1996 STEEPLECHASE LEADERS ANNOUNCED

Steeplechase rider Chip Miller led the nation in victories with 28 and won the sport's money title with $453,784 in earnings, according to the just-released statistics compiled by the National Steeplechase Association. Miller is the younger brother of rider Blythe Miller, second in both categories and the leading rider in 1994 and 1995. This year's leading money-winning trainer was Jonathan Sheppard with $624,941 while Bruce Miller, father of Blythe and Chip, was the leading trainer by wins, with 30. Correggio is the leading money- earning horse with $167,640.

AMERICAN WOMEN, WINLESS, STILL A POPULAR DRAW IN HONG KONG

Although neither rider won a race on the card, American jockeys Julie Krone and Donna Barton drew a record crowd of 71,200 to Hong Kong's Sha Tin Racecourse on Nov. 16. Krone and Barton were riding during a special women jockeys' day. Each had eight mounts. Barton finished third aboard one mount, the best placing between the two riders. Wagering on the nine-race card was $1.325 billion HK, equal to approximately $170 million U.S.

KEENELAND NOVEMBER SALES POSTS INCREASES

Keeneland's 11-day November Breeding Stock Sale, which concluded Wednesday, Nov. 20, posted large increases in both gross sales and average price. A total of 2,830 horses were sold for a total of $170, 925,800, an increase of 20.5 percent from last year's total of $141, 897,300. The 1996 sale was the third-highest grossing in the sale's history. This year's average of $60,398, represented a 21.8 percent increase over last year's average of $49,597. Seven horses were sold for $1 million or more at the auction, topped by the $2.6 million paid for Mariah's Storm, a broodmare in foal to Storm Cat.

BOY FIGHTING FATAL ILLNESS VISITS CHURCHILL JOCKEYS

Ryan Dant, an eight-year-old from Carrollton, Texas, had a dream come true on Nov. 16 when he met Hall of Fame rider Pat Day and several other members of the Churchill Downs jockey colony. Accompanied by his father and several family members, the youngster, who is battling Hunter's Disease, a rare genetic disorder, spent a day at the races, hosted by trainer Walter Bindner. The jockeys dressed Ryan in silks and full jockey attire and he carried a whip given to him by Day. He later got to stand in the winner's circle with Day who won the third race.

Before the races started, Ryan, whose life expectancy is 15 years, stood with Day and the other riders as track chaplain Dan Powell gave his usual prayers for the rider and included a special one for Ryan.

Ryan was back at the track the next day checking out the horses in trainer Bindner's barn.

Hunter's disease is a condition in which deposits collect in cells because of a lack of an enzyme that blocks such activity. As the deposits accumulate, the organs weaken and eventually fail.

The Dant family holds a benefit golf scramble and auction each year to raise money for the Ryan Foundation, which funds research on Hunter's Disease conducted at UCLA. Donations to the Ryan Foundation can be sent to: Ryan Foundation, 3917 Alto Ave., Carrollton, Texas 75007. Further information can be obtained by calling (214) 632-RYAN.

EMERALD DOWNS POSTS WINNING MEET

Signalling the successful return of live racing to western Washington, Emerald Downs' inaugural season concluded Sunday with statewide total mutuel handle of $89,813,723 and attendance of 594, 702. Average daily handle statewide was $898,137 and attendance was 5, 9947. On-track handle averaged $704,210 and attendance 5,185.

'We're extremely pleased with the results of this first meeting,' said track president Ron Crockett. 'Fans have welcomed back live horse racing here with enthusiasm. We are confident the foundation is set for continued growth in the industry.'

HEIRS TO SELL CALUMET TROPHY COLLECTION

According to a report in the Lexington Herald-Leader newspaper, the bankrupt heirs to Calumet Farm have decided to sell the famed trophy collection to settle their debts. Included in the collection are 540 trophies and 35 paintings that belong to the farm that won a record eight Kentucky Derbies and two Triple Crowns.

Two groups are vying for control of the collection: an Owensboro, Ky. , real estate developer who wants the collection for his own use and a community group, led by Keeneland Race Course CEO James E. 'Ted' Bassett, which hopes to keep the trophies at the Kentucky Horse Park where they have been on display since 1982. Bassett's group, however, isn't able to match the $1.2 million offer made in September by developer Robert H. Steele.

The fate of the sale will be decided at a later date by U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Joe Lee.

REAL LIFE PHYSICS APPLICATIONS TESTED AT TRACK

For students who lament math and physics courses because they think they'll never apply the knowledge in real life situations, Heather Dueitt proved them wrong last week. The 17-year-old student at Sacred Heart Academy in Louisville, Ky., arranged a class field trip to Churchill Downs on Nov. 14 to test the laws of physics as they apply to different situations for her college-level physics class. The real- life lab began as a homework assignment in Sister Lorna Weiler's class where students were asked to study angular acceleration and centrifugal forces. Dueitt, a horse lover, decided to develop her project around horse racing.

Armed with calculators and stop watches, the class of 40 high school students arrived at Churchill ready to measure the average mass of racehorses, the weight of the jockeys, recorded speed and distance and measured such things as velocity, momentum, impulse and acceleration to determine the speed factor of each horse. Heather hopes to put the classes' findings to the test -- when she turns 18 and can legally place a wager.

SANTA ANITA PLANS DECEMBER MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR KILROE

Friends and colleagues are planning a memorial service to be held at Santa Anita Park for Frank E. 'Jimmy' Kilroe in late December. Kilroe, director of racing emeritus at the Arcadia, Calif., racetrack, died Nov. 16 at his Pasadena home after suffering a series of strokes. He was 84. The service will take place shortly after Santa Anita opens for the 1996-1997 season on Dec. 26. Details will be announced at a later date.

LENZINI MEMORIAL SERVICE FRIDAY

A memorial service for trainer John 'Butch' Lenzini Jr. has been set for Friday, Nov. 22 at Aqueduct Racetrack, South Ozone Park, N.Y. The memorial will take place on the fourth floor of the clubhouse following the ninth race.

Lenzini, 49, was found dead in his home on Wednesday, Nov. 13. The cause of death has not yet been determined.

RACING ON THE AIR

Nov. 23 'Racehorse Digest' 6:00-6:30 a.m. ESPN
Nov. 27 'Racehorse Digest' 3:30-4:00 p.m. ESPN
Nov. 28 'Racehorse Digest' 1:30-2:00 a.m. ESPN
Nov. 30 'Racehorse Digest' 6:00-6:30 a.m. ESPN
Dec. 1 Hollywood Derby & Matriarch Stakes 6:00-7:00 p.m. ESPN
Dec. 6 'Racehorse Digest' 1:30-2:00 a.m. ESPN
Dec. 7 'Racehorse Digest' 6:00-6:30 a.m. ESPN

RACING TO HISTORY

Nov. 21, 1971: Secretariat completed his preliminary training at Meadow training center.

Nov. 22, 1990: Jockey Pat Day marked his 5,000th career winner when he rode Screen Prospect to victory in the Falls City Handicap at Churchill Downs. Day was the 12th rider in history to hit 5,000.

Nov. 26, 1946: American Airlines transported six horses from Shannon Airport in Ireland, to Newark, N.J., completing the first trans- Atlantic flight for Thoroughbreds. The plane arrived in the U.S. on Nov. 27.

Nov. 26, 1992: Sandy Hawley became the ninth rider to win 6,000 races. His record victory came aboard Summer Commander in the second race at Greenwood Racecourse.

Nov. 28, 1982: The brilliant Landaluce, who won her five lifetime starts by a total of 46 1-2 lengths, died of a viral infection. She was buried in the infield at Hollywood Park, where she had won her first two races. Trained by D. Wayne Lukas, Landaluce was later voted champion two-year-old filly of 1982 over another undefeated filly, Princess Rooney.

Nov. 30, 1989: Jockey Kent Desormeaux surpassed Chris McCarron's 15- year record for most number of victories in a single season when he rode his 547th winner for the year, at Laurel.

Dec. 1, 1962: Ten thousand fans attended a ceremony at Tropical Park in honor of Carry Back's retirement. By Saggy out of Joppy, Carry Back was known as 'the people's horse.' He retired after 55 starts and earnings of more than $1 million.

Dec. 1, 1982: In the first race to feature mother and daughter jockeys, Patti Barton rode against her daughter, Leah, at Latonia. Patti finished fifth aboard Tam's Angel while Leah was tenth on Diane's Ms. Lolly.

Red Smith Handicap, 3&up;, $125,000, 1 3-8 Miles Turf, Grade II, Aqueduct
The Red Smith features Diplomatic Jet as he tries to strengthen his claim for an Eclipse Award as top Turf Male. He has won three Grade I's this year, the Early Times Manhattan Handicap, the Man o'War Stakes and the Turf Classic, all at Belmont. Flitch won the Grade III Seneca Handicap at Saratoga. Mr. Bluebird won the Grade III Knickerbocker Handicap in his last start at Aqueduct. Officious won the Grade III Rutgers Handicap at The Meadowlands. Raintrap is trying to return to his Grade I winning form. Ops Smile won the Grade III Longfellow Handicap at Monmouth.

Mrs. Revere Stakes, 3yo fillies, $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Churchill
The Mrs. Revere will feature a full gate of grass fillies. Rare Blend is a stakes winner on dirt and turf with a victory in her turf debut, the Pebbles Handicap at Belmont. Daylight Come won the Canadian Handicap at Woodbine against older fillies. Thrilling Day (GB) is making her American debut after winning the Group 3 Nell Gwynn Stakes stakes in England.

Congressional Handicap, 3&up;, $75,000, 1 1-4 Miles, Laurel

Jammed Lovely Stakes, 3yo fillies, $75,000, 7 Furlongs, Grade IIIC, Woodbine

Display Stakes, 2yo, $75,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Grade IIIC, Woodbine

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