News and notes from around the Thoroughbred racing world, compiled by Thoroughbred Racing Communications, Inc. (TRC) (212.371.5911..)

TOM CHAPMAN GIVES UP SADDLE FOR PAINTBRUSH Northern California jockey Tom Chapman rode 20,505 races in his 19-year career as a jockey, winning 2,584. Last fall, he decided to take a break from the rigors of riding to pursue his second love, painting. 'I wanted to see if I would like to do it full-time and if I could drum up enough business,' he said. 'After a month, I figured I wasn't going to be coming back [to riding].'

Chapman's hobby soon became his new profession, only with better hours. 'I spend 3-4 hours a day painting,' he said. 'My time is own. I have weekends and holidays to spend with my family.' Not to mention painting is a non-contact sport. Chapman has had his share of riding injuries, including a fractured skull and three fractured vertebrae.

His art career has taken off quickly. He painted a poster for the 1996 California Cup and his artwork was used on the souvenir T-shirt as well. He is currently working on a commission to paint Cavonnier, who fell a nose short of winning the 1996 Kentucky Derby, for owners Barbara and Robert Walter. He also has three other commissions but finds the time to work on a five-painting series he is very familiar with, scenes from the jockey's room. 'I surprised even myself with how far I've come so far,' he said.

MUSEUM OF RACING HITS THE ROAD

A traveling version of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will be stopping at Gulfstream park, in Hallandale, Fla., Feb. 2, on the first stop of a 14-city tour. According to John von Stade, president of the museum, 'the Hall of Fame kiosk is a self-contained exhibit that uses state-of-the-art computer programming as well as traditional exhibits to bring the history and pageantry of Thoroughbred racing to new audiences.' The kiosk will feature a touch-screen computer featuring a multimedia guide to 290 horses, jockeys and trainers in the Hall of Fame. The next stop for the exhibit will be Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., Feb. 17. Other tracks on the schedule include: Turfway Park, Tampa Bay Downs, Keeneland, Churchill Downs, Pimlico Racecourse, Belmont Park, Del Mar, Arlington International, Canterbury Downs, Prairie Meadows, Oaklawn Park and Hollywood Park.

SIMULCASTING SAVING RIVER DOWNS

River Downs, in Cincinnati, Ohio, was on the verge of closing a year ago. The Clubhouse was closed, few employees were needed and the track suffered through its worst season in modern times. On Sept. 19, 1996, House Bill 561 passed the Ohio legislature, allowing full-card simulcasting. Today, River Downs is open seven days a week, 12 hours a day and recently opened its RaceBook, which has been doing a booming business. 'Racing in Ohio was pretty much on death's doorstep,' said general manager Jack Hanessian. 'While we won't be back to our heyday overnight, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. The fans are coming back and we intend to keep them.'

When its live racing season starts on April 12, River Downs will institute a 30 percent increase in daily purses. Thistledown, in Cleveland, Ohio, already announced a purse increase of 20 percent when its meet gets underway, March 1.

ENGLAND: HORSES CAN'T GET THERE FROM HERE

Stansted Airport, which handles virtually all long-distance equine air traffic to and from England, has been delisted by the European Union and can no longer accept animals or animal by-products for shipment. The ban follows the introduction of an EU regulation requiring certain types of facilities for the inspection of animals by veterinarians at airports, including a building complete with offices, showers and drainage. Inspection at Stansted, the primary airport serving Newmarket, home of the major British yearling sales, has normally taken place on the tarmac. Airport officials had submitted plans for a border inspection post to the EU last February, but they apparently became lost in the bureaucracy.

The delisting, which came into effect Jan. 1, means horses or cattle destined for England from outside the EU (including the United States and Dubai), will probably have to land first in Ireland, France or Holland, before being flown to Luton Airport or ferried by boat. Luton can only accept charters while Heathrow is too crowded with passenger flights.

WOODBINE MILLION IS NO MORE

The Woodbine Million, formerly known as the Molson Export Million, has been taken off the Woodbine racing calender. The Toronto track will instead substitute a new $500,000 turf race, the Woodbine Mile, to be run Sept. 20. With the construction of its new E.P. Taylor turf course, Woodbine has attempted to place itself at the forefront of turf racing in North America. 'The Woodbine Mile gives us an exciting new race on grass and reinforces our resolve to become the premier turf racing track in North America,' said John Whitson, vice president of racing for the Ontario Jockey Club. Last year's Woodbine Million was won by Eclipse Award-winning three-year-old Skip Away.

Woodbine's Grade I Canadian International will remain a $1 million race and will be held Oct. 19. Last year's winner, Singspiel (IRE) won an Eclipse Award as Outstanding Turf Male.

'HANDS OFF THE HAND' ENGLISH RALLYING CRY

The Joint Measurement Board, which represents eight horse societies in England, has fallen in line with the European Union and officially started measuring horses in centimeters, abandoning the centuries-old tradition of hands. Many societies have refused to totally switch over, and some are using both standards. Thoroughbreds will continue to be measured using hands and inches, one hand being equal to four inches. The hand is said to derive from the Roman 'palmi,' the width of the human palm.

RACING TO HISTORY

Jan. 31, 1958: Jockey Bill Shoemaker notched his 3,000th career win, aboard Eternal Pere, in the eighth race at Santa Anita Park.

Feb. 1, 1941: Golden Gate Fields opened for its inaugural race meet. After a five-day 'season,' the track was forced to close because severe rainstorms washed out the racing surface. The advent of World War II prevented the facility from reopening until Sept. 9, 1947.

Feb. 3, 1990: Jockey Bill Shoemaker rode his final career race at Santa Anita Park, finishing fourth aboard Patchy Groundfog in 'The Legend's Last Ride.' He retired with 8,833 wins, a world record.

Feb. 4, 1926: Wheatley Stables, formed by Mrs. Henry Carnegie Phipps, recorded its first win ever, with a two-year-old filly named Sturdy Stella.

RACING ON THE AIR

Feb. 1, Racehorse Digest, 6:00-6:30 a.m., ESPN
Feb. 2, Strub Stakes, Santa Anita, 4:30-5:30 p.m., ESPN
Hutcheson Stakes, Gulfstream
Feb. 2, Santa Anita Today, Santa Anita, 6:00-7:00 p.m., FOX Sports West
Strub Stakes, San Antonio Handicap

Palos Verdes Handicap, 4&up;, $200,000, 6 Furlongs, Grade III, Santa Anita
Larry the Legend, hero of the 1995 Santa Anita Derby, looks for his first win in his fifth try since coming back from a 15-month layoff.

Shirley Jones Handicap, 3&up; (f&m;), $100,000, 7 Furlongs, Grade III, Gulfstream
Scheduled to start are Chip and Phone the Doctor, first and second, respectively, in the First Lady Handicap Jan. 8 at Gulfstream, and recent Gulfstream allowance winner Steady Cat, whose best stakes effort is a second-place finish in the 1995 Adirondack Stakes at Saratoga.

Assault Handicap, 3&up;, $75,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade III, Aqueduct

Danka Stakes, 3yo, $100,000, 7 Furlongs, Grade II, Gulfstream
Champagne Stakes winner Ordway begins his road to the Triple Crown against Confide, winner of the Spectacular Bid Stakes at Gulfstream, Jan. 5, and Crown Ambassador, third in the Spectacular Bid.

San Antonio Handicap, 4&up;, $200,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade II, Santa Anita
The marquee matchup of the new year pits 1996 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Alphabet Soup against Gentlemen (ARG), who set a Hollywood Park record for 1 1-8 miles in the Dec. 22 Native Diver Handicap. The field probably will include Kingdom Found and Eltish, who finished first and third, respectively, in the San Pasqual Handicap, Jan. 12 at Santa Anita.

Santa Catalina Stakes, 3yo, $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Santa Anita
Two-year-old champion Boston Harbor is scheduled to make his three-year-old debut. His main competition will come from Swiss Yodeler, winner of six of nine starts last year, including the Grade I Hollywood Futurity. Others in the field include Falkenham (GB), who finished fifth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile in his only start on dirt, and Hill Rise Stakes winner Greed Is Good.

Strub Stakes, 4yo, $500,000, 1 1-4 Miles, Grade I, Santa Anita
Belmont Stakes and Super Derby winner Editor's Note makes his four-year-old debut, against Northern Afleet, winner of the Grade II San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes; multiple stakes winner Victory Speech, Editor's Note's stablemate; The Barking Shark, second in the Super Derby; and English invader Phantom Quest.

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