JOCKEYS DOWN UNDER RUN INTO MORE PROBLEMS

Australian jockeys trying to become affiliated with the Australian Workers Union, one of the country's most powerful, in their bid to obtain a 100 percent increase in riding fees, may have been dealt a setback. A 1979 ruling by the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission prevents jockeys from joining the AWU because they are self-employed contractors. And with negotiations progressing differently in each part of the country, things are getting more confused. New South Wales racing officials have said they would not deal with the jockeys through a union while the Australian Jockey Club rejected jockeys' pleas for a $25 (AUS) raise for each losing mount. The club was not willing to budge from its offer of a $15 increase and will ask the government to appoint a mediator. Meanwhile, the Victoria Jockeys Association, which covers racing in Melbourne, will vote Friday on a compromise. Queensland is taking the hardest stance, refusing to rescind fines levied on riders after a strike on Jan. 4.

Although leading rider Shane Dye said that the jockeys were 'unanimous' in their decision, cracks have appeared in their front. Jason Holder, one of the leading riders in South Australia, was critical of the proposed fee structure. Holder told the Australian Associated Press that raising the fee to $100 per ride was too much for his state to handle. 'If it's going to come out of the owners' pockets, then it is a big ask,' he said. 'I don't believe our state could afford it, and if it's going to come (from) owners then it could create some problems.'

CIGAR TOPS INTERNATIONAL CLASSIFICATIONS AGAIN

The 1996 International Classifications, which rank North American, European and Japanese horses according to last year's form, placed Cigar atop the list for the second straight year. The probable U.S. Horse of the Year was weighted at 135 pounds, topping the list of four-year-olds and older. Europe's Halling and Pentire (GB) came in at 129, with Anabaa and America's Soul of the Matter next at 127. Alphabet Soup, Jewel Princess and Pilsudski (IRE), all winners of Breeders' Cup races, weigh in at 126.

Four three-year-olds were given 130 pounds or more, led by Europe's Helissio (FR) at 134, Mark of Esteem (IRE) at 133, the filly Bosra Sham at 131 and America's three-year-old champion, Skip Away, at 130.

RICKS NATURAL STAR CLAIMED, RETIRED

Ricks Natural Star, the obscure claimer who ran in the 1996 Breeders' Cup Turf, was retired after being claimed at Turf Paradise in Phoenix, Ariz., Jan. 12. He was claimed for $7,500 by trainer O. Dwain Grissom for owner Larry Weber for the express purpose of retiring the eight-year-old gelding.

Following the race, in which Ricks Natural Star finished eighth, Weber released a statement to the press outlining an owner's obligations.

'When these responsibilities are not fulfilled,' he said, 'the horse suffers in some fashion. There is no intention to pass judgment of the horse's connections. That is a role for racing officials and other qualified professionals. However, recent events and the publicity surrounding Ricks Natural Star have been an embarrassment to the horse and other Thoroughbred conditioners and the sport of racing.'

IS NASCAR IN ATLANTIC CITY'S FUTURE?

Atlantic City Racecourse, in McKee City, N.J., is studying plans to build a new racetrack, this one for cars. 'The track is looking for other ways to subsidize purses,' said Director of Public Relations Marueen Gallagher. 'We need to expand and become more entertainment-oriented.'

While several plans are being considered, one possibility would have the existing dirt oval paved over and a new horse racing track built inside. Scannapieco Development Corporation, which has built a number of hotel-casinos in Atlantic City, has been named as the developer of the project.

The track, in taking advantage of a zoning ordinance that permits various types of racing at the facility, hopes to attract NASCAR events to the speedway after it is built.

GARDEN STATE PARK GETS NEW OWNERS

International Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc., which operates Garden State Park in Cherry Hill, N.J., has received an influx of new capital in the form of two new owners who bought the interest in ITB recently sold by Robert Brennan. Former Congressman Anthony Coelho and Nunzio DeSantis purchased about 23 percent of ITB for $11.6 million. ITB also operates Freehold Raceway, a harness racing track, and the El Rancho Hotel in Las Vegas, which is currently closed but will be reopened as Countryland, USA, a hotel and casino.

RACING TO HISTORY

Jan. 19, 1955: Swaps won the San Vicente Stakes, the first race of his three-year-old campaign, by 3 1-2 lengths at Santa Anita Park. He went on to triumph over Nashua in the Kentucky Derby, but was in turn defeated by his rival in a $100,000 match race at Washington Park on Aug. 31, his only loss of that year.

Jan. 20, 1972: Secretariat was shipped from Virginia to Florida to be trained by Lucien Laurin.

Jan. 20, 1979: Odds-on favorite Affirmed, with Steve Cauthen aboard, finished second in the San Fernando Stakes at Santa Anita, beaten 2 3-4 lengths by Radar Ahead. It was their fourth consecutive defeat. Cauthen subsequently lost the mount on Affirmed to jockey Laffit Pincay Jr., who rode the horse for the remainder of its four-year-old season, winning seven victories in as many starts. Affirmed was later voted Horse of the Year for 1979. Cauthen had ridden Affirmed to a Triple Crown sweep the previous year and the pair recorded 11 wins in their 16 races together.

Jan. 23, 1994: Pat Day, 40, became the tenth rider in North American racing history to ride 6,000 winners, when he rode Miss Popsnorkle to victory in the first race at Oaklawn Park.

Jan. 24, 1974: Jockey Chris McCarron rode his first race, in which he finished last aboard Most Active, at Bowie Racecourse.

RACING ON THE AIR

Jan. 17 Racehorse Digest 5:00-5:30 a.m. ESPN
Jan. 22 Racehorse Digest 3:30-4:00 p.m. ESPN
Jan. 23 Racehorse Digest 3:30-4:00 a.m. ESPN
Jan. 25 Racehorse Digest 6:00-6:30 a.m. ESPN

Golden Gate Derby, 3yo, $200,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Golden Gate
Breeders' Cup Juvenile fifth-place finisher Falkenham (GB), highlights an expected large field. Others include Photarc, who finished second in the Dec. 28 California Breeders' Champion Stakes at Santa Anita, allowance winner Oakhurst, and Flying With Eagles, second in the Arlington-Washington Futurity, are expected to run.

Holy Bull Stakes, 3yo, $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Grade III, Gulfstream
Several leading three-year-olds, including Breeders' Cup Juvenile runner-up Acceptable and stakes winners The Silver Move, Arthur L. and Captain Bodgit, are expected to start their Kentucky Derby campaigns.

Native Dancer Handicap, 4&up;, $75,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Laurel

San Miguel Stakes, 3yo, $100,000, 6 Furlongs, Santa Anita

Olympic Handicap, 3&up;, $75,000, 7 Furlongs, Gulfstream
Unbridled's Song makes his long-awaited comeback in the Olympic Handicap for new trainer Nick Zito. Several talented sprinters will be on hand to face him, including Splendid Sprinter, Formal Gold and Punch Line. Splendid Sprinter won the Dec. 21 Kenny Noe Jr. Handicap at Calder. Formal Gold was second in the Meadowlands Cup and fifth in the Breeders' Cup Classic in his last two starts. Punch Line defeated the speedy Appealing Skier by three lengths in the Hallandale Handicap, Jan. 3, at Gulfstream.

San Gorgonio Handicap, 4&up; (f&m;), $125,000, 1 1-8 Miles Turf, Grade I, Santa Anita
Alpride (IRE), winless last year while racing against best female turf runners in training, will look for her first win since the 1995 Yellow Ribbon Stakes. The field is also expected to include: Sixieme Sens and Grafin, who finished first and second in the Dahlia Handicap Dec. 15 at Hollywood Park; Reloy Stakes winner Fanjica (IRE); and Wheatly Special, winner of two turf stakes in 1996.

The Running Horse (https://www.isd1.com/)