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

INDUSTRY ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES MISSION STATEMENT

Formation of an 'Oversight Committee' for the recently announced Thoroughbred industry alliance was announced along with a mission statement and summary of strategic goals April 17, at a media briefing held at the Breeders' Cup Ltd. office in Lexington, Ky.

The Oversight Committee represents the four organizations which have pledged $1 million in initial funding (Breeders' Cup Ltd., The Jockey Club, the Keeneland Association and Oak Tree Racing Association) as well as the National Thoroughbred Association and the Thoroughbred racetracks of America. The members of the committee are: James E. 'Ted' Bassett; Gary Biszantz; Sherwood C. Chillingworth; Robert N. Clay; Douglas Donn; William S. Farish; Hal Handel; and Ogden Mills Phipps.

The mission statement said: 'This alliance is established to create a new organization, representing all of racing's interests, to provide leadership and direction for the progress of the Thoroughbred industry. The primary goal of the organization is to formulate and implement strategies collectively, with a single purpose: increase industry revenues substantially and significantly broaden our customer base.'

CIGAR INSURANCE CLAIM TO BE PAID MAY 3

The $25 million claim against Cigar's infertility will be paid May 3, leaving the publicity rights to the horse as the only unsettled matter. The lead underwriter, Assicurazioni Generali, said that the rights are still owned by Allen Paulson, Cigar's former owner who sold a 75 percent share of the horse to Coolmore Stud. Under the terms of the insurance policy, Cigar needed to be bred to 20 mares twice and get at least 60 percent in foal. None of the 34 mares bred to the two-time Horse of the Year is in foal. Paulson has stated that, after the insurance matter is settled, that he would buy Cigar to 'provide a good home for the horse for the rest of his life.'

ANTESPEND BRINGS $900,000 AT DISPERSAL SALE

Antespend was sold for $900,000 as part of a dispersal sale of the late Jack Kent Cooke's Elmendorf Farm at the end of Keeneland's April sale of two-year-olds in training. The four-year-old has won nine-of-18 starts and $878,434, including three Grade I races, the Santa Anita Oaks, Del Mar Oaks and Las Virgenes Stakes. She ran fourth in the Grade III Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland on April 10 in her most recent start.

Chester Broman, of Babylon, New York, said Antespend would remain in training but would not return to Ron McAnally on the west coast. 'I'd rather keep her in the East where I can see her run,' Broman said, 'but I haven't decided who to send her to. We hope to get her ready to run again by Saratoga.'

TRIPLE CROWN RACES AVAILABLE ON-LINE

Equibase Company, the Thoroughbred industry's official database of racing information, is working individually with Triple Crown Productions, Inc., Churchill Downs, Pimlico Racecourse and the New York Racing Association (NYRA) to provide comprehensive on-line coverage of this year's Triple Crown. Internet users can access Triple Crown information from the Equibase home page at www.equibase.com, and through a special World Wide Web site accessible through the Churchill Downs home page at www.kyderby.com and the NYRA home page at www.nyracing.com. The Equibase site will feature complete program pages within hours after the post position draw for each Triple Crown race, along with result charts shortly after each race is declared official.

The Churchill Downs web site is home to Road to the Triple Crown, an online extension of the marketing and promotional efforts undertaken by Triple Crown Productions, Inc. Road to the Triple Crown features Equibase-supplied past performances for the top three finishers in most Triple Crown prep races as well as result charts for these races.

TWA SIGNS ON AS A KENTUCKY DERBY SPONSOR

Trans World Airlines announced April 16 that it will be a sponsor of this year's Kentucky Derby. The Derby will be featured in TWA's in-flight magazine while Churchill Downs will include TWA on its web site. The deal will be for one year.

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES TO BE ANNOUNCED APRIL 30

The 1997 inductees to the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame will be announced April 30 at an 11 a.m. news conference in the Churchill Downs pressbox. This year's nominees are: Modern Male: Easy Goer; Exceller; Needles. Modern Female: Bold n' Determined; Bowl of Flowers; Lamb Chop. Jockey: Gary Stevens; Jacinto Vasquez; Jack Westrope. Trainer: Phil Johnson; Willard Proctor; Virgil 'Buddy' Raines. Horse of Yesteryear: Endurance by Right; Granville; Princequillo. A formal induction will be held at the Museum in Saratoga Springs, Aug. 4.

SANTA ANITA COMPANIES AND MEDITRUST ANNOUNCE MERGER

The Santa Anita Companies, which comprise Santa Anita Realty Enterprises, Inc. and Santa Anita Operating Company and are traded publicly on a paired basis on the New York Stock Exchange, will merge with Meditrust, the nation's largest health care real estate investment trust. Under the terms of the merger, the new paired-share company will be called Meditrust Corporation. Said William C. Baker, chairman of the Santa Anita Companies, 'The combination substantially increases the liquidity of the Santa Anita shareholders. Furthermore, many of our shareholders will be pleased with Meditrust's commitment to our racing franchise and live racing at Santa Anita.'

The $383 million deal is a tax-free transaction. The merger's appeal to Meditrust came from Santa Anita's unusual status as a real estate investment trust that can act as both landlord and business operator. Real estate investment trusts, according to The Wall Street Journal, must obtain 95 percent of revenues from rental properties; however, Santa Anita is exempt from that rule because its dual practices were in effect before the tax law changed in 1979. The merger enables Meditrust to operate, as well as own, the medical facilities it now holds. The merger is subject to approval by the shareholders of both companies.

AUTOTOTE SELLS LOTTERY SUBSIDIARY

Autotote Corporation announced April 16 that it has concluded the sale of its European lottery business, Tele Control, to a subsidiary of Scientific Games Holding Corp. Autotote will receive $25 million in cash while Scientific Games will have the right to license and purchase Autotote's wagering terminals for use in lottery applications. Scientific Games may also buy Autotote's remaining lottery business although it is not for sale at the present time. Autotote made the deal in order to reduce its bank debt and concentrate on the North American lottery market.

RIVER DOWNS INCREASES PURSES

River Downs, in Cincinnati, Ohio, has announced a 10 percent purse increase beginning with the April 19 card. Purses have gone up 43 percent since last season, primarily due to Ohio's new full-card simulcasting bill. While the track has raised purses, it has lowered concession and admission prices for its winter simulcasting season. 'We're offering free admission to the clubhouse and grandstand, free parking, free seating in most areas and free membership to the Turf Club,' said Jack Hanessian, River Downs' general manager. 'This is just one more way for us to show the fans that we appreciate their business and want them to keep coming back.'

RACING TO HISTORY

April 19, 1952: Native Dancer won his first race, at Jamaica racetrack.

April 19, 1969: Bill Veeck, promoter and president of Suffolk Downs, staged a $10,000 race featuring all female jockeys, then a novelty in racing. Called the Lady Godiva Stakes, the event attracted such riders as Diane Crump, Tuesdee Testa and Robyn Smith. It was Penny Ann Early, however, who won the race - her first career victory. The previous year, Early had attempted to ride at Churchill Downs, but the male jockeys boycotted and the race was canceled.

April 20, 1949: Jockey Bill Shoemaker won his first race, aboard Shafter V, at Golden Gate Fields, Albany, Calif.

April 21, 1923: Eight-year-old Exterminator won his 34th stakes victory, the Philadelphia Handicap at Havre de Grace, setting an American record.

April 21, 1973: In a surprising defeat, Secretariat finished third to stablemate Angle Light and runner-up Sham in the Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct, his last start before sweeping the Triple Crown. The following day, Secretariat was found to have had an abscess in his mouth, which may have caused him discomfort while racing.

April 22, 1947: Citation won his first race by 1-2 length, at Havre de Grace.

April 22, 1970: Governor Nelson Rockefeller signed into law a bill allowing off-track betting in New York.

April 22, 1976: After winning the Florida Derby at odds of 1-20, Honest Pleasure ran in the Blue Grass Stakes as the 1-10 favorite. Only win wagering was allowed on the seven-horse field. Honest Pleasure won, creating a minus win pool of $41,876.20.

April 23, 1943: Judy Johnson was granted a license to ride in steeplechase races in Maryland, making her one of the earliest female jockeys.

April 23, 1977: Seattle Slew won the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Racetrack, his sixth consecutive win and his third win of the season. The race was his final prep for the May 7 Kentucky Derby.

April 23, 1973: Secretariat and his stablemate Angle Light were flown to Louisville, Ky., to prepare for the Kentucky Derby.

RACING ON THE AIR

California Derby, 3yo, $200,000 1 1-8 Miles Turf, Grade III, Golden Gate
Herb and David Alpert's Funontherun makes his turf debut after a disappointing sixth in the Jim Beam Stakes knocked him off the Triple Crown trail.

Hialeah Turf Cup Handicap, 3&up;, $200,000, 1 3-16 Miles Turf, Grade III, Hialeah
Flag Down, who won the Grade II Pan American Handicap at Gulfstream Park, March 8, will face multiple Grade I winner Diplomatic Jet, as well as Sharp Appeal and Ok By Me, who finished first and second, respectively, in the Bougainvillea Handicap, March 30, at Hialeah.

Federico Tesio Stakes, 3yo, $150,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade III, Pimlico
George Steinbrenners' Concerto, who won the Jim Beam Stakes at Turfway Park March 29, makes his final start before the Kentucky Derby. Concerto has won six of his nine career starts.

Santa Barbara Handicap, 4&up; (f&m;), $300,000, 1 1-4 Miles Turf, Grade II, Santa Anita
Windsharp, who beat colts twice last year in graded races, tries to go two-for-two against females in 1997. She will be tested by Donna Viola (GB), who finished third to Windsharp in the Grade II Santa Ana Handicap, March 22, and stakes winners Fanjica (Ire) and Real Connection.

Beaumont Stakes, 3yo fillies, $125,000, 7F & 184 feet, Grade II, Keeneland

Black Helen Handicap, 3&up; (f&m;), $200,000, 1 1-8 Miles Turf, Grade II, Hialeah

Comely Stakes, 3yo fillies, $100,000, 1 Mile, Grade III, Aqueduct

Las Cienegas Handicap, 4&up; (f&m;), $150,000, 6 1-2 Furlongs Turf, Grade III, Santa Anita

Lexington Stakes, 3yo, $175,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Grade II, Keeneland
The very speedy Smoke Glacken, who has won seven-of-10 lifetime starts and six stakes races, is expected to meet Shammy Davis, who was third in the Jim Beam Stakes; Gotham Stakes fourth-place finisher Deeds Not Words; and Touch Gold, an allowance winner at Santa Anita, March 14.

Texas Mile, 3&up;, $250,000, 1 Mile, Lone Star
Although seven are expected, all eyes will be on Skip Away and Isitingood. Skip Away, last year's champion three-year-old, looks to rebound after two second-place finishes this year. He closed out 1996 with a pair of $1 million wins in the Woodbine Million and the Jockey Club Gold Cup, where he beat Cigar. Isitingood had his four-race winning streak snapped when he ran second in the Oaklawn Handicap. He set a North American record for a mile on turf on Feb. 5 at Santa Anita Park and followed it up with a Fair Grounds track record for 1 1-8 miles on dirt.

San Juan Capistrano Handicap, 4&up;, $400,000, 1 3-4 Miles Turf, Grade I, Santa Anita
Marlin and Sunshack (GB), first and second, respectively, in the Grade II San Luis Rey Stakes at Santa Anita, March 23, head a strong field. Also coming back from the San Luis Rey are the fifth- and sixth-place finishers, Bon Point (GB) and Shanawi (IRE), as well as African Dancer, Awad and Poliglote.

Lone Star Derby, 3yo, $250,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Lone Star

New York Stallion Series, Park Avenue Division, 3yo fillies, $100,000, 1 Mile, Aqueduct

New York Stallion Series, Times Square Division, 3yo, $100,000, 1 Mile, Aqueduct

San Simeon Handicap, 4&up;, $150,000, 6 1-2 Furlongs Turf, Grade III, Santa Anita

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