SID AND JENNY CRAIG DONATE $10 MILLION TO UNIVERSITY

Sid and Jenny Craig, owners of such outstanding horses as Paseana, Dr Devious and Exchange, have donated $10 million to the University of San Diego for construction of a sports pavilion, it was announced Sunday, Dec. 15. The donation, the largest in the university's history, will be used to construct the Jenny Craig Pavilion, a combination sports center and student activities center.

In making the announcement, Sid Craig said, 'I can't think of anything better to give (Jenny) for Christmas.'

Construction on the Jenny Craig Pavilion, to begin next year, will take 18 months. The pavilion will seat 5,100. The school's current gymnasium has a capacity of only 1,500.

This donation is not the Craigs' first to a university. In 1992, Sid Craig donated $10 million to California State University-Fresno to establish a business school.

KEENELAND DONATES $400,000 TO LOCAL CHARITIES

The Keeneland Association has distributed $419,202 to 65 Lexington, Ky.-area charities it was announced Tuesday, Dec. 17. Charitable and civic groups received the majority of the funds. Grants also went to educational and research organizations. This year's contributions brought Keeneland's total charitable funding to $7.64 million.

'It has been an exceptional year for Keeneland,' said Bill Greely, president of the Lexington, Ky., racetrack and auction company.... Because of this, we are fortunate enough to turn around and give back to the community which has given so much to us over the years.'

Saint Joseph Hospital Foundation and the Triangle Foundation each received $50,000, the largest donations. A family education center at Saint Joseph Hospital will be named in honor of Keeneland, which has committed $250,000 over five years to the project.

Other notable recipients of Keeneland's largess include Habitat for Humanity ($35,000), Racetrack Chaplaincy ($35,000), Transylvania University ($25,000), Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation ($12, 500), Partners for Youth ($5,000), Hispanic Outreach Program ($6,000), Cardinal Hill Hospital, Children's Advocacy Center, Lexington Child Abuse Council and Chrysalis House ($5,000 each).

PRAIRIE MEADOWS RETIRES $98 MILLION DEBT

Five years after declaring bankruptcy and just 20 months after opening its 1,100 slot machine casino, Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino has retired its entire $98 million debt. Prairie Meadows officials made the final payment on Friday, Dec. 13, five years ahead of schedule.

The Altoona, Iowa, racetrack first opened its doors in March of 1989. The track almost immediately suffered financial difficulties due to low attendance and handle. With bond obligations approaching $65 million, the track filed for Chapter 11 protection and, looking for a way to resolve its debt, lobbied to conduct casino gambling. Prairie Meadows was granted a license to conduct casino gambling in its existing parimutuel facility. Remodeling and slot machine acquisition costs pushed the track's debt to almost $90 million by the time the casino opened on April 1, 1995.

An average of 10,000 people now enter the racetrack-casino daily and drop more than $5 million a day into the slot machines. Because of the success of the slot machines, purses at the track went from $18, 000 in 1994 to $105,000 in 1997. On-track handle in 1994 was $77,000 per day. In 1996 that figure jumped to more than $100,000. Attendance at the track has risen 20 percent.

HOLLYWOOD PARK SAYS 'LET IT SNOW' IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Children of all ages can enjoy a day of fun in the snow in Southern California when Hollywood Park hosts its annual Snow Day on Saturday, Dec. 21 from 9:00 a.m. to noon. The Inglewood, Calif., racetrack will truck in more than 100 tons of snow to its North Park and construct a giant snow mountain for children to sled down. Santa Claus and Hollywood's mascot, Captain Hoof, will be on hand to pose for photos and will distribute free candy and coloring books. Admission to the Snow Day is free for all children and all adults accompanied by a child.

BREEDERS CAN NOW REGISTER FOALS VIA INTERNET

The Jockey Club Interactive Registration, The Jockey Club's new program that allows Thoroughbred breeders and owners to complete most registration requirements electronically, is to be accessible through the Internet, it was announced Dec. 19. Nick Nicholson, The Jockey Club vice president and executive director, called the development another major breakthrough for the program, currently in phase two of extensive field beta testing.

'It has always been our hope that we could simplify access to Jockey Club Interactive and keep communications costs to local-call levels by using the Internet,' Nicholson said. 'But we weren't going to do that as long as there was any security risk involved. Our technical people have done a great job in working out the security question so that we can now go ahead.'

Jockey Club Interactive covers not only the basic registration procedures but also includes a special On Line Names Book, which puts users in direct electronic contact with The Jockey Club's database of names in active use. The service is seen as a major advance in making the naming of Thoroughbreds easier and more efficient.

'We've been publishing the Names Book once a year, and obviously that information is out of date virtually before the book is printed, ' said Nicholson. 'With Jockey Club Interactive, owners and breeders are using a Names Book which is accurate up to the second they're looking at it. It's a really effective use of technology.'

Following an initial field test, the new program is ahead of schedule. Plans call for Jockey Club Interactive to be distributed nationwide in early 1997, as soon as additional testing is completed.

'At present we don't see any reason not to be able to get the program to breeders in time for their live 1997 foal reports,' Nicholson concluded.

HOWARD B. KECK, OWNER OF FERDINAND, DEAD

Howard B. Keck, owner of Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup Classic winner, Ferdinand, died Saturday, Dec. 14 at St. John's Hospital and Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif. The 83-year-old Keck, a former chairman of Superior Oil Company, was also known for his philanthropy. Keck was chairman of the W.M. Keck Foundation, one of the country's foremost grant-giving organizations.

In addition to his involvement in Thoroughbred racing and breeding, Mr. Keck was also interested in auto racing and owned the cars that won the 1953 and 1954 Indianapolis 500s.

MEDIA ECLIPSE AWARDS TO BE ANNOUNCED DEC. 26

Winners of the Eclipse Awards for media will be announced on Thursday, Dec. 26 by the Thoroughbred Racing Associations. The winning entries in the four media categories -- local and national television, radio and photography -- were selected by a panel of media representatives. The remaining Eclipse Awards for media -- newspaper and magazine writing - will be announced on Jan. 6.

RACING ON THE AIR

RACING TO HISTORY

Dec. 20, 1987: D. Wayne Lukas-trained Tejano became the first juvenile millionaire when he won the Hollywood Futurity with Laffit Pincay Jr. aboard.

Dec. 22, 1991: Jockey Kent Desormeaux, at age 21, won his 2,000th race aboard Saron Lake, trained by Gary Jones, at Hollywood Park. He was the youngest jockey to reach that mark and did so faster than any other rider.

Dec. 23, 1944: James F. Byrnes, Director of War Mobilization and Reconversion, urged that all racing in the United States cease by Jan. 3 as a means of furthering the war effort.

Dec. 25, 1934: Santa Anita Park opened in Arcadia, Calif. A five- year-old mare, Las Palmas, won the inaugural race, the California- Bred Handicap, before a crowd of 30,777.

Dec. 27, 1982: English trainer Michael Dickinson saddled 12 winners, a record.

Dec. 27, 1987: D. Wayne Lukas set a single-season record for stakes wins by a trainer, 92, when he saddled High Brite to win the Palos Verdes Handicap at Santa Anita Park.

Dec. 29, 1946: Hall of Fame jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. was born in Panama City, Panama.

Dec. 31, 1966: Ogden Phipps' Buckpasser, trained by Eddie Neloy, won the 13th consecutive race of his three-year-old season after taking the Malibu Stakes at Santa Anita Park. He was voted Horse of the Year and also took top three-year-old and handicap horse honors for 1966.

Dec. 31, 1982: After a year-long battle for leading rider honors, Pat Day edged Angel Cordero Jr. by two races, which he won after chartering a plane to fly to Vinton, La., where he rode Dana's Woof Woof and Miltons Magic to victory during the evening program at Delta Downs. Day won the title-his first-with 399 wins to Cordero's 397.

Dec. 31, 1989: Jockey Kent Desormeaux set the world record for most number of wins in a single season, 598, when he rode two-year-old East Royalty, trained by Phil Thomas Jr., to victory in the tenth race, the Inner Harbor Stakes, at Laurel. He surpassed the old record, set by Chris McCarron, by 52.

W.L. McKnight Handicap, 3&up;, $150,000, 1 1-2 miles (Turf), Grade II, Calder
The W.L. McKnight will be the last time Mecke and Diplomatic Jet have a chance to make a case for an Eclipse Award. Mecke has wins this year in the Grade I Arlington Million and Early Times Turf Classic. Diplomatic Jet has Grade I wins in the Manhattan Handicap, Man o' War Stakes and Turf Classic, all at Belmont. Lassigny beat Mecke to the wire in last year's Grade I Rothman's (Canadian) International. Flitch won the Grade III Seneca Handicap at Saratoga. Nash Terrace (IRE) won the Louisville Handicap at Churchill.

Native Diver Handicap, 3&up;, $100,000, 1 1-16 miles, Grade III, Hollywood
The Native Diver features Dramatic Gold, winner of the Grade I Meadowlands Cup. Gentlemen (ARG) rolled in the Grade II Citation Handicap on turf and will try the dirt. Cleante (ARG) won the Grade II Bel Air Handicap at Hollywood.

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