CALIFORNIA RELIEF BILL PASSED BY LEGISLATURE

California horsemen and racetracks will benefit by a combined $10 million in 1997 due to a relief bill passed by the California State Senate on Aug. 31, the last night of the legislative session. Senate Bill 2000 will provide a permanent reduction in the license fee paid on wagers in California which previously was as high as 6.55 percent of handle. The savings will be distributed with 55 percent going to purses, 40 percent to track commissions and five percent to the California breeders incentive program. In addition it contains a provision which will use $450,000 of the unclaimed scratch fund for health benefits for jockeys. Governor Pete Wilson is expected to sign the bill later this week.

GARY STEVENS TO RETURN TO HONG KONG

Jockey Gary Stevens has applied for and received a license to ride in Hong Kong this December. Stevens was a sensation in the colony when he rode there during the 1994-95 season. It is believed Stevens will only ride in Hong Kong for the month and is expected to return to ride in the U.S. afterwards.

CANADIAN RACING CHANNEL PROPOSAL TURNED DOWN

An application for an all-horse television network proposed by the Ontario Jockey Club was denied by the Canadian Radio Television and Telecommunications Commission on Sept. 4. The CRTC, Canada's federal broadcast regulator, which licensed 23 new channels on Sept. 4, said the application met all the requirements but dissension among horsemen's groups as to how revenues would be shared led to the network's denial. The Horse Network, which was to be financed by revenues from in-home wagering, also had the support of 16 Ontario racetracks. However, at CRTC hearings on the application, both harness and Thoroughbred horsemen opposed the plan. The CRTC's written denial stated 'These interveners indicated they would not participate in races to be broadcast on the proposed service. The applicant agreed that the service could not be established, as proposed, without the support of the horsemen's associations.'

David Willmot, OJC president, stated he was not surprised by the decision. 'Had the application been approved, the horsemen's objections would have been dealt with through negotiations.'

NEW VIRGINIA RACETRACK FACES THREAT

Colonial Downs, the $40-million racetrack under construction in New Kent County, Va., faces a real threat from candidates running for State Attorney General. The track is under fire from both Republican candidates for the state's highest elected legal office. State Senator Kenneth W. Stolle has introduced bills for the past two years trying to outlaw off-track betting. Stolle's challenger in the upcoming election, Mark L. Earley, stated he plans to introduce a bill that would repeal parimutuel wagering in the state. It is believed that Earley is responding to a statement made last week by Colonial Downs partner Jeffrey Jacobs who said the track could only succeed if it had 12, not six, off-track betting parlors and slot machines. Earley contents slots and additional OTB parlors in the state were not what voters had in mind when they approved a referendum eight years ago that opened the door for parimutuel racing and led to plans for Colonial.

If Earley wins and has any success with the bill, Virginia would become the second state threatened with anti-parimutuel wagering sentiment. A move to ban parimutuel wagering in Arkansas is also underway.

KENTUCKY HORSE PARK MAY LOSE CALUMET TROPHY COLLECTION

The Kentucky Horse Park may lose the Calumet trophy exhibit, a prized collection of more than 500 gold and silver pieces that has been on loan to the Lexington, Ky., park for the past 14 years. The collection, which features more than 50 years worth of history from the famed farm that won eight Kentucky Derbies and two Triple Crowns, may be sold to help satisfy debts of the descendants of the late Warren Wright Jr., onetime heir to Calumet. The Calumet Collection is believed to be the largest private collection of gold and silver trophies in the world and was appraised last year by Sotheby's for $1. 2 million.

Horse Park officials thought they had until next June, when the current loan agreement expires to worry about the collection's fate. However attorneys have been called to appear before U.S. Bankruptcy Court for a meeting Sept. 10 to begin sorting out how the collection should be sold.

Sarah Hernandez, an attorney for the state who will be representing the Horse Park was quoted in the Lexington Herald-Leader newspaper as stating 'The trophies will be sold. But whether they will be sold publicly, privately, piece by piece or as one unit is a question for the court to decide.'

COCA-COLA SALUTES KEENELAND'S 60TH ANNIVERSARY

Coca-Cola is marking Keeneland Race Course's 60th anniversary with a special commemorative bottle and carton. The soft-drink company will sell 12-ounce bottles featuring Keeneland's logo of a horse and jockey. The carton will also give a brief history of the Lexington, Ky., racetrack which ran its first race Oct. 15, 1936. Coke will distribute 5,000 cases of the Keeneland bottles, the equivalent of 20, 0000 cartons or 120,000 bottles, in Fayette and 15 surrounding counties.

According to Jim Williams, Keeneland's publicity director, Coke proposed the idea to the track, which agreed to let Coke use its logo in exchange for free publicity. 'We get to promote ourselves in supermarkets across Central Kentucky,' Williams said.

BARN FIRES AT PHILADELPHIA PARK CAUSE NO INJURIES

Three early morning fires in the stable area at Philadelphia Park resulted in no injuries to humans or horses. Two small fires in separate barns were quickly extinguished by track security and the third fire was cleared by security and the Bensalem Fire Department. The fires are suspicious in nature and are under investigation.

The fires were reported at 1:45 a.m. Thirty-five horses were evacuated and relocated. A possible suspect was detained by local fire officials on the scene who are confident the incident will be resolved.

CIGAR PRESENTED WITH A KEY TO SARATOGA SPRINGS, WHICH HE PROMPTLY ATE

Champion racehorse Cigar was recently presented with a key to the city of Saratoga Springs by Mayor J. Michael O'Connell, which he proceeded to nibble on. The key, a cookie made of oats, flour, peanut butter and honey was given to Cigar at Saratoga Racetrack following his public workout on Friday, Aug. 31. Thousands of fans cheered as track announcer Tom Durkin read a letter from New York Governor George Pataki saluting Cigar. The event was part of Saratoga's 'Salute to Cigar' which was attended not only by the four- legged guest of honor, but by his trainer Bill Mott and jockey Jerry Bailey.

'It was amazing how many people were out there,' said Mott. 'It made me feel pretty darn good. Maybe something like this has happened before but not that I've ever seen. We've gotten so many cards and letters from people (in the Saratoga area) requesting him to appear, so we agreed to it.'

Cigar's next start will be the Sept. 14 Woodward Stakes at Belmont Park.

RACING ON THE AIR

Sept. 5 'Racehorse Digest' 2:30-3:00 a.m. ESPN
Sept. 7 'Racehorse Digest' 6:00-6:30 a.m. ESPN
Sept. 14 Woodward Stakes and Man o' War Stakes, Belmont, 4:00-5:00 p.m. ESPN
Sept. 15 Woodbine Million, Woodbine, Futurity and Matron Stakes, Belmont, 4:00-5:30 p.m. ESPN

RACING TO HISTORY

Sept. 7, 1970 Bill Shoemaker surpassed John Longden's record of 6, 032 wins when he piloted Dares J to victory at Del Mar Racetrack and became the world's winningest jockey.

Sept. 8, 1990: Bill Shoemaker scored his first stakes victory as a trainer when he sent a 5-year-old mare, Baldomero (IRE), to victory in the Osunitas Handicap at Del Mar.

Sept. 11, 1976: In the third race at Latonia, jockey John Oldham and his wife, Suzanne Picou, became the first husband and wife riding team to compete in a parimutuel race together. Oldham finished second aboard Harvey's Hope and Picou rode My Girl Carla to an 11th- place finish.

Sept. 11, 1982: Jockey Earlie Fires had his 3,000th career win, aboard Volga Ace, in the fourth race at Arlington Park.

Sept. 12, 1970: Nijinsky II won the St. Leger Stakes and became the 15th winner of England's triple crown. He is the last horse to have won the English triple.

Sept. 12, 1973: Fully recovered from a virus that had beset him at Saratoga, Secretariat worked five furlongs in :57 as his last preparation for the Marlboro Cup Invitational Handicap.

Sept. 13, 1974: D. Wayne Lukas won his first Thoroughbred stakes victory, saddling his own 3-year-old colt, Harbor Hauler, in the second division of the Foothill Stakes at Pomona Race Track to earn $6,312.

Sept. 13, 1989: Jockey Pat Day won eight of the day's nine races at Arlington International Racecourse. In his only loss, Day finished second on Wayne's by George.

Sept. 14, 1853: West Australian won the St. Leger Stakes by three lengths and became England's first Triple Crown winner.

Sept. 15, 1973: Secretariat won the Marlboro Cup Invitational Handicap in the then-world record time of 1:45 2-5 for 1 1-8 miles. He defeated his stablemate, Riva Ridge, by 3 1-2 lengths. The winner's share of the purse, $150,000, made Secretariat a millionaire.

Sept. 15, 1991: Farma Way's second-place finish in the Woodward Stakes gave him 47 points, enough to win the inaugural American Championship Racing Series' $750,000 first-place bonus money.

Sept. 16, 1972: Sent off at odds of 1-5, Secretariat won the Futurity Stakes at Belmont Park by 1 3-4 lengths, creating a minus show pool at the track of $4,985.

Sept. 16, 1991: Jockey Jose Santos won his 2,000th career victory, aboard Sunny Sara at Belmont Park.

Belmont Breeders' Cup Handicap, 3&up;, $200,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Grade III, Belmont
The Belmont B.C. Handicap is an early prep for the Breeders' Cup Mile. Da Hoss won stakes races at Saratoga and Penn National this year. The Vid is a multiple graded stakes winner and has won four races in a row dating back to last year's Breeders' Cup Mile, where he was 12th. Kiri's Clown has been able to carry his speed to Grade I victories in the past.

San Francisco Handicap, 3&up;, $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Bay Meadows
The San Francisco Handicap is for West Coast Breeders' Cup Mile contenders. Petit Poucet (GB) was narrowly beaten in the Grade I Early Times Turf Classic in May at Churchill Downs. Megan's Interco won the Wickerr Handicap at Del Mar last time out. Time Star, winner of the 1994 Group 1 Italian Derby, won the Grade II Golden Gate Handicap in June.

Canadian Derby, 3yo, $100,000, 1 3-8 Miles, Grade IIC, Northlands Park

Judy's Red Shoes Handicap, 3yo fillies, $100,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Calder

Manalapan Stakes, 3yo, $100,000, 1 1-8 Miles Turf, Calder

Florida Stallion Stakes, Susan's Girl Division, 2yo fillies, $125,000, 7 Furlongs, Calder

Florida Stallion Stakes, Affirmed Division, 2yo, $125,000, 7 Furlongs, Calder

Arlington Matron Stakes, 3&up; (f&m;), $150,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade III, Arlington

Kentucky Cup Classic Preview, 3&up;, $100,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Turfway

Palomar Handicap, 3&up; (f&m;), $125,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Grade II, Del Mar

Victoriana Stakes, 3&up; (f&m;), $75,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Grade IIIC, Woodbine

Del Mar Breeders' Cup Handicap, 3&up;, $200,000, 1 Mile, Grade II, Del Mar
The Del Mar B.C. Handicap features Breeders' Cup Classic hopefuls. Alphabet Soup is a multiple graded stakes winner this year and is making his second start off a layoff after winning the Grade III Pat O'Brien Handicap at Del Mar. Dramtic Gold pressed a rapid pace and tired badly in the Grade I Pacific Classic after a second-place finish to Cigar in the Arlington Citation Challenge. Savinio won the Grade III San Diego Handicap earlier in the Del Mar meeting.

Gazelle Stakes, 3yo fillies, $200,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade I, Belmont
The Gazelle will be a major factor in deciding the wide open race for champion three-year-old filly honors. My Flag has Grade I wins this year in the Ashland Stakes and Coaching Club American Oaks and won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies last year at Belmont. Yanks Music beat My Flag in the Grade I Alabama Stakes at Saratoga and earlier won the Grade I Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont. Escena has had seconditis in several Grade I stakes this year; the Kentucky Oaks, Mother Goose Stakes and Alabama Stakes.

B.C. Oaks, 3yo fillies, $100,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Hastings

Jockey Club Handicap, 3&up;, $100,000, 1 3-8 Miles Turf, Grade IIC, Woodbine

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