BREEDERS' CUP TO RETURN TO CHURCHILL IN 1998?

According to an article in the Sept. 19 Louisville (Ky.) Courier- Journal newspaper, Breeders' Cup officials have tentatively selected Churchill Downs as the 1998 site of racing's $11-million day. The selection is subject to approval of the Breeders' Cup executive committee, which will meet Dec. 4 to make a final decision. According to Breeders' Cup Executive Director D.G. Van Clief, the committee has never rejected the management staff's site recommendation. Churchill has hosted the Cup three times, resulting in three of the four largest on-site crowds for the races.

ANTI-GAMBLING AMENDMENT DROPPED FROM ARKANSAS BALLOT

The Arkansas Supreme Court Wednesday dropped from the November ballot an amendment that would have eliminated gambling of every type, including horse racing. The court released the following statement: 'It was clear to all concerned that the proposal, Amendment Six, should be removed from the ballot.'

The Committee Against the Loss of Arkansas Jobs, a group comprised primarily of Oaklawn Park, the Hot Springs racetrack, and Hot Springs leaders, had filed suit against the Amendment, as had Southland Greyhound Park in West Memphis. 'The jobs and livelihood of 4,000 individuals tied to the racing industry at Oaklawn were at stake,' stated Oaklawn Park General Manager Eric Jackson. 'We owed it to Oaklawn, its people and tradition, as well as to the entire racing industry. Now that this part of the struggle is behind us, we will continue to strive for Amendment Four, our own amendment, which gives the people of Hot Springs the choice to accept casino gaming in our community. This is an economic issue that's centered around jobs, education, law enforcement and the future of racing in our area.'

ENGLAND SCRUTINIZES WHIP RULE

The English Jockey Club will review its rule regarding the use of the whip following widespread criticism of the suspension of top jockeys Frankie Dettori and Pat Eddery following their rides in Saturday's Pertemps St. Leger at Doncaster. Dettori was suspended for four days for having hit his mount, Shantou, with unreasonable force and frequency, while Eddery was suspended for two days for hitting runner-up, Dushyantor, with unreasonable frequency. Both jockeys were in a fierce battle to the wire. Dettori could risk a hearing before the disciplinary committee, should he get one more offense before May.

The rule as it stands now limits a jockey's use of the whip during a race. If a jockey uses the whip more than six times, the racecourse stewards are required to hold an inquiry into the incident.

BUYER DEFAULTS ON KEENELAND JULY SALE PURCHASES

Japanese businessman Fusao Sekiguchi defaulted on more than $5.75 million in purchases he made at the Keeneland July selected yearling sale, including $1.7 million for the sale topper. The default is believed to be the largest in Thoroughbred auction history. Keeneland's approximate commission on gross sales at the July sale, $2.92 million, or five percent of gross receipts of $58.4 million, is roughly half the amount of Sekiguchi's debt. All of the consignors who sold horses to Sekiguchi have been paid in full by Keeneland at the final bid price.

According to John Ward, the agent who purchased the horses on Sekiguchi's account, 'Mr. Sekiguchi has decided to liquidate his investment in the horses.' This statement was contradicted in part by Stan Jones, Keeneland's vice president and treasurer who said the horses were 'repossessed' by Keeneland for default of payment.

Sekiguchi, who once said horse racing brings 'romance and dreams to men' was deposed from his post as president and chief executive officer of Meitic Corporation, a company he founded, shortly after he returned to Japan after the July sale.

Sekiguchi's default brings down several financial indices at the sale if deducted from the totals initially reported by Keeneland. Adjusted gross was up 12.4 percent, compared to 25.8 percent when Sekiguchi's purchases were included. Adjusted average price is now $326,562 or 32.2 percent over 1995 sales average, as compared to an unadjusted increase of 41.6 percent.

JOCKEY DOOCY TEAMS UP WITH PEPSI

Jockey Tim Doocy and Pepsi Cola have entered into a partnership that is believed to be the first of its kind in Thoroughbred racing. Throughout the fall Thoroughbred meet at Oklahoma City's Remington Park racetrack, Doocy will act as a paid Pepsi spokesman. Every time Doocy wins a race, he will autograph a Pepsi cap and other Pepsi merchandise for fans. He will also wear sponsorship logos on his pants; in morning workouts, Doocy will also sport a Pepsi-logo protective vest and Pepsi helmet cover.

RIVER DOWNS OPENS RACEBOOK

River Downs, the Cincinnati, Ohio racetrack, opens its new racebook today, made possible by legislation passed earlier this year permitting full-card interstate simulcasting. Opening day will feature a mix of Thoroughbred and harness racing offering 16 simulcast signals, a state-of-the-art television system with more than 100 40-inch high resolution TVs, free admission, box seating and parking.

MARATHON KEENELAND SALE NEARS THE WIRE

As the 11-day Keeneland September Yearling Sale enters its final session today, the marathon auction continues to post increases over last year's sale. Through Wednesday, Keeneland reported 2,748 yearlings sold for a gross of $135,885,900, a record. The average price is $49,449. Last year, 2,958 horses were sold for a total of $130,121,300, an average of $43,990.

RACING MEMORABILIA AUCTION BENEFITING RETIRED HORSES YIELDS $8,000

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation's (TRF) annual auction of racing memorabilia was held Saturday, Sept. 14 at Belmont Park. 'We raised more than $8,000, and we had fun doing it,' said TRF Director Elinor Penna. 'The Foundation rescues and provides lifetime care for Thoroughbreds when they are no longer able to run and that's a cause near to racing's heart.'

The sale topper was an oil painting of jockey Braulio Baeza, which was purchased for $1,000. Other notable items included several pieces of Cigar memorabilia, items donated by trainer D. Wayne Lukas and horseshoes worn by My Flag and Java Gold.

The TRF stables horses at a farm adjacent to the Wallkill, N.Y. State Correctional Facility, at which they are cared for by prisoners in a state-accredited vocational training program developed by the TRF. In 1994, the Foundation inaugurated a second retirement farm at the Charles H. Hickey Jr. School in Baltimore, Md., a juvenile detention home. The Hickey School has had some notable successes, with several students attending college.

PHILADELPHIA PARK HONORS LOCAL COMMUNITIES

Reaching out to area communities, Philadelphia Park, Bensalem, Pa., is offering the first of its local days on Saturday, Oct. 6. The track will name its feature race the Manayunk Stakes, in honor of the community and will invite everyone from the town to spend a day at the races. Residents, businesses and organizations from Manayunk are invited to the track to participate in the running of its very own race. Local businesses can set up displays at the track to promote their goods and services.

'This is just one of the steps we are taking to increase our presence throughout Philadelphia and allow local organizations an opportunity to use out venues to promote their community,' said Track President Bob Green. 'This program is still in its infancy, but I envision in the near future that Philadelphia Park will be the setting for many such days to reward local businesses and community efforts.'

EQUIBASE RELEASES BULLETIN BOARD VERSION OF 'SIMULFLASH'

Equibase Company's 'Simulflash' package, developed to give simulcast outlets the ability to produce camera-ready program pages on-site with the option of retaining control over the elements of content and layout, has now been expanded to include a full bulletin board service. The bulletin board application makes Simulflash the complete solution for easy accessibility to simulcast past performance program information by receiving sites of all sizes. The program offers information for Thoroughbred, Quarter Horse, Paints, Appaloosas, U.S. Trotting Association racing and Canadian Trotting Association racing.

In announcing the new bulletin board service, Equibase Company President Alan Marzelli stated the product offers a time- and money- saving option for simulcast outlets to enhance service to their patrons. 'Not everyone can afford or needs the sophisticated simulcast program production capabilities required by major tracks,' noted Marzelli. 'These are the people who have been telling us they want an inexpensive way of serving their customers with basic wagering information. The bulletin board enhancement to Simulflash will fill this need.'

DATES FOR EQUITANA U.S.A. 1997 ANNOUNCED

Equitana U.S.A. will return to the Kentucky Fair and Expo Center in Louisville June 19-22, 1997 it was announced by the Blenheim Group, organizers of the popular horsy trade show, which debuted in North America in July of this year. The 1997 event will feature a larger exhibit area and expanded show hours. The inaugural Equitana U.S.A. held at the Expo Center in July 1996, attracted more than 40,000 people.

JOCKEY CLUB RELEASES 1995-1996 BREEDING STATISTICS

For the first time, The Jockey Club has released North American breeding statistics relating to a current year's foal crop. Publication this week of preliminary statistics for the 1995 breeding season follows the previous week's release of 1994 breeding statistics. The Jockey Club's 1995-1996 breeding report shows 5,427 stallions covered 60,284 mares in 1995, resulting in 33,531 reported foals of 1996, with an estimated 4,100 Live Foal Reports still outstanding. The number of stallions decreased by 7.8 percent from those reported in 1994 (5,889), the second consecutive year for numbers to drop by seven percent or more. The number of mares bred declined by a marginal one percent from the 60,868 reported bred in 1994.

SPORTS SPECTACULAR AT SPORTS SPECTRUM BENEFITS SPECIAL OLYMPICS

The Churchill Downs Sports Spectrum will host the first Special Olympics Sports Spectacular on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 7:00 p.m. to benefit more than 10,000 Kentucky disabled athletes. The event will feature sports celebrities, a silent auction and simulcast racing. Sports fans can meet Bob Valvano, Winston Bennett, Wiley Brown, Scott Davenport, Mike Casey, Phil Bond, the current University of Louisville players and jockey Donna Barton. A silent auction will features autographed sports memorabilia by Troy Aikman, Ron Cooper, Denny Crum, Pat Day, Rick Pitino and Cal Ripkin and entertainment memorabilia from such stars as Tim Allen and Sharon Stone, among others.

NYNEX TO SPONSOR STUDENT ART SHOW AT RACING MUSEUM

NYNEX, the telecommunications company, will sponsor the 1997 annual student art show 'Horsing Around with the Arts' at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The NYNEX sponsorship will cover all of the costs involved in running the juried exhibit and enable the museum to offer greater prizes to the student artists. United States Saving Bonds totaling $2,275 will be awarded, ranging from $200 for Best in Show, to $50 for third-place finishers.

Students in grades six through 12 are encouraged to submit works of art with an equine theme. Media can include painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, textiles and photography. A panel of area artists judged the entries. Entry forms are available from the museum and must be returned no later than Feb. 21, 1997. For more information or to request and entry form, please call the museum at (518) 584-0400.

RACING ON THE AIR

Sept. 19 'Racehorse Digest' 2:30-3:00 a.m. ESPN
Sept. 21 'Racehorse Digest' 6:00-6:30 a.m. ESPN
Sept. 25 'Racehorse Digest' 3:30-4:00 p.m. ESPN
Sept. 26 'Racehorse Digest' 2:30-3:00 a.m. ESPN

RACING TO HISTORY

Sept. 19, 1943: Rider Eddie Arcaro returned to racing after a 12- month suspension that resulted from his attempt to injure a fellow rider in the Cowdin Stakes the previous year.

Sept. 19, 1942: Alsab, runner-up in the 1942 Kentucky Derby, beat 3- 10 favorite Whirlaway, the 1941 Triple Crown champion, by a nose in a $25,000 match race at Narragansett Park. The match was arranged after Alsab was scratched from the Narragansett Special, a race won by Whirlaway one week earlier. Narragansett's president, James Dooley, offered to contribute the track's share of the mutuel handle, plus breakage, to the Army and Navy Relief Funds, making attendance at the race a patriotic gesture. Alsab and Whirlaway met twice more that year, with Whirlaway winning the Jockey Club Gold Cup on October 3, and Alsab besting him in the New York Handicap on October 10.

Sept. 20, 1965: Jockey Jorge Velasquez made his American racing debut, riding for owner Fred W. Hooper, at Atlantic City Racecourse. He won with his first mount, aboard Keypoint, in the sixth race, at 8- 1 odds.

Sept. 20, 1976: Two-year-old Seattle Slew made his racing debut, winning a six furlong maiden race by five lengths at Belmont Park. His zesty workouts prior to the race made Seattle Slew the 2-1 favorite and he was the public's choice in both his subsequent races that year. After only three starts (including the Champagne Stakes) in the space of 27 days, Seattle Slew was voted champion two-year-old colt for 1976.

Sept. 20, 1980: Before a crowd of 23,000 spectators, 4-year-old Spectacular Bid won the Woodward Stakes in the world's richest walkover. To the surprise of trainer Bud Delp and owners Harry, Teresa and Tom Meyerhoff, 'Bid' was awarded only $73,300, which was half of the winner's share of the purse, but all that was allowable under the NYRA's rules. There had not been a walkover in a major U.S. stakes race since Coaltown won the Edward Burke Handicap on April 23, 1949.

Sept. 21, 1940: For the first time in the history of photo finishes a triple dead heat for first place was recorded. It happened at Willow's Park, Victoria, British Columbia.

Sept. 21, 1951: Jockey Eddie Delahoussaye was born in New Iberia, La.

Sept. 22, 1988: Stuart Symington Janney Jr., owner of Ruffian, died at age 81.

Sept. 24, 1921: Broadcaster and Thoroughbred owner Jim McKay was born in Philadelphia, Pa.

Sept. 25, 1866: Jerome Park, named for its founder, Leonard W. Jerome, opened in the Bronx, N.Y. Jerome, seeking to emulate the British racing system, also established the American Jockey Club, precursor to the present Jockey Club, formed in 1894.

Sept. 26, 1942: The Jockey Club stewards revoked Eddie Arcaro's license for one year after his display of 'rough riding' aboard odds- on favorite Occupation in the Cowdin Stakes on Sept. 19. In the Cowdin, Arcaro deliberately drove his horse into another, Breezing Home, knocking his jockey, Vincent Nodarse, into the infield. Nodarse and his mount had crowded Arcaro at the start of the race, almost causing him to be unseated.

Sept. 27, 1894: Aqueduct Race Track opened its doors. The building was torn down in 1955 and the new Aqueduct was reopened on September 14, 1959.

Sept. 27, 1947: Armed, then the world's leading money-winning Thoroughbred, met 1946 Kentucky Derby winner Assault in the first $100,000 winner-take-all match race, held at Belmont Park. Armed earned an easy victory over Assault, who was not in peak racing condition.

Sept. 28, 1960: Forty years after Man o' War won the Lawrence Realization Stakes by 100 lengths in the record time of 2:40 4-5, Kelso equaled his standard in the same event.

Sept. 28, 1983: Atlantic City Racecourse and The Meadowlands became the first U.S. tracks to engage in simulcasting. The previous year, Woodbine and Fort Erie in Canada had been the first to experiment with simulcasting.

Sept. 29, 1973: With Meadow Stable's Riva Ridge scratched because of rainy weather, his stablemate Secretariat was left to compete in the 1 1-2-mile Woodward Stakes at Belmont Park. Prove Out, trained by Allen Jerkens, beat the 3-10 favorite Secretariat, who faded after 1 1-4 miles to finish second by 4 1-2 lengths. Another Jerkens trainee, Onion, had defeated Secretariat in the Whitney Stakes on Aug. 4 at Saratoga.

Sept. 30, 1898: Jockey Tod Sloan, whose life was the basis for 'Yankee Doodle Dandy,' rode five consecutive winners at England's Newmarket racecourse.

Sept. 30, 1969: Jockey Kathy Kusner won her first career race, at Pocono Downs. Kusner, a former rider with the U.S. Equestrian Team, had sued to obtain a jockey's license in Maryland in 1968. She won her case but was subsequently sidelined by a broken leg suffered in a training accident.

Sept. 30, 1981: Jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. won his 5,000th career race.

Sept. 31, 1990: Bill Shoemaker had his first graded stakes win as a trainer when Baldomero (IRE) won the Grade III Golden Harvest Handicap at Louisiana Downs.

Kentucky Cup Juvenile Fillies, 2yo fillies, $100,000, 1 Mile, Turfway

Kentucky Cup Juvenile, 2yo, $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Grade III, Turfway
The Kentucky Cup Juvenile features Boston Harbor as he tries to move closer to winning a $1 million bonus for sweeping the Bashford Manor Stakes, Ellis Park Juvenile, Kentucky Cup Juvenile and Breeders' Futurity.

Kentucky Cup Sprint, 3&up;, $200,000, 6 Furlongs, Grade II, Turfway
The Kentucky Cup Sprint features the best three-year-old sprinters in the country. The filly Capote Belle will try males for the first time after defeating her own sex in the Grade I Test Stakes at Saratoga. Appealing Skier won a pair of Grade II stakes, the Hutcheson and the Withers, earlier this year. Future Quest won last year's Grade II Del Mar Futurity. Valid Expectations won the Grade III Derby Trial Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Turfway Breeders' Cup, 3&up; (f&m;), $300,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Grade II, Turfway
The Turfway Breeders' Cup Stakes is for fillies thinking about the Breeders' Cup Distaff. Country Cat won the Grade II Gardenia Stakes at Ellis Park last time out, while her stablemate, Golden Attraction, is looking for her first stakes win of the year after being named 1995 champion two-year-old filly. Advancing Star won a minor stakes race at Del Mar and was second in last year's Grade I Hollywood Starlet Stakes before being injured.

Kentucky Cup Classic, 3&up;, $500,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade III, Turfway
The Kentucky Cup Classic is the return of Wekiva Springs who will run for the first time since winning the Grade I Suburban Handicap on July 4. He also has wins this year in the Grade I Gulfstream Park Handicap and the Grade II Brooklyn Handicap. Wekiva Springs finished second to Cigar in the Grade I Donn Handicap and is looking at a rematch in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Pyramid Peak and Petionville were graded stakes winners last year as three-year-olds and look to regain their three-year-old form. Strawberry Wine won the Kentucky Cup Classic Preview.

Vosburgh Stakes, 3&up;, $200,000, 7 Furlongs, Grade I, Belmont
The Vosburgh is one of the major preps for the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Honour and Glory won the Grade I Metropolitan Handicap and the Grade II King's Bishop Stakes. Eclipse champion Not Surprising is the defending Vosburgh champion. Langfuhr and Top Account ran one-two in the Grade II Forego Handicap at Saratoga. Ft. Stockton won the Arlington Breeders' Cup Sprint Handicap last time out. Lite the Fuse won the Grade II DeFrancis Dash.

Natalma Stakes, 2yo fillies, $75,000, 1 Mile Turf, Grade IC, Woodbine

Isle of Capri Casino Louisiana Downs H., 3&up;, $150,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Grade III, Louisiana Downs

Isle of Capri Casino Super Derby XVII, 3yo, $750,000, 1 1-4 Miles, Grade I, Louisiana Downs
The Louisiana Super Derby has been a traditional prep for three-year- olds looking towards the Breeders' Cup Classic. Will's Way won the Grade I Travers Stakes and may be developing into the best of his generation. Editor's Note is looking for his first win since taking the Belmont Stakes. The filly Vivace beat males in the Grade III Alabama Derby and is undefeated over the Louisiana Downs main track. Devil's Honor and Formal Gold ran one-two in the Grade III Pennsylvania Derby. Zarb's Magic won the Grade II Arkansas Derby.

B.C. Derby, 3yo, $150,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Hastings

C.B. Afflerbaugh Stakes, 3&up;, $75,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Fairplex

Isle of Capri Casino Marie P. Debartolo Oaks H., 3yo fillies, $125,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Louisiana Downs

Lawrence Realization Stakes, 3yo, $100,000, 1 1-2 Miles Turf, Grade III, Belmont

Wonder Where Stakes, 3yo fillies, $75,000, 1 1-4 Miles Turf, Grade IIC, Woodbine

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