounds aboard Easy Lime.

March 29, 1988: Jockey Pat Day won his 4,000th victory, aboard Ann's Bid, in the ninth race at Oaklawn Park.

March 30, 1970: Secretariat was foaled at The Meadow, Doswell, Va.

March 30, 1985: Laffit Pincay Jr. became the second jockey in history to surpass John Longden's record of 6,032 victories.

April 1, 1940: New York legalized parimutuel wagering and outlawed book-makers at the state's racetracks.

April 2, 1938: Triple Crown winner Whirlaway was foaled at Calumet Farm, Lexington, Ky.

April 3, 1962: At the age of 46, jockey Eddie Arcaro announced his retirement. He retired with 4,779 victories, including two Triple Crowns, won with Whirlaway and Citation.

April 6, 1954: Bold Ruler, Horse of the Year in 1957 and Round Table, Horse of the Year in 1958, were foaled at Claiborne Farm, Paris, Ky.

April 7, 1973: In his second start as a three-year-old, Secretariat won the Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct as the 1-10 favorite. His time of 1:33 2-5 for the mile equalled the track record for that distance.

April 7, 1979: Jockey Steve Cauthen made his first race in England a winning one, with Marquee Universal (IRE), at Salisbury.

WEEKEND STAKES
SATURDAY
JIM BEAM STAKES DAY AT TURFWAY PARK
Fairway Fun Stakes, 4&up; (f&m;), $75,000, 1 1-16 Miles
Rushaway Stakes, 3yo, $75,000, 1 1-16 Miles
Queen Breeders' Cup, 4&up; (f&m;), $100,000, 6 Furlongs
Bourbonette Stakes, 3yo fillies, $100,000, 1 Mile
Jim Beam Stakes, 3yo, $600,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade II
Favored Victory Speech has never been worse than third in eight career starts and was third in his last race, the Grade II Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park. Before that were three straight allowance wins. Roar had been brought along slowly but Shug McGaughey has him ready to go, with two consecutive wins, including the Grade III Swale Stakes at Gulfstream Park March 16. D. Wayne Lukas thought so much of his $325,000 yearling purchase Dr. Caton that he put him in the Foster City Stakes at Bay Meadows in only his second race. Although he remained a maiden with a good third- place finish to highly-regarded Semoran, he broke his maiden by 6 1-2 on March 17. Influence Peddler has made four starts in an up-and- down career. He lost by 7 1-2, won by 10, lost by 15 1-4 and won by 12 1-2.

Others entered are: Ensign Ray, last in the Florida Derby but he had two wins and three seconds in his previous five starts; Best Secret, who has already made 16 starts and lost his last eight; Blushing Jim, last on the turf in the Grade III Palm Beach Stakes and 18 1-2 lengths behind Victory Speech before that; Apak, fourth in the John Battaglia Memorial; maiden winner Heza Gone West; and Connecting Terms, second in his last three starts.

All-American Handicap, 3&up;, $100,000, 1 1-4 Miles Turf, Grade III, Golden Gate
Via Lombardia (IRE) is making his first start of 1996. He won the Grade III Cinema Handicap at Hollywood Park last year. Bluegrass Prince (IRE) was a Group 3 winner in England in 1994 but has only one win in 12 U.S. tries. He won this race last year. Italian Group 3 winner Inner City (IRE) took the Grade III Tanforan Handicap at Bay Meadows in his last start. He was last the race before that, the Grade II San Gabriel Handicap at Santa Anita. Others entered are: Opera Score, Tzar Rodney (FR), Corslew, Sneakin Jake and Joy of Glory.

Gotham Stakes, 3yo, $200,000, 1 Mile, Grade II, Aqueduct
Trainer Angel Cordero Jr. saddles Feather Box, who had been running against the best of his division last year. Undefeated Romano Gucci and Tiger Talk are also entered as is Appealing Skier, who defeated champion Unbridled's Song in the Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

San Bernardino Handicap, 4&up;, $150,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade II, Santa Anita
Del Mar Dennis tries to win the San Bernanrdino for the third straight year. He was sixth in the Grade III New Orleans Handicap last out and was an allowance winner Feb. 7 at Santa Anita. Lykatill Hil was second to Dare and Go in the Wicked North Stakes and was a badly beaten seventh to Alphabet Soup in the Grade II San Pasqual. He ended last year with two straight wins. Just Java has made two starts since coming over from France, winning an allowance race and running third in the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap, although he was beaten seven lengths. Regal Rowdy and Nancys French Fry were 1-2 in the San Marino Handicap, Regal Rowdy was 8 1-2 lengths better that day. College Town has won four of 32.

Hialeah Breeders' Cup Stakes, 3&up; (f&m;), $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Hialeah
Private Terms Stakes, 3yo, $50,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Laurel
Rainbow Stakes, 3yo (c&g;), $50,000, 6 Furlongs, Oaklawn

SUNDAY
Bougainvillea Handicap, 3&up;, $100,000, 1 1-8 Miles Turf, Grade III, Hialeah
Celtic Arms (FR), winner of the March 9 Grade II Pan American Handicap at Gulfstream Park over Broadway Flyer, is the favorite. Signal Tap, who hasn't run since the Breeders' Cup Turf, is a possible starter. He hasn't been worse than third in his five career turf starts. He was third behind Millkom's huge win in the Grade I Man o' War at Belmont last year.

El Rincon Handicap, 4&up;, $125,000, 1 Mile Turf, Grade II, Santa Anita

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