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

BYRNE'S WIN STREAK HITS NINE

Trainer Patrick Byrne sent out his ninth consecutive winner on May 14, when Luv the Tune won the fifth race at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Ky. Byrne's streak began April 25 at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Ky., with the next eight winners coming at Churchill Downs, the longest streak Churchill officials have been able to find on record. He has won with seven different horses and taken two stakes races during the run. Six of his winners have been sent off at less than 2-1 odds.

'It's starting to get exciting,' Byrne said. 'It's a matter of the way the condition book comes up. We put them where we think they can win. It's a pretty incredible thing, considering that we're only a 20-horse stable.'

The modern-day record of 14 consecutive wins was set by Frank Passero Jr. in 1996.

DERBY HISTORIAN JIM BOLUS DIES AT AGE 54

Jim Bolus, historian, author, Kentucky Derby curator at the Kentucky Derby Museum and longtime secretary-treasurer of the National Turf Writers Association, died of a heart attack after jogging with his wife in Louisville, Ky., Wednesday evening, May 14. He was 54. Bolus, a former football player at the University of Kentucky, worked 23 years for the Louisville Courier-Journal and Louisville Times and was publicity director at Churchill Downs before becoming a free-lance writer. He authored several books on the Kentucky Derby and was recognized by his peers as one of the most authoritative sources on the Derby and racing in general.

AMERICA'S DAY AT THE RACES ADDS THREE TRACKS

Calder, Penn National and Prairie Meadows are the latest tracks to sign on for America's Day at the Races, a nationwide racing program scheduled for Sept. 1. A total of 10 racetracks are now involved in the promotion, which is designed to attract new racing fans to tracks. Arlington International, Del Mar and Monmouth have all signed on as regional hosts for a national pick-three wager. Other tracks that have agreed to participate are Bay Meadows, Emerald Downs, Saratoga and Wyoming Downs. ESPN2 will air a 30-minute show spotlighting the three races that comprise the Coast-to-Coast Triple. Leanza Cornett, an actress and Today show correspondent, will host the TV show. America's Day At The Races will be promoted through national and regional media and in trade publications.

TEXAS PARIMUTUEL TAX INCREASE IN DOUBT

The Texas State Senate removed an increase in the parimutuel tax from a bill that had already been approved by the House. The House action included a doubling of the tax on simulcast wagers as Texas tracks. The matter will next go before a conference committee to decide the fate of the increase before the legislature adjourns June 2.

DISTINCTIVE ANGEL'S CONNECTIONS ARE ONE AND THE SAME

It was a big day for the owner, breeder, trainer and jockey of Distinctive Angel, a nose winner of the fourth race at Churchill Downs, in Louisville, Ky., May 8. Four time as big since all four are the same person, 34-year-old Alexandra Madigan of Paris, Ky. The win was her third in two years of riding and eight in five years as a trainer. She and her husband, Charles McDowell, act as trainer, groom, hot walker and exercise rider for their seven-horse stable. Madigan even helped deliver the four-year-old Distinctive Angel.

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA TO HANDLE TESTS

Day-to-day testing for Florida's racetracks will be done by the University of Florida instead of the state's Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering. Lawmakers have appropriated $2 million to the university's veterinary school to conduct the tests. Kent Stirling, executive director of the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, said horsemen are pleased with the change. He called the current testing program 'a laughingstock' and said he looks forward to improvements.

BREEDERS' CUP TICKET APPLICATIONS GO OUT THIS MONTH

The 14th running of the $11 million Breeders' Cup is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 8 at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif., and ticket applications will be mailed to people on the Breeders' Cup mailing list this month. To get on that list, send your name, address and phone number to: Hollywood Park, Attention: Breeders' Cup Tickets, P.O. Box 369, Inglewood, Calif., 90306. Ticket applications will also be available at Hollywood Park after Sunday, June 1. Reserved seats on Breeders' Cup Day range in price from $35 to $225, with a limit of six per household. General admission on Breeders' Cup Day is $10.

RACING TO HISTORY

May 16, 1979: Gary Stevens rode his first career winner, named Lil Star, trained by his father, Ron Stevens, at Les Bois Park.

May 17, 1930: Two-year-old Equipoise gave owner C.V. Whitney his first stakes victory when he captured the Keene Memorial Stakes at Belmont Park at odds of 3-5.

May 17, 1947: Seabiscuit, owned by Charles S. Howard, succumbed to a heart attack at Ridgewood Ranch in Willits, Calif. He was 14.

May 17, 1976: Sixteen-year-old Steve Cauthen rode his first winner, Thomas Bischoff-trained Red Pipe, in the eighth race at River Downs. By the end of his first year of apprenticeship, Cauthen had won 240 races from 1,170 mounts and $1.2 million in purses.

May 18, 1931: Fifteen-year-old Eddie Arcaro rode his first race, finishing sixth, at Bainbridge Park, Ohio. At year's end, he remained winless after 36 tries.

May 18, 1935: The Seagram family won the Queen's Plate stakes (then called the King's Plate), a record 20th time. From 1891-1898, the Seagrams' horses won the Plate every year.

May 19, 1961: Jockey Bill Shoemaker notched his 4,000th career win aboard Guaranteeya at Hollywood Park.

May 19, 1964: Jockey Laffit Pincay Jr. won his first race, aboard Huelen, riding at Presidente Remon in Panama.

May 20, 1916: In an unprecedented sweep, Mandarin, Gala Water and Gala Day finished first, second and third, respectively, in the King's Plate at Woodbine for their owner, distiller Joseph Emm Seagram. Three days later, Mandarin and Gala Water again finished one-two, this time in the Breeders' Stakes.

May 20, 1941: Seventeen days after his Kentucky Derby win and 10 days after his Preakness victory, Whirlaway raced against older horses for the first time. Carrying 108 pounds, Whirlaway defeated his four rivals in the Henry of Navarre Purse at Belmont Park.

May 20, 1954: At odds of 13-1, Rex Ellsworth's two-year-old colt Swaps won his maiden race by three lengths at Hollywood Park.

May 20, 1977: Two-year-old John Henry won his first start ever, a four-furlong maiden race at Jefferson Downs, by a nose. When he was retired in 1984, the gelding had 39 wins, 15 seconds and nine thirds from 83 starts, seven Eclipse Awards and earnings of $6,597,947.

May 21, 1978: John Henry made his first start for Dotsam Stable, winning a $25,000 claiming race at Aqueduct.

May 21, 1992: Jockey Gary Stevens hit his 3,000th winner in the fifth race at Hollywood Park, aboard Sharp Event.

May 22, 1974: Locust Hill Farm's Ruffian won her first start, a maiden race for two-year-old fillies, by 15 lengths at Belmont Park. Sent off at odds of 4-1, Ruffian completed the 5 1-2 furlongs in 1:03.

PREAKNESS STAKES, 3yo, $500,000, 1 3-16 Miles, Pimlico

Genuine Risk Handicap, 3&up; (f&m;), $100,000, 6 Furlongs, Grade II, Belmont

Mint Julep Stakes, 4&up; (f&m;), $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Churchill

Precisionist Handicap, 3&up;, $75,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Prairie Meadows

Valkyr Handicap, 3&up; (f&m;), $100,000, 5 1-2 Furlongs Turf, Hollywood

Peter Pan Stakes, 3yo, $150,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade II, Belmont
Banker's Gold, undefeated after three starts, is expected to face Tampa Bay Derby winner Zede and Jack Flash, seventh in the Kentucky Derby, in a major prep for the June 7 Belmont Stakes.

Railbird Stakes, 3yo fillies, $100,000, 7 Furlongs, Grade II, Hollywood

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