Etc. . . .

Cashel Castle, undefeated in three starts as a 2-year-old last year, including an eight-length victory in the Hoosier Juvenile, will make his 3-year-old debut in the allowance feature at Sportsman's Park on Saturday. Cashel Castle, who wintered in Florida for trainer Chris Block, was being pointed to the Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park but suffered a minor ankle injury before that race. . . . The New York Racing Association has lifted its ban on coolers at its three racetracks that was implemented after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11. Coolers will be permitted only in the backyard and apron areas, and will be subject to search by NYRA security. . . . Penn National Gaming received permission on Thursday to install an additional 1,500 slot machines at its Charles Town Races in West Virginia, the company announced. The track currently has 2,000 machines and expects to have the additional machines in place by the end of 2003. . . . Sam Houston Race Park, the Texas Horsemen's Partnership, and the Texas Extension Service will hold the 2002 Texas Racehorse Conference on March 9 at the track. The daylong conference will offer racing fans and Thoroughbred owners a chance to interact with industry experts on a wide range of racing-related subjects.