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

DERBY TOP-RATED WEEKEND SPORTS SHOW

Saturday's broadcast of the Kentucky Derby was the highest rated sports program of the weekend, despite a slight drop in ratings from 7.4 to 7.1. The Derby drew a 19 percent market share, compared with 21 percent in 1996, which translates to an estimated 6,887,000 households. The ratings 'once again show that the Derby is a blue-chip event,' said ABC director of media relations Mark Mandel. By comparison, the deciding NBA playoff game on NBC between Phoenix and Seattle had a 4.6 rating and CBS' golf programming drew a 1.0 rating.

Mandel credits the strong showing to an increase in promotion by ABC in conjunction with ESPN. The two networks aired 27.5 hours of Derby coverage. Mandel pointed out that there was 'a phenomenal increase in young men, age 18-34,' with a 64 percent gain over last year, which, said Mandel, will help the future of racing. 'We need a trend towards younger audiences that will take the sport into the next century,' he said.

DAILY RACING PROGRAM DEBUTS IN LAS VEGAS

'Daily Racing Program,' the past performance program produced by Sports Eye and Equibase Company for the Nevada simulcast market, was launched in 39 racebooks, Friday, May 2. 'Daily Racing Program' differs from other past performance products in that it contains information for up to seven tracks and can contain up to 25 past performance lines per horse, depending on the size of the field. It also has enhanced foreign information, speed figures compiled by The Sports Network and is the only past performance product in Nevada to list betting numbers and owner's silks for each horse.

'The Nevada market is perhaps the toughest market in the country to introduce new racing products to,' said Alan Marzelli, president of Equibase Company. 'Our initial success can be attributed to the months of planning and preparation which have resulted in a publication specifically designed for the Nevada market that contains everything a discriminating horseplayer needs.'

VIDEO POKER IN LOUISIANA MAY SOON BE GONE

The Louisiana Senate moved to repeal video poker by a 20-19 vote, May 6. A bill by Senator Tom Greene would end video poker in the state by mid-1999, and the parishes that last year voted in referendums to retain the machines also would lose them. The bill next goes to the House of Representatives.

HOLLYWOOD AND NEVADA STILL AT ODDS

Nevada Pari-Mutuel Association members unanimously rejected a proposal from Hollywood Park, May 7, that would have settled the current simulcast impasse between the track and Nevada race books. NPMA members pay the other two Southern California tracks, Santa Anita Park and Del Mar, 3.5 percent on all wagers while Hollywood Park was asking for four percent on exotic bets. NPMA executive director Don Driscoll said that there are no plans for continued negotiation with Hollywood in the near future, meaning it is unlikely Nevada patrons will be able to wager on the Hollywood meet before it ends on July 21.

ONTARIO JOCKEY CLUB PROVIDES FLOOD RELIEF

The Ontario Jockey Club has told Assiniboia Downs in Winnipeg, Manitoba, that it will not charge any simulcast fees for one week so that Assiniboia can donate the money saved to the Manitoba Flood Relief Fund. The Ontario Harness Horse Association and the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association are also waiving their fees. The area was hard hit by flooding on the Red River, which caused widespread devastation in North Dakota and Minnesota.

INTERNATIONAL RACING CIRCUIT TALKS BEGIN

A horse racing circuit, based on the lines of Formula 1 Grand Prix auto racing, is being discussed, according to Michael Osborne, chairman of the Dubai World Cup Committee. According to England's 'Racing Post,' talks began at last year's Dubai World Cup. 'The champion racehorse is losing out in the battle for global recognition,' said Osborne, 'and it is time that we started to fight back so as to ensure that in future generations, the champion horse will carry the same status as the best in any other sport.'

Ten countries have shown interest in the project and talks began at the Breeders' Cup meeting in Toronto last November. Another meeting took place at the recent Dubai World Cup. The races would be $1 million events for four-year-olds and up with one race every six weeks at venues around the world. Points would be awarded according to performance and the overall winner would get a multi-million dollar bonus. Japanese authorities have already suggested as much as $10 million for the bonus. Osborne expressed the hope that they could 'have a single multi-national sponsor.' But he also admitted that the scheme is 'a noble aspiration' that would prove difficult to implement.

TAMPA BAY DOWNS GOES GREEN

Tampa Bay Downs, in Oldsmar, Fla., will construct a turf course inside its existing dirt oval. A ground breaking ceremony is planned for Monday, May 12, at 10 a.m.

'My brother [track vice president] Howell Ferguson and I are optimistic in investing in the future of Thoroughbred racing in the Tampa Bay area,' said track president Stella Thayer. 'Racing on a turf course will bring new opportunities in the variety and quality for horsemen and fans at Tampa Bay Downs.'

The course will be seven-eighths of a mile with a quarter-mile chute, allowing the running of turf races from five to nine furlongs. Plans call for the turf course to be completed in four to five months.

RACING TO HISTORY

May 11, 1888: Trainer Robert Walden set the record for the most number of Preakness winners-seven-when he sent Refund to victory.

May 12, 1909: The Preakness Stakes was held in Maryland after 16 runnings in New York. As part of the celebration that marked the return of the Preakness, the colors of the race's winner were painted onto the ornamental weathervane at Pimlico Racecourse for the first time.

May 12, 1924: Nellie Morse became the fourth and last filly to win the Preakness Stakes. Other fillies to win the Preakness were Flocarline (1903); Whimsical (1906); and Rhine Maiden (1915).

May 15, 1918: Two horses--War Cloud and Jack Hare Jr.--were declared the winner of the Preakness Stakes, not because of a dead heat, but because the race was run in two divisions.

RACING ON THE AIR

May 10, Racehorse Digest, 6:00-6:30 a.m., ESPN
May 10, Pimlico Special, Pimlico, 4:30-6:00 p.m., ABC
May 10, 2Day at the Races, 6:00-6:30 p.m., espn2
May 14, Racehorse Digest, 3:30-4:00 p.m., ESPN

Pimlico Special, 3&up;, $600,000, 1 3-16 Miles, Grade I, Pimlico
Gentlemen (ARG) looks to regain the form that led him to five consecutive victories before running third to stablemates Siphon (BRZ) and Sandpit (BRZ) in the March 2 Santa Anita Handicap. Expected to face Gentlemen (ARG) are Isitingood, winner of several stakes this year, last year's three-year-old male champion Skip Away, and Widener Handicap winner Tejano Run.

Illinois Derby, 3yo, $500,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade II, Sportsman's Park
Bob Baffert, trainer of Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm, saddles Anet, winner of the April 20 Lone Star Derby. He will face Stop Watch, fourth in the Arkansas Derby, Saratoga Sunrise, Hamilton Creek, Banjo, Wild Rush, Wilt the Tilt and Net Asset.

Alysheba Breeders' Cup Stakes, 3yo, $75,000, 7 Furlongs, Lone Star

Fort Marcy Handicap, 3&up;, $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Grade III, Aqueduct

Regret Stakes, 3yo fillies, $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Churchill

Will Rogers Handicap, 3yo, $100,000, 1 Mile Turf, Grade III, Hollywood

Beaugay Handicap, 3&up; (f&m;), $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Grade III, Aqueduct

Wilshire Handicap, 3&up; (f&m;), $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Grade II, Hollywood

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