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News and notes from around the Thoroughbred racing world, compiled by Thoroughbred Racing Communications, Inc. (TRC) (212.371.5911..)  BREEDERS' CUP WAGERING UP 7.3 PERCENT Total wagering on the seven Breeders' Cup Championship races on Nov. 8 was $72,659,391, the fourth highest of all-time, representing a 7.3 percent increase from 1996. This figure includes $63,447,847 bet at a North American-record 923 simulcast and off-track betting locations and $9,211,544 handled at Hollywood Park. The Breeders' Cup Pick 6 generated a 24 percent increase in the U.S. over last year's Breeders' Cup Pick 7, with $3,379,014 wagered. There were 115 winning tickets, each returned $16,417, and 5,111 consolation tickets with five of six correct, which paid $158.20. This year's Breeders' Cup simulcast wagering registered a 2.6 percent increase over last year, with the New York Racing Association and its intertrack network and the New York State and New York City Off-Track Betting Corporations leading the way with $9,735,357 wagered on the seven races. Total North American wagering on the 10-race Hollywood program was $79,741,030, of which $19,995,723 was bet in the state of California and $10,364,235 was handled in the state of New York. For the first time, Breeders' Cup wagering was accepted in France and commingled with the parimutuel pools at Hollywood Park. A total of $1,020,057 was wagered at 7,400 outlets in France. Breeders' Cup wagering was also offered in Germany (150 sites), Italy (350 sites), Russia (40) and at 160 sites in Central America, South America and the Caribbean. 'We are pleased with our continued growth in overall wagering during the past two years and the positive response to the new Pick 6 in the U.S.' said D.G. Van Clief, Jr., president of Breeders' Cup Limited. 'We greatly appreciate the participation of racing fans throughout the world who continue to make the Breeders' Cup Championship racing's greatest day.' BOGUSLAW LUSTYK NAMED OFFICIAL 1998 DERBY ARTIST Artist Boguslaw Lustyk has been named the Official 1998 Kentucky Derby artist, and will create a painting to be used on the Kentucky Derby tickets, posters and programs. Lustyk, who was a graphic artist for the Solidarity movement in his native Poland, is passionate about horses. 'I paint horses because horses are like gods to me, not because it's easy money,' said Lustyk. Horses are much more important to Man and Nature than any other animal.' His works, consisting of oils, pastels, drawings and sketches, will be on display at the Kentucky Derby Museum from April through June of 1998. FIVE U.S. HORSES TO TRY HONG KONG RACES Val's Prince is one of five U.S. horses to be invited to run in a series of three races to be run December 14 at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong. Eighth in the Breeders' Cup Turf, Val's Prince will try the 1 1-8-mile Hong Kong International Cup, along with Honor Glide, eighth in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Invited to the seven-furlong International Bowl were Buck's Boy, who finished fourth in the Breeders' Cup Turf, and Anet, who was scratched from the Breeders' Cup Mile after he developed an abscessed hoof. Maxzene is the lone American entrant in the 1 1-2-mile International Vase. American reserves for each race are: El Angelo, Donna Viola (GB), Trail City and Savinio for the Cup; Score Quick, Pinfloron (FR), Men's Exclusive and Track Gal for the Bowl; and Fanjica (IRE), Talloires, Crown Attorney and Gleaming Key for the Vase. EUROPE HONORS ITS BEST AT CARTIER AWARDS Peintre Celebre, the runaway winner of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, was named the Cartier Horse of the Year, Wednesday, Nov. 19. The winners of the Cartier awards are determined by points earned in graded races plus the votes of journalists and Daily Telegraph readers. The three-year-old beat out Pilsudski, Singspiel and Spinning World in the balloting. He was also named top three-year-old colt as well, with Pilsudski receiving the nod as top older horse. 'Peintre Celebre's awesome performance in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe had to be seen to be believed, especially as he annihilated one of the most competitive fields seen in the race for a number of years,' said Cartier consultant Harry Herbert. 'It really was a remarkable performance and fully justifies his position as the leading racehorse in Europe.' Ryafan, who is in line for an Eclipse Award as America's top turf female after winning the Grade I Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland and the Grade I Yellow Ribbon at Santa Anita, was named the best three-year-old filly.
Nov. 22, 1990: Jockey Pat Day marked his 5,000th career winner when he rode Screen Prospect to victory in the Falls City Handicap at Churchill Downs. Day was the twelfth rider in history to hit 5,000. Nov. 26, 1946: American Air Lines transported six horses from Shannon Airport, Eire, Ireland, to Newark, N.J., completing the first trans-Atlantic flight for Thoroughbreds. The plane arrived in the U.S. on Nov. 27. Nov. 26, 1992: Sandy Hawley became the ninth North American rider to win 6,000 races. His record victory came aboard Summer Commander in the second race at Greenwood Racecourse. Nov. 28, 1982: The brilliant Landaluce, who won her five lifetime starts by a total of 46 1-2 lengths, died of a viral infection. She was buried in the infield at Hollywood Park, where she had won her first two races. Trained by D. Wayne Lukas, Landaluce was later voted champion two-year-old filly of 1982 over another undefeated filly, Princess Rooney.
Nov. 21, Racehorse Digest, 3:30-4:00 a.m., ESPN
Red Smith Handicap, 3&up;, $150,000, 1 3-8 Miles Turf, Grade II, Aqueduct Hollywood Wildcat Stakes, 2yo fillies, $100,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Calder Mecke Stakes, 2yo, $100,000 , 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Calder Mrs. Revere Stakes, 3yo fillies, $150,000, 1 1-16 Miles Turf, Grade III, Churchill Downs Political Ambition Handicap, 3&up;, $75,000, 11 1-4 Miles Turf, Hollywood Congressional Handicap, 3&up;, $100,000, 1 1-4 Miles, Laurel Sir Barton Stakes, 3yo, $75,000, 1 1-6 Miles, Woodbine
On Trust Handicap, 3&up;, $100,000, 7 1-2 Furlongs, Hollywood |
