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

HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCEMENT WEDNESDAY

Although the induction ceremony will not take place for three months, the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame will announce its 1997 inductees Wednesday morning in the press box at Churchill Downs. Among the human nominees are: Gary Stevens, Jacinto Vasquez and the late Jack Westrope (jockey) and Phil Johnson, Buddy Raines and Willard Proctor (trainer). The formal induction ceremony will be held Monday, Aug. 4, at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

MAKE-A-WISH GIRL TO ATTEND DERBY

Amanda Nicholls, a 14-year-old horse enthusiast from Torrington, Wy., who is undergoing chemotherapy for a tumor on her spine, will be a guest of Churchill Downs thanks to the efforts of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wyoming. She will get a backstretch tour, meet several jockeys at an autograph session, meet Willard Scott, visit a breeding farm and attend the Derby Festival Parade as well as the Derby itself.

CHRIS MCCARRON TO WORK DERBY FOR ABC

Chris McCarron had to give up his mount of the Ron McAnally-trained Hello (IRE) because he's still recuperating from rib and shoulder injuries suffered in a spill at Santa Anita April 21. But he's still coming to the Derby because ABC Sports has hired him to serve as an analyst on the Derby telecast. McCarron won the 1987 Derby with Alysheba and the 1994 version with Go for Gin. His older brother Gregg, a retired jockey who now trains on the Maryland circuit, has served as a racing analyst on NBC Sports' Breeders' Cup telecasts for the past eight years.

DENNY CRUM MAKES HIS DERBY PICK

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas, a former high school and college basketball coach, won't have a Derby starter this year, but he still gets plenty of visitors at his Churchill Downs barn. One of them Tuesday morning was University of Louisville basketball coach Denny Crum, who owns and breeds Thoroughbreds himself. 'I'm too busy to spend as much time with it as I would like,' he said, 'but when I quit coaching I'll be able to.' Crum hasn't missed a Derby since he started coaching at Louisville approximately 25 years ago. His pick Saturday: Captain Bodgit.

BARRY IRWIN WINS SOME AND LOSES SOME

Barry Irwin, who manages the syndicate that owns Captain Bodgit, has been praised for his sharp eye in purchasing the three-year-old colt, but is quick to tell reporters that he's not always right when it comes to judging horse flesh. 'I had a chance to buy Lil E. Tee but I didn't like the way his shins looked,' he laughed. The colt went on to win the 1992 Kentucky Derby.

After Captain Bodgit won the Florida Derby, handing Pulpit the lone defeat of his career, Irwin expressed his concern that his horse may have peaked too soon. After a crushing victory in the Wood Memorial Stakes and Captain Bodgit's continuing good works at Churchill Downs, Irwin's changed his mind. 'I'm over that fact,' he said. 'I think this horse is better than I thought he was and there's a lot more in the tank because he got a tremendous speed figure last time and he really only ran an eighth of a mile.'

LOCAL FLAVOR IN DERBY

The 123rd 'Run for the Roses' at Churchill Downs in Louisville will feature two native sons. Forrest Kaelin, who trains Classic Crimson, and Danny Hutt, who trains Celtic Warrior, were both born and raised in Louisville. 'I rode here for 10 years and I've been training here for 37 years,' said Kaelin. 'Being a Louisville native, it's a dream come true to run a horse in the Derby.' Both horses are longshots.

WITHOUT LUKAS'S FILLY, DERBY STRATEGY WILL CHANGE

D. Wayne Lukas, who will not have a horse in the Derby for the first time since 1980, thinks that the defection of his speedy filly Sharp Cat from the field will change the way the Derby sets up since no single horse will be setting a fast pace. 'Without her in there it changed the race,' Lukas said. 'If you've got a Captain Bodgit or a Crypto Star (both late closers), you're laying back and you've got a filly cruising four lengths in front and you've got to worry. Without her in there, (likely pacesetters like) the Silver Charms, the Pulpits, the Concertos, they're not nearly as far up there (as Sharp Cat) and so these other horses are in more of a stalking position. Captain Bodgit will be a lot closer and he can wait.

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