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

DUBAI WORLD CUP ATTRACTS 21 FURTHER ENTRIES

Entries for the March 29 Dubai World Cup reached 115 with 21 new entries on Feb. 5. Leading the late nominations was Great Britain's Singspiel (IRE), who was named North America's top male turf horse of 1996, and top U.S. turf stars Mecke and Marlin. Although the 1 1-4-mile race is on dirt, it has attracted some of America's best turf runners, including Breeders' Cup Mile winner Da Hoss, Sandpit (BRZ), Gold and Steel (FR), Montjoy and Talloires. Dirt specialists are also well represented, with Gentlemen (ARG), 1996 Belmont Stakes winner Editor's Note and 1996 Preakness Stakes winner Louis Quatorze among the 40 U.S. nominees.

Hopefuls from 15 countries have entered, including horses from Hong Kong, South Africa, Sweden and the winner of the Greek Derby. Fourteen horses will be chosen Friday, Feb. 7, with the field to be officially announced Wednesday, Feb. 12.

CIGAR'S STAR-STUDDED BOOK

If the saying, 'Breed the best to the best and hope for the best,' is true, then there should be some very talented, and expensive, horses showing up at racetracks and sales pavilions in a few years. Two-time Horse of the Year Cigar is scheduled to be bred to a virtual filly Hall of Fame, including Eclipse Award winners All Along, Yanks Music, Eliza and Estrapade. European champions Lyric Fantasy and Lemon Souffle as well as Grade I winners Committee, Compagnarde, Dahlia's Dreamer, Fowda, Lunar Spook, Madeleine's Dream, Northern Aspen, Over All, Pharma and Zalatia are also booked. All Along will be the second Horse of the Year to be bred to a Horse of the Year; Lady's Secret was bred twice to Seattle Slew.

'We fully expected breeders to support Cigar with top-class mares, but we are truly delighted with the sheer depth of quality race mares, producers and families to be found in [Cigar's] book,' said Barry Simon, manager of Ashford Farm.

The dams of Grade I winners Blushing John, Chelsey Flower, Different, Dinard, Fraise, Groovy, Honour and Glory, Life At the Top, Prized, Skip Away and Unbridled's Song are also in Cigar's book.

BOSTON HARBOR TOPS EXPERIMENTAL FREE HANDICAP

Eclipse Award winner Boston Harbor is highweighted at 126 pounds in the colt division of the 1996 Experimental Free Handicap, which are the weights assigned for a hypothetical 1 1-16-mile race by a board of handicappers. Acceptable, runner-up to Boston harbor in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, and Champagne Stakes winner Ordway, are next at 123 pounds, followed by Smoke Glacken (122), Traitor (121), Blazing Sword (120) and Swiss Yodeler (120). A total of 92 males were weighted.

In the filly division, Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Storm Song heads a list of 75 fillies with 124 pounds. Sharp Cat (121), Ajina (118), Love That Jazz (118), Oath (118) and Southern Playgirl (118) are next.

ISITINGOOD SETS WORLD MILE RECORD

Isitingood broke Dr. Fager's world record for a mile, Wednesday, Feb. 5, when he won The Bart Stakes at Santa Anita Park in 1:32.05 on grass. Dr. Fager's time of 1:32 1-5, set on dirt, came in 1968. The previous North American record of 1:32 2-5 for one mile on turf was held jointly by Expensive Decision and Known Ranger, both of whom set that standard at Belmont Park. Isitingood is now one-for-two on turf but is being pointed toward the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap, March 2, on the dirt.

A horse named Chase the Door ran a mile (actually six yards short of a mile) in 1:30.90 at England's Brighton Racecourse July 26, 1990, but his time wasn't recognized because the course is downhill. According to Raceform, the official English charttakers, a horse named Traditional Miss ran a mile in 1:31.80 in 1981 at Chepstow, also in England.

BRITISH RACING PURSUES TV BET TO COUNTER LOTTERY

A British horse racing 'Superbet' will be launched later this year after a deal Tuesday, Feb. 4, between Ladbrokes and Tote Direct, whose terminals offer pool bets in bookmaker's shops. The wager will be formulated in the next few months by the British Horseracing Board, the betting industry, and the two television networks that cover racing, the BBC and Channel 4. It will probably consist of at least six televised races on a Saturday with a guaranteed large payout.

'Initial discussions with Channel 4, BBC, the Horserace Betting Levy Board and the BHB suggest a willingness to develop and launch a TV bet with small stake, big win potential,' said Chris Bell, managing director of Ladbrokes.'

Ladbrokes believes the Superbet will also appeal to new customers attracted during the past year by the introduction of slot machines and 'numbers bets,' such as the lottery.

AQUEDUCT HONORS THE ISLANDERS

Aqueduct Racetrack, in South Ozone Park, N.Y., will help the New York Islanders hockey team celebrate its 25th anniversary by having a New York Islanders Day on Feb. 16 and tying in several promotions with the four-time Stanley Cup champions. On Saturday, Feb. 8, 'Big A, the Horse' will make a between-periods appearance during the Islanders expected sell-out against the New York Rangers. 'Big A' will toss Aqueduct merchandise into the crowd that day while Islanders' tickets from Feb. 8, 11 and 15 will be good for free clubhouse admission at Aqueduct on Feb. 16. Fans can try their hands at the Islanders slapshot game at the track and patrons will get a special discount ticket offer for a future Islanders' game.

HEADHUNTERS COME TO CHURCHILL DOWNS

Historic Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Ky., was the backdrop, Feb. 4, for the new music video, 'Singin' the Blues,' by country artists The Kentucky Headhunters. The band cut their teeth at local clubs and has remained very popular in the area. While Churchill Downs has been the setting for movies and commercials, this was the first music video ever shot at the track.

RACING TO HISTORY

Feb. 7, 1894: The Jockey Club was incorporated. As originally conceived, it was to assume the management of racing, previously overseen by the Board of Control. Included in The Jockey Club's functions were licensing, allotment of racing dates, appointment of officials and the interpretation and enforcement of racing rules.

Feb. 7, 1969: Diane Crump became the first woman jockey in America to compete in a parimutuel race when she finished 10th of 12 aboard a 48-1 shot, three-year-old Bridle 'n Bit, in the seventh race at Hialeah Park.

Feb. 8, 1941: Whirlaway began his three-year-old season with a win in a six-furlong allowance race at Hialeah.

Feb. 9, 1940: After a year's absence from competition, seven-year-old Seabiscuit, champion handicap horse of 1937 and 1938, returned to racing at Santa Anita, where he finished third in a handicap race. Seabiscuit ran three more races in 1940, concluding his career with a win in the Santa Anita Handicap.

Feb. 9, 1974: Jockey Chris McCarron rode his first winner, a five-year-old gelding named Erezev, at Bowie Racecourse. By year's end, McCarron had established a then-record number of winners for a single season: 546. Fifteen years later, on Nov. 30, 1989, jockey Kent Desormeaux eclipsed that mark.

Feb. 9, 1991: The American Championship Racing Series, designed to showcase older horses, was inaugurated with the Donn Handicap, won by Jolie's Halo.

Feb. 11, 1933: The Jockey Club released data showing that as of 1932, the U.S. had surpassed Great Britain and Ireland in foal production for the first time, to become the world's leading producer of Thoroughbreds.

Feb. 12, 1981: Julie Krone rode her first career winner, a $3,500 claimer named Lord Farkle, which was owned and trained by Les St. Leon, in the sixth race at Tampa Bay Downs.

RACING ON THE AIR

Feb. 8, Racehorse Digest, 6:00-6:30 a.m., ESPN
Feb. 13, Racehorse Digest, 4:30-5:00 p.m., ESPN
Feb. 14, Racehorse Digest, 3:30-4:00 a.m., ESPN

Donn Handicap, 3&up;, $300,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade I, Gulfstream
Three-year-old champion Skip Away makes his 1997 debut against nine rivals. Last seen defeating Cigar in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Oct. 5, Skip Away is the 9-5 early favorite. Late-running Mecke, a Grade I winner on dirt and turf, and stakes winners Diligence, Cimarron Secret, Ave's Flag, Mt. Sassafras, Crafty Friend and Jamies First Punch, as well as Ghostly Moves and Formal Gold, are entered.

Fair Grounds Breeders' Cup Stakes, 3&up;, $150,000, 1 1-8 Miles Turf, Fair Grounds

San Vicente Stakes, 3yo, $100,000, 7 Furlongs, Grade III, Santa Anita

Turf Paradise Derby, 3yo, $75,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Turf Paradise

Turf Paradise Breeders' Cup Stakes, 3&up;, $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Turf Paradise

Davona Dale Stakes, 3yo fillies, $100,000, 1M & 70 yards, Grade III, Gulfstream
Champion two-year-old filly Storm Song makes her three-year-old debut against Glitter Woman, who won the Grade III Forward Gal Stakes by 9-3/4 lengths Jan. 22 at Gulfstream. Also expected to run are graded stakes winners City Band and Southern Playgirl, who finished second and third, respectively, in the Forward Gal.

La Canada Stakes, 4yo fillies, $200,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade II, Santa Anita

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