|
News and notes from around the Thoroughbred racing world, compiled by Thoroughbred Racing Communications, Inc. (TRC) (212.371.5911..)  NO LIVE TV ON BREEDERS' CUP PREVIEW DAY Breeders' Cup Preview Day, to be held Oct. 18 at Belmont Park, will not be telecast live on NBC because of scheduling conflicts. Four stakes races, including three Grade I's, are scheduled in one of the more important preps for the Nov. 8 Breeders' Cup. The New York Racing Association (NYRA) moved the races from the original Oct. 11 date because of the Yom Kippur holiday. NBC is scheduled to air the McDonald's Championship basketball game, the USC-Notre Dame football game and game one of the World Series on Oct. 18. 'NBC and NYRA could not come to an agreement on the date,' said Jim Gluckson, publicity director for SMTI Inc., which markets the Breeders' Cup. 'It will be on next year.' TENNIS PROVIDES HORSES WITH NAMES The U.S. Open is concluding this week in New York and tennis has provided Thoroughbred racing with a full court of horse names. 'Tennis Anyone?' Before you play your 'Tennis Match,' make sure that you have your 'Tennis Racket' and your 'Tennis Shoes.' Also, hope that your 'Tennis Partner,' a 'Baseline Flash,' doesn't have 'Tennis Elbow' from hitting too many 'Backhands.' While playing you may want to hit a 'Volley Shot,' or a 'Lob Shot' with 'Top Spin,' better known as a 'Top Spin Lob.' Hopefully, you'll hit a 'Backhand Winner' for 'Deuce Point' or 'Game Point,' or better still, 'Match Point.' Try for a 'Service Ace,' or if you're receiving, a 'Service Break.' Just try to avoid too many 'Double Faults.' You don't have to be a 'Tennis Star' to attend a 'Tennis Event,' even the British version held at 'Wimbledon,' where you might catch a glimpse of a 'Center Court Star,' or if you've been following tennis long enough, the 'Center Court Queen,' 'Billy Jean.' 'Tennis Pros,' like 'Peter S,' 'Steffy G,' 'McEnroe' and 'Ivan Lendl,' travel a bit so you may be able to watch them on the 'Red Clay' in Paris. DEL MAR'S ROCKING CHAIR DERBY THIS WEEKEND Del Mar will stage its 10th Rocking Chair Derby on Saturday, Sept. 6. The Derby, featuring yesteryear jockeys, will be contested at 5 1-2 furlongs, a distance which is usually reserved for young horses rather than old riders. Eight former riders will test their muscle and employ their years of experience once again. Scheduled to ride are Rudy Campas, Bill Harmatz, Jack Leonard, Alex Maese, Frank Olivares, Rudy Rosales, Danny Velasquez and Ray York. All are veterans of the Derby except for Rosales, who at the comparatively young age of 50, is still galloping horses for trainer Bruce Headley. Maese, age 68, has thrown down the gauntlet by stating, 'I'm ready now. I worked a horse six furlongs breaking from the gate this week. I'm really ready.' But Maese's bellowing doesn't scare York, winner of the Derby for the last two years, who is also readying for the race. 'I hope I draw a good horse like the last two years,' he said. 'I've been galloping a lot of horses for trainer Henry Moreno.' (The two have been partners since 1948.) York isn't just a Johnny-Come-Lately in his golden years. He won the most coveted race of them all, the Kentucky Derby, in 1954 aboard Determine, a name synonymous with York when it comes to the Chair. Rosales, Maese and the rest of the pretenders will have to earn their seat on the winner's chair on Saturday. To make sure everyone stays in line, gazing through the binoculars in the stewards' stand will be three former riding legends, Hall of Fame jockeys Bill Shoemaker, Johnny Longden and Milo Valenzuela. SARATOGA CONCLUDES WITH RECORD HANDLE The 1997 Saratoga meet ended with record average daily handle of $12.27 million while daily attendance fell slightly to 22,972. The longer 36-day meet, however, produced a record number of patrons, 826,992. 'The weather was better than average; the crowds were about what we expected,' said New York Racing Association president Terry Meyocks. 'But most important, the people who came out had a good time. Considering all that, I'd have to say it's been a successful run.'
Sept. 7, 1970: Bill Shoemaker surpassed John Longden's record of 6,032 wins when he piloted Dares J to victory at Del Mar and became the world's winningest jockey. Sept. 8, 1990: Bill Shoemaker scored his first stakes victory as a trainer when he saddled Baldomero (IRE) to victory in the Osunitas Handicap at Del Mar. Sept. 11, 1976: In the third race at Latonia, jockey John Oldham and his wife, Suzanne Picou, became the first husband and wife riding team to compete in a parimutuel race together. Oldham finished second aboard Harvey's Hope and Picou rode My Girl Carla to an 11th-place finish. Sept. 11, 1982: Jockey Earlie Fires won his 3,000th career race, aboard Volga Ace, in the fourth race at Arlington Park. Sept. 12, 1970: Nijinsky II won the St. Leger Stakes and became the 15th winner of England's triple crown. He is the last horse to have won the English triple. Sept. 12, 1973: Fully recovered from a virus that had beset him at Saratoga, Secretariat worked five furlongs in 57 seconds as his last preparation for the Marlboro Cup Invitational Handicap. Sept. 13, 1974: D. Wayne Lukas won his first Thoroughbred stakes victory, saddling his own three-year-old colt, Harbor Hauler, in the second division of the Foothill Stakes at Pomona Race Track to earn $6,312. Sept. 13, 1989: Jockey Pat Day won eight of the day's nine races at Arlington International Racecourse. In his only loss, Day finished second on Wayne's by George.
Sept. 6, Racehorse Digest, 5:30-6:00 a.m., ESPN
Belmont Breeders' Cup Handicap, 3&up;, $200,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Grade III, Belmont Florida Stallion Stakes, Susan's Girl Division, 2yo fillies, $125,000, 7 Furlongs, Calder Florida Stallion Stakes, Affirmed Division, 2yo, $125,000, 7 Furlongs, Calder Palomar Handicap, 3&up; (f&m;), $125,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Grade III, Del Mar Mae de Vol Sprint Handicap, 3&up; (f&m;), $100,000g, 6 Furlongs, Bay Meadows Weekend Delight Stakes, 3&up; (f&m;), $75,000, 6 Furlongs, Turfway
Arlington Matron Handicap, 3&up; (f&m;), $100,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade III, Arlington Del Mar Breeders' Cup Handicap, 3&up;, $200,000, 1 Mile, Grade II, Del Mar Gazelle Stakes, 3yo fillies, $200,000, 1 1-8 Miles, Grade I, Belmont Remington Futurity, 2yo, $75,000, 6 Furlongs, Remington |
