Etc. . . .

World champion mule Black Ruby ($2.40) won her ninth in a row, defeating arch-rival Taz by three-quarters of a length Sunday in the Santa Rose Mule Championship at the Sonoma County Fair. Black Ruby, who has won 59 of 77 starts, combined with Taz for the 33rd exacta ($1.70 for $1) in their 40 meetings. . . . Approval of the sale of Lone Star Park to Magna Entertainment will not happen during the Aug. 14 meeting of the Texas Racing Commission as expected, because the Texas Department of Public Safety will not have completed its background investigation of Magna. The commission is not scheduled to convene again until Oct. 16, but if the background report is finished before then, Magna can request a special meeting. . . . Sam Houston Race Park in Houston was forced to cancel its 10-race Quarter Horse card Saturday night because of an area-wide power outage brought on by thunderstorms. Racing resumed as scheduled Sunday.