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

NEW PROCEDURES FOR SUPPLEMENTAL BREEDERS' CUP ENTRIES

Officials of Breeders' Cup Limited announced, July 11, new procedures for supplemental entries to the Breeders' Cup Championship. While owners will still pay either 12 or 20 percent to supplement their horses, the fee (less two percent) will be added to the purse. A credit system has also been established for horses supplemented into future Breeders' Cup races. Supplemental fees will be now be credited against the entry fees required to enter that horse in future Breeders' Cup Championship races.

'We believe that adjustments to the purse structure regarding supplements and establishing a credit system against future supplements is a positive change that will provide long-term benefits to the Breeders' Cup Championship,' said D. G. Van Clief Jr. president of Breeders' Cup Ltd. 'The supplemental question has been a matter of debate for many years. We believe these changes will continue to strengthen the quality of our Championship, while at the same time maintaining the integrity of the nomination process.'

Breeders' Cup foal and stallion nominations procedures will remain intact. Stallions are nominated to the Breeders' Cup on an annual basis for a fee equal to their stud fee. Foals of nominated stallions are then eligible to be nominated to the Breeders' Cup program in their weanling year for a one-time fee of $500. Horses nominated in this fashion are not required to pay a supplemental fee of any kind.

THE BREEDERS' CUP CLASSIC PURSE-HOW HIGH CAN IT GO?

Six of the top horses now in training are not currently Breeders' Cup eligible but could conceivably be major factors in the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic. The three Richard Mandella-trained South American-breds, Sandpit (BRZ), Siphon (BRZ) and Gentlemen (ARG), as well as Free House, would have to be supplemented for $800,000 each-20 percent of the Classic's purse. Skip Away and Silver Charm would both be 12 percent supplements at $420,000 apiece. Deducting two percent from each, the purse for the race could be increased by $3.68 million to $7.68 million. The winner's share of the richest race ever would be $3,993,600, while the fifth-place finisher would get $153,600, about the same as the winner of a $250,000 race would get elsewhere.

BAFFERT OUTBIDS LEWIS AT KEENELAND; FASIG TIPTON POSTS BIG GAIN

Bob Baffert, trainer of Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Silver Charm, outbid Bob Lewis, Silver Charm's owner, to purchase a $1.5 million Storm Cat colt at the Keeneland Selected Yearling Sale, Tuesday, July 15. The colt was bought on behalf of Aaron Jones, who owned champions Lemhi Gold and Tiffany Lass. 'He was watching the Silver Charm stuff and wanted to get involved,' said Baffert. 'He wanted a horse to take to the Derby. He called me on Sunday. I've never met him and [he] asked me to pick out a horse.'

Baffert, who spoke to his new client via telephone during the sale, had a tense moment when the line went dead. 'I lost him at 600,000. I called him back. I didn't know if he wanted me to bid beyond one million but he was a game guy and said, 'Don't let him go.' '

THOROUGHBRED ALLIANCE PLANNING CORP. MOVING AHEAD

The group of racing organizations informally known as the Thoroughbred Alliance is now officially the Thoroughbred Alliance Planning Corp., which named Breeders' Cup President D. G. Van Clief Jr. as its interim chief executive officer. Subcommittees have been formed to find a full-time chief executive officer and an advertising agency.

Two law firms have been hired, one to evaluate antitrust and tax matters and the other to advise the Alliance on questions involving intellectual properties and technology. The Breeders' Cup's marketing firm, Sports Marketing & Television International (SMTI), has been retained to develop a plan for expanded television coverage.

In a July 11 teleconference, Hamilton Jordan discussed the results of the Alliance's first consumer research. Five-hundred people were asked to name their favorite sport. Horse racing was mentioned as the favorite sport by 0.4 percent, and another three percent said they followed the sport. Football was the favorite sport of 36 percent, and another 31 percent followed it.

In a follow-up survey, 100 people who said they were not racing fans were asked to watch the Belmont Stakes, in which Silver Charm was attempting to win the Triple Crown. Of the 75 people who watched the race, 51 percent found the Belmont to be more interesting than other sports events. 'These are phenomenal results. I think this goes to the question of whether there is something wrong with the product itself,' Jordan said. 'This suggests there is a problem with the way it has been presented.'

SALES POSTS LARGE INCREASES

The 175 horses sold at the Keeneland July Selecyed Yearling Sale, July 14-15, grossed $62,565,000 for an average price of $357,514, compared to last year's $349,880. Bloodstock agent Demi O'Byrne purchased 12 yearlings for $8.535 million.

The July 16 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale posted a 36.3 percent increase, with an of $52,708 for the 185 yearlings sold. Topping the sale was trainer Bob Baffert, who paid $290,000 on behalf of Bob and Beverly Lewis for a Saint Ballado colt. Overall, 25 yearlings sold for $100,000 or more in 1997, compared to 15 in 1996.

DUELING GROUNDS BOUGHT BY KENTUCKY TRACKS

The Dueling Grounds, in Franklin, Ky., has been bought for $11 million at a federal bankruptcy Court auction by BC Racing Group LLC, a group of investors that includes Kentucky racetracks Churchill Downs and Turfway Park, as well as a partnership that included Outback Steakhouse founder and CEO, Chris Sullivan. 'It is our goal to revitalize Dueling Grounds and strengthen this link on Kentucky's racing circuit,' said Churchill Downs' Senior Vice President, Alexander Waldrop. Dueling Grounds raced short meets and conducted simulcasting, beginning in 1991, but lost its license in August of 1996. Turfway Park was appointed as interim manager when the simulcast facility reopened on March 29, 1997.

CARAS WINS DOGWOOD DOMINION AWARD

Nick Caras, Recreation Director for the New York Racing Association (NYRA), has been named the recipient of the 1997 Dogwood Dominion Award, Dogwood Stables announced on Tuesday.

Caras has worked for NYRA for 18 years and has been in his present post since 1991. He organizes outings, arranges for classes in English, helps with job-placement and counseling services, aids backstretch workers obtain medical care and helps set up Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.

Caras will receive his award Aug. 6 in Saratoga Springs, New York. The Dogwood Dominion Award is sponsored by Dogwood Stables to recognize the 'unsung heroes' of racing.

THE WOODLANDS MAY BECOME INDIAN CASINO

Sunflower Racing Inc., a subsidiary of Hollywood Park and owner and operator of the Woodlands racetrack in Kansas City, Kansas, filed a plan of reorganization in United States Bankruptcy Court July 16 which includes plans to sell the track to the Wyandotte Indians of Oklahoma in order to construct a casino on the property. As part of the plan, Hollywood Park and North America Sports Management Inc. of Florida would manage the casino in exchange for 30 percent of the profit. The deal must be agreed to by the bankruptcy court and is contingent on the Wyandottes and the state of Kansas signing a compact allowing gaming at the Woodlands.

INDIAN NATIONS FUTURITY DRAWS 82 NOMINEES

Eighty-two two-year-olds from six states remain eligible after the final nomination stage for the $600,000 Indian Nations Futurity at The Downs at Santa Fe in New Mexico. The seven-furlong race, the richest two-year-old Thoroughbred event outside the Breeders' Cup, will be run Sunday, Aug. 24. Leading the list is Holy Nola, winner of the Great Arizona Futurity Shootout at Turf Paradise. The filly is trained by Kentucky Derby-winning conditioner Bob Baffert.

BLOOD-HORSE BRINGS THE WORLD'S SIRES INTO PERSPECTIVE

For the first time, sire statistics comparing earnings of the offspring of Thoroughbred stallions from around the world are being offered by The Blood-Horse, in cooperation with The Jockey Club Information Systems and the Japan Racing Association (JRA). 'These new stallion lists reflect the growing importance of international racing,' said Ray Paulick, Editor-in-Chief of The Blood-Horse. 'We hope this is a first step toward a truly global Thoroughbred database.'

The Jockey Club Information Systems, which provides information to The Blood-Horse, began including statistics from Germany, Italy and Dubai to augment its existing statistics from French, British and Irish racing. The agreement with the JRA adds most of Japan's racing (some Japanese tracks are run by the National Association of Racing), with its attendant huge purses.

Two lists are maintained. One ranks North American sires and the other ranks all sires. With many American horses standing stud in Japan-and the offspring of U.S. stallions being sent to Japan-the new list will provide a means of keeping track of their impact on international racing. For example, Woodman, ranked 21st on the North American list, jumps to the top spot when his Japanese progeny are included. The list of worldwide sires shows that the top six stallions are all Japanese, led by 1989 Kentucky Derby winner Sunday Silence and 1988 Florida Derby winner Brian's Time.

THIS DATE IN RACING HISTORY

July 18, 1942: Garden State Park officially opened. A crowd of 31,682 welcomed the return of racing to New Jersey after a 49-year absence.

July 18, 1989: The last Northern Dancer foal to be sold at public auction, later named Northern Park, was purchased by Zenya Yoshida for $2.8 million. In 30 starts over four years in France, Northern Park compiled a 4-7-4 record.

July 18, 1993: Jockey Gary Stevens topped $100 million in purse earnings after winning the seventh race at Hollywood Park aboard Don't Presume (GB).

July 20, 1951: Six-year-old Citation, the first Thoroughbred to earn $1 million, was retired.

July 20, 1974: Carl Rosen's Chris Evert trounced Miss Musket by 50 lengths in the world's richest match race, a $350,000 winner-take-all contest at Hollywood Park.

July 20, 1988: John Galbreath, founder of Darby Dan Farm, died at age 90. He was the first person to have owned and bred winners of the Kentucky Derby (Chateaugay and Proud Clarion) and the Epsom Derby (Roberto).

July 21, 1989: Jockey Chris McCarron notched his 5,000th winner, riding I Sure Hope So to victory in the fifth race at Hollywood Park.

July 23, 1947: Early Edition, Hunter's Sun and Brown Jewel, all offspring of the sire Hunter's Moon IV, finished first, second and third, respectively, in a race at Hollywood Park

July 23, 1985: A bay colt, Seattle Dancer, son of Nijinsky II and the mare My Charmer, sold to Robert Sangster for $13.1 million-the record price for a Thoroughbred. Seattle Dancer, a half brother to 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, raced five times as a three-year-old to earn less than $150,000 from two wins, one second and one third before he was retired. The previous record for a horse sold at auction was $10.2 million, paid by Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum in 1983 for Snaafi Dancer, who never raced.

RACING ON TELEVISION

July 17, Racehorse Digest, 3:00-3:30 a.m., ESPN
July 19, Racehorse Digest, 6:00-6:30 a.m., ESPN
July 20, Swaps Stakes, Hollywood Park, 4:00-5:00 p.m., ESPN
Budweiser Emerald Handicap, Emerald Downs
July 23, Racehorse Digest, 3:30-4:00 p.m., ESPN
July 24, Racehorse Digest, 3:00-3:30 a.m., ESPN

Coaching Club American Oaks, 3yo fillies, $250,000, 1 1-4 Miles, Grade I, Belmont
Ajina will attempt to win her second consecutive Grade I race after she won the Grade I Mother Goose Stakes on June 21. Expected to face Ajina are Tomisue's Delight, Dove Shell and Pleasant Temper.

Frank De Francis Memorial Dash, 3&up;, $300,000, 6 Furlongs, Grade II, Laurel
Six runners are expected to face the speedy three-year-old Smoke Glacken in his first test against older horses. Fillies Capote Belle and J J'sdream have run against each other in their last two starts with each recording a win. Others entered are Political Whit, Score A Birdie, Wise Dusty and Elajjud.

Reeve Schley Jr. Stakes, 3yo fillies, $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Grade II, Monmouth

Swaps Stakes, 3yo, $500,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade II, Hollywood
Santa Anita Derby winner Free House, second or third in all three Triple Crown races, will meet five competitors. Hello (IRE), Deputy Commander, Precocity, Activist and Wild Rush will challenge the 4-5 favorite.

Sunset Handicap, 3&up;, $400,000, 1 1-2 Miles Turf, Grade II, Hollywood
Multiple Grade I winner Marlin returns to his preferred surface after running fourth in the $1 million Hollywood Gold Cup on dirt in his last start. Flyway, Star Performance, Percutant (GB), Rainbow Dancer (FR) and Seaborg (ARG) are also expected to run.

Vanity Handicap, 3&up; (f&m;), $400,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade I, Hollywood
Champion Jewel Princess and Twice the Vice return to their familiar California surroundings to continue their rivalry. The pair were third and second, respectively, in the Grade I Hempstead Handicap at Belmont Park on June 28, and met in last year's Vanity Handicap, with Jewel Princess winning while Twice the Vice was fourth. Listening, real Connection and Biltmore Breeze round out the field of five.

Hollywood Juvenile Championshp, 2yo, $100,000, 6 Furlongs, Grade III, Hollywood

American Derby, 3yo, $200,000, 1 3-16 Miles Turf, Grade II, Arlington

Budweiser Emerald Cup, 3&up;, $75,000, 1 1-16 Miles, Emerald

Lexington Stakes, 3yo, $150,000, 1 1-4 Miles Turf, Grade III, Belmont

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